Paris Metro, world's second busiest system, achieves fully automation milestone

Paris, India (Metro Rail Today): In a significant leap towards modernization, the Paris metro network's Line 4 has successfully transitioned to Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) unattended operation, solidifying its status as the second busiest line in the city. This €480 million automation project, celebrated at an event on January 19, represents a noteworthy milestone for the Parisian transport system.

RATP CEO Jean Castex, addressing the audience, emphasized the uniqueness of their knowledge in automating metro lines without causing major disruptions, especially considering the challenges faced during the conversion of Line 1 in 2012. The complexity of coordinating driver-operated trains alongside automated ones added an extra layer of difficulty to this ambitious endeavor.

Line 4 spans 14 kilometers, connecting Porte de Clignancourt in the north to Bagneux-Lucie-Aubrac in the south, accommodating a staggering 700,000 passengers daily. Notably, it is the only line in Paris that seamlessly interchanges with all other metro and RER routes, making it a crucial artery in the city's transportation network.

The decision to convert Line 4 to GoA4 was made in 2013 by RATP and the transport authority Ile-de-France-Mobilités, with a focus on enhancing service quality and reliability. Siemens Mobility secured the contract in 2015 to supply its Trainguard Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. As part of the modernization, passenger information systems were integrated into platform edge screens at all 29 stations, and in 2020, the line's management was shifted to a new control center.

A key challenge encountered during the project was the diverse fleet of the line, featuring three different types of rubber-tyred wide-bodied six-car trainsets supplied by Alstom – 21 MP89CA, 11 MP05, and 20 new MP14CA trains. The CBTC had to be adaptable to the specific commands required for each type of rolling stock.

Dynamic testing of automated operations commenced in 2022, with the deployment of four GoA4 trainsets designated as 'shuttle' by RATP in September of that year. By May 2023, weekend and evening services had fully embraced automation, culminating in the cessation of manual driving in December 2023.

The new train control system allows for a remarkable minimum headway of 85 seconds, though during peak times, trains typically run every 105 seconds in normal service.

With the successful automation of Line 4, attention now turns to Line 13, the next candidate for complete automation. This undertaking, however, poses new challenges as Line 13 has branches and operates with steel-wheeled trains.

Expressions of interest for the Line 13 automation project were solicited in December 2023, with plans for a call for tenders to supply the required automation technology and control center in February. The proposal includes the introduction of manually-driven Alstom MF19 trains from 2027 to replace the current MF77 fleet. Full automation is anticipated by 2032, following the fitting of additional platform edge screens in 2028.

CEO Jean Castex has proposed that the planned modernization of Lines 7 and 8 should embrace automation at GoA4, surpassing the current attended Automatic Train Operation (ATO) to GoA2. His rationale is grounded in the length of these lines, the aging MF77 trainsets, their heavy usage, and challenges in recruiting drivers.

The successful full automation of Paris metro Line 4 stands as a testament to RATP's commitment to advancing technology in public transportation. As plans unfold for the automation of Lines 13, 7, and 8, Parisians can anticipate a more efficient and reliable metro system in the years to come.