Grand Paris Express: EIB Provides Additional €3 Billion for Line 15 West Section, Total Support Reaches €6.5 Billion
Paris, September 2, 2026 – The European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed an additional €3 billion in funding for the Grand Paris Express project, specifically targeting the construction of the western section of Line 15. The agreement, signed on Wednesday with the Société des grands projets (SGP), brings the EIB’s total support for the ambitious metro network to €6.5 billion.
The Grand Paris Express, hailed as “the largest infrastructure project in Europe” by Jean-François Monteils, Chairman of the SGP management board, aims to revolutionize public transport in the Greater Paris region. The project, slated for completion by 2031, involves the creation of five new metro lines (14, 15, 16, 17, and 18) and 68 new stations across approximately 200 kilometers, with Line 15 alone encompassing a 75-kilometer underground railway loop.
Crucial Funding for a Vital Transport Link
The newly allocated €3 billion will facilitate the construction of the 22.4-kilometer western section of Line 15. This segment is designed to serve 14 cities in the Hauts-de-Seine and Seine-Saint-Denis departments, featuring 11 stations between Pont-de-Sèvres and the Aubervilliers town hall. Upon its projected opening in 2031, this section is expected to cater to approximately 600,000 daily commuters.
A first tranche of €500 million from this latest EIB loan was already drawn on July 30. Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the EIB, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting projects that align with climate objectives. “Our goal is to help decarbonize transport and improve the daily lives of Europeans,” Fayolle stated, highlighting the EIB’s role in financing initiatives that contribute to the 2015 Paris Agreement climate goals.
The EIB’s assessment of projects extends beyond economic profitability to include an internal carbon price, ensuring environmental viability. “We are the European climate bank; we aim for 40-year operations because we want to be a catalyst for climate objectives,” René Laurent Ballaguy, head of the EIB’s Paris office, told AFP.
Project Scope and Timeline Updates
The overall budget for the Grand Paris Express was re-evaluated in October 2021, reaching €36.1 billion, an increase from the €35.6 billion projected in February 2018, as confirmed by Frédéric Brédillot, a member of the SGP management board.
While the western section of Line 15, along with the eastern section (Aubervilliers town hall-Champigny), is scheduled for service in 2031, the southern section, spanning approximately 35 kilometers between Pont-de-Sèvres and Noisy-Champs (16 stations), has faced multiple delays. Originally planned for 2018, its completion is now anticipated for late 2027.
The Grand Paris Express is a monumental undertaking that promises to significantly enhance connectivity and reduce carbon emissions across the Île-de-France region, solidifying Paris’s position as a leading global city.
Source: https://fr.finance.yahoo.com/actualites/grand-paris-express-3-milliards-154808643.html
