2023-08-14 04:31:54
The Gare du Nord station, in Paris, on August 13, 2023. MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
For the first time, Monday August 14, RER B traffic north of Paris, the second busiest line in Europe, is completely interrupted on a working day. Since Saturday and until Monday evening, no train will run in both directions, between the Gare du Nord and Aulnay-sous-Bois, in the direction of Roissy-CDG airport, and on the second axis, between the station du Nord and Mitry-Claye.
To compensate for this interruption linked to exceptional works, an unprecedented system has been deployed with more than 600 replacement buses and 1,000 drivers mobilized on the closed sections.
The SNCF, the prefecture of Paris and Ile-de-France and Ile-de-France Mobilités have called for several days on the users concerned to postpone their trips. And carpooling is free.
A “run-in” device
The weekend passed without major disruptions despite some delays in the rotation of buses and stressful moments for some travellers. The buses were 80% occupied between the Stade de France and CDG airport while those serving the stations of Seine-Saint-Denis were only 50%, according to the SNCF.
“The device was well run”assured a spokesperson for the railway company to Agence France-Presse (AFP), saying “reasonably confident for Monday”. However, “it is absolutely necessary that all those who can postpone their trip” Monday, back to work day, he warned.
Read also: Article reserved for our RER B subscribers: faced with the cutting of the northern section, resigned Ile-de-France residents and disoriented tourists
Substitute buses are able to transport “about 100,000 people” while on a Monday like August 14, some 200,000 travelers are likely to use the interrupted section of the RER, warned Saturday morning on Franceinfo the regional prefect, Marc Guillaume. The concern mainly concerns “front-line” professions who cannot ask RTT or telecommute, such as health professionals.
Travel times are also greatly increased. Thus, to get to Roissy airport from the Gare du Nord, it took almost an hour on Sunday, compared to 31 minutes in normal times, according to the Transilien website.
Line K of the Transilien and the TER between Paris and Laon are also interrupted between Paris and Mitry-Claye during these three days.
Read also: Article reserved for our RER B subscribers: exceptional mobilization in the face of the closure of the second busiest line in Europe
Modernization works
Transport Minister Clément Beaune and SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou have planned to go to Gare du Nord on Monday morning to assess the situation.
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On Sunday, users adapted. ” It is a hassle “, complained Badia who lives in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime). Anne Peitavi left Corsica, had to take a flight for Australia, where she resides. “We couldn’t afford to miss the Paris-Charles de Gaulle flight to Sydney (…) Fortunately, I had planned wide but, otherwise, we would surely have missed our international connection”.
Read also: Article reserved for our Transport subscribers: pharaonic works will affect the daily lives of millions of users in Ile-de-France in 2023
Carried out in the middle of summer, when the line is less busy, this work aims to modernize the tracks of the RER B and provide it with a new terminus near the Stade de France, usable in the event of a cut on the line. . The construction site is financed from the budget of CDG Express, a fast link which should quickly connect the capital to Roissy airport from 2026.
The RATP and Ile de France Mobilités are stepping up the work this last summer before the Paris Olympics in July 2024. The RER lines A, C, D, E are experiencing partial closures until the end of August, as are several lines of Metro.
Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Paris 2024 Olympic Games: the immense challenge of transport
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