New Pedestrian Tunnel to Connect Paris Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est by 2027
Paris, April 30, 2026 – A significant infrastructure project is underway in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, where a new pedestrian tunnel is being constructed to link two of the city’s busiest railway hubs: Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est. Scheduled to open in March 2027, this 56-meter underground passage promises to reduce the transit time between the stations to a mere seven minutes, a considerable improvement for the hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.
Connecting Two Major Parisian Stations
Both situated in the 10th arrondissement, Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est played pivotal roles in the 19th-century railway expansion of Paris. Despite their proximity, each station serves distinct railway networks. Gare du Nord primarily handles routes to northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom via Eurostar. Conversely, Gare de l’Est provides connections to eastern France, Germany, and Central Europe. These two stations, though only 500 meters apart, are critical transport hubs for northeastern Paris, integrating various train, RER, metro, and bus lines.
According to the City of Paris, these two stations collectively serve over 800,000 daily travelers, with approximately 200,000 daily transfers occurring between them. Gare du Nord is frequently cited as Europe’s busiest railway station and the third busiest globally in terms of passenger traffic.
A 56-Meter Underground Passage
Currently, traversing between the two stations requires a walk of nearly 15 minutes. However, with the completion of the new underground passage in March 2027, pedestrians will be able to make the journey in just seven minutes. The tunnel, measuring 56 meters in length and 5.5 meters in width, is being built beneath Rue La Fayette. Access points will be located at level -2 of the RER E Magenta station (connected to Gare du Nord) and at 50 Rue d’Alsace (10th arrondissement), providing a new entrance near Gare de l’Est.
Simultaneous Launch with the CDG Express Line
The opening of this pedestrian tunnel will coincide with the inauguration of the Charles de Gaulle Express (CDG Express) railway line. This new line will establish a direct connection between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Gare de l’Est, aiming to alleviate the congestion currently experienced on the RER B line and the A1 and A3 motorways. With trains scheduled every 15 minutes, this direct rail link is expected to reduce travel time from the airport to Paris to approximately 20 minutes.
This dual infrastructure enhancement is poised to significantly improve connectivity and efficiency for both daily commuters and international travelers in the Parisian transport network, streamlining access between key destinations and reducing travel burdens.
Source: https://www.pariszigzag.fr/paris-au-quotien/actualites-paris/tunnel-gare-nord-gare-est/
