Paris, April 21 – Between 2026 and 2031, if all goes according to plan, four new metro lines will be inaugurated in Île-de-France. This ambitious project, known as the Grand Paris Express, is set to revolutionize the region’s public transport network. The Société des Grands Projets has released a provisional calendar for the commissioning of lines 15, 16, 17, and 18, detailing which sections will open first and when the entire network is expected to be completed.
Progress of the Grand Paris Express Project
In June 2024, Parisian and Île-de-France public transport users witnessed the extension of Line 14, marking the first phase of the Grand Paris Express. This extensive project, overseen by the Société des Grands Projets, aims to create a vast new network of public transport, with four additional lines planned to open beneath the Île-de-France asphalt between 2026 and 2031.
Construction is currently underway on all Grand Paris Express lines. Civil engineering work has commenced on the eastern and western sections of Line 15, specifically between Pont de Sèvres and Saint-Denis – Pleyel, and between Saint-Denis – Pleyel and Champigny Centre. Fitting-out and equipment installation are in progress, alongside testing, on lines 16, 17, and 18, as well as on the southern section of Line 15, connecting Pont de Sèvres and Noisy – Champs.
Provisional Commissioning Schedule
According to the provisional schedule available on the Grand Paris Express website, Line 18 will be the first of the four new lines to be inaugurated. However, only an initial segment will be accessible to passengers: the section between Massy – Palaiseau and Christ de Saclay stations. This portion is anticipated to welcome its first travelers in October 2026.
Following this, in 2027, Line 15 is scheduled to become operational between Pont de Sèvres and Noisy – Champs stations. In the same year, the section between Saint-Denis – Pleyel and Clichy – Montfermeil on Line 16 is also expected to be inaugurated. The segment between Saint-Denis – Pleyel and Le Bourget Aéroport on Line 17 is slated for commissioning in 2027. Additionally, Line 18 will extend its service to include the section between Massy – Palaiseau and Orly Airport in 2027.
2028 will see two further inaugurations: the section between Clichy – Montfermeil and Noisy – Champs on Line 16, and the segment between Le Bourget Aéroport and Parc des Expositions stations on Line 17.
Two years later, in 2030, the Grand Paris Express network will expand significantly with the commissioning of the Line 17 section between Parc des Expositions and Le Mesnil-Amelot, passing through Roissy – Charles de Gaulle airport. Concurrently, Line 18 will open its section between Christ de Saclay and Versailles – Chantiers.
Finally, the Grand Paris Express network is projected to be fully completed in 2031 with the opening of the remaining sections of Line 15: between Pont de Sèvres and Saint-Denis – Pleyel, and between Saint-Denis – Pleyel and Champigny Centre.
Detailed Commissioning Timeline:
- Line 15:
- Pont de Sèvres to Noisy – Champs: 2027
- Pont de Sèvres to Saint-Denis – Pleyel and Saint-Denis – Pleyel to Champigny Centre: 2031
- Line 16:
- Saint-Denis – Pleyel to Clichy – Montfermeil: 2027
- Clichy – Montfermeil to Noisy – Champs: 2028
- Line 17:
- Saint-Denis – Pleyel to Le Bourget Aéroport: 2027
- Le Bourget Aéroport to Parc des Expositions: 2028
- Parc des Expositions to Le Mesnil-Amelot (via Roissy – Charles de Gaulle airport): 2030
- Line 18:
- Massy – Palaiseau to Christ de Saclay: October 2026
- Massy – Palaiseau to Orly Airport: 2027
- Christ de Saclay to Versailles – Chantiers: 2030
This phased approach aims to integrate the new lines efficiently, minimizing disruption while maximizing the benefits for commuters and the region’s connectivity. The Grand Paris Express is a monumental undertaking that promises to redefine urban mobility in the greater Paris area for decades to come.
Source: https://www.societedesgrandsprojets.fr
