Paris M�tro (original) (raw)
The Paris M�tro is the metro (underground) system in Paris, France. It was originally known as the "Chemin de Fer M�tropolitain" ("Metropolitan railway"), then "M�tropolitain," quickly abbreviated to "M�tro". Speakers of verlan call it "le trom�."
The system consists of 16 lines, identified by numbers from 1 to 14, with two minor lines 3b and 7b, numbered thus because they are branch lines split off from the original lines 3 and 7.
Brief technical points:
- over 200 km of track, over 300 stations
- circulation is on the right
- track gauge of 1.435 meters (standard gauge, like the French main lines) -- but trains are narrower than mainlines, so the Metro can run on mainlines but not vice versa
- power collection: third rail
- average distance between stations is approx 300 m
- lines 1, 4, 6, 11, and 14 are rubber-tired
- line 14 is driverless (fully automatic)
One single ticket price for any journey, unlimited connections, but limited to a 2-hour ride.
A second network of regional express lines, the RER (R�seau Express R�gional) complements the network since the 1970s.
Existing lines
1: La D�fense - Ch�teau de Vincennes
- First section opened July 19, 1900
- Converted to rubber-tired operation 1964
2: Porte Dauphine - Nation
- First section opened December 13, 1900
3: Pont de Levallois-B�con - Gallieni
- First section opened October 19, 1904
3bis: Gambetta - Porte des Lilas
- Opened November 27, 1921 (then part of line 3)
- Detached from line 3 April 2, 1971
4: Porte de Clignancourt - Porte d'Orl�ans
- First section opened April 21, 1908
- Converted to rubber-tired operation 1967
5: Place d'Italie - Bobigny-Pablo Picasso
6: Charles de Gaulle-�toile - Nation
- First section opened October 2, 1900 (then part of line 5)
- Converted to rubber-tired operation 1974
7: Villejuif-Louis Aragon/Mairie d'Ivry - La Courneuve-8 Mai 1945
- First section opened November 5, 1910
7bis: Louis Blanc - Pr�-Saint-Gervais
- Opened January 18, 1911 (then part of line 7)
- Detached from line 7 December 3, 1967
8: Balard - Cr�teil-Pr�fecture
9: Pont de S�vres - Mairie de Montreuil
- First section opened November 8, 1922
10: Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud - Gare d'Austerlitz
11: Ch�telet - Mairie des Lilas
- First section opened April 28, 1935
- Converted to rubber-tired operation November 8, 1956
12: Mairie d'Issy - Porte de La Chapelle
- First section opened November 5, 1910 (as part of Nord-Sud line A)
13: Ch�tillon-Montrouge - Gabriel P�ri-Asni�res-Gennevilliers/Saint Denis-Universit�
- First section opened February 26, 1911 (as part of Nord-Sud line B)
- First section opened by CMP December 30, 1923 (then part of line 10)
14: Madeleine - Biblioth�que Fran�ois Mitterrand
- Opened after 1991
An earlier line 14 Invalides-Porte de Vanves existed from July 29, 1937, when it was detached from line 10, to November 9, 1976, when it was incorporated into line 13.
See also: Stations of the Paris Metro
Architecture
One of the most famous aspects of the Paris metro are its wrought-iron art nouveau entrances by Hector Guimard, which have come to symbolize Paris although not very many remain in use (86 entrances by Guimard still exist).
History
Line 1 was inaugurated on July 19, 1900, after decades of political wrangling over routes and construction. Short sections of the present lines 2 and 6 (then numbered 5) were completed in the same year to serve the world's fair.
The lines 1 through 10 where built by the Ville de Paris (city of Paris) and run by the CMP (Compagnie du Chemin de Fer M�tropolitain de Paris).
A second company, "Nord-Sud" (Soci�t� du Chemin de Fer Electrique Nord-Sud de Paris) started up in 1910 and built two lines named A and B (now part of lines 12 and 13). "Nord-Sud" merged in 1930 with the CMP (line 11 and the "first" line 14 were completed after the merger). CMP became state-owned in 1948 and renamed RATP (R�gie Autonome des Transports Parisiens).
See also
References
- Bindi, A. & Lefeuvre, D. (1990). Le M�tro de Paris: Histoire d'hier � demain, Rennes: Ouest-France. ISBN 2737302048. (French)
- Gaillard, M. (1991). Du Madeleine-Bastille � M�t�or: Histoire des transports Parisiens, Amiens: Martelle. ISBN 2878900138. (French)