Paris, December 12 – A new long-distance bus station has commenced operations at Porte Maillot, situated on Boulevard Pershing in the 17th arrondissement. This strategic opening, effective this Monday, December 15, aims to alleviate pressure on the Paris-Bercy bus station, which is scheduled for a phased closure by 2030. Operators such as FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus are already rerouting a significant portion of their services to this newly renovated hub.
FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus Reroute Services to Porte Maillot
The Porte Maillot station, which was previously closed in 2018 for renovations related to the 2024 Olympic Games, has undergone a complete refurbishment. FlixBus has announced that its first departures from Porte Maillot on Monday, December 15, will be at 7:00 AM, with destinations including Brussels, Rennes, Caen, Rouen, Lille, and Toulouse. The company emphasized its return to a “safe and welcoming infrastructure” for travelers.
BlaBlaCar Bus confirmed that its operations at Porte Maillot will primarily serve five key regions: the Benelux countries, Brittany, Normandy, and the Southwest of France. Specific destinations mentioned include Tarbes, Rennes, Poitiers, Nantes, Lille, Toulouse, and Rouen. This shift is expected to transfer 30% to 50% of their activity from Bercy, potentially accommodating up to 2.5 million passengers annually.
Enhanced Facilities and Connectivity for Travelers
The new station boasts 19 platforms, strategically divided between the shuttle service to Beauvais Airport and various long-distance coach routes. FlixBus has pledged “enhanced services” at the renovated site, including three covered waiting areas, modern restrooms, automatic ticket vending machines, and staffed ticket counters. Additionally, security personnel will be present “day and night” to ensure passenger safety.
For dining options, passengers will have access to the Palais des Congrès shopping center, which operates from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The Porte Maillot station offers excellent connectivity to the wider Parisian transport network, with proximity to Metro Line 1, RER C and E lines, and the T3b tramway. Furthermore, approximately ten RATP bus lines are accessible from the station, facilitating seamless transfers for travelers.
Paris-Bercy’s Gradual Closure and Future Plans
The opening of the Porte Maillot station follows “two years of negotiations and uncertainties” regarding the future of the Paris-Bercy bus station, which has frequently faced criticism for its deteriorating condition. The closure, initially announced by the Paris City Hall in 2023, will be a gradual process, with full cessation of services expected by 2030.
In the interim, operators will relocate between 30% and 50% of their services from Bercy to Porte Maillot. This “decongestion” of Bercy is intended to provide a “sense of calm” for local residents who have expressed concerns about the station’s impact on their neighborhood. BlaBlaCar Bus anticipates transferring approximately a quarter of its Bercy services to Porte Maillot between Monday and early January.
Renovations at Bercy and a New Hub in Saint-Denis Pleyel
Even as its closure approaches, the Paris-Bercy station is undergoing “beautification” works, including “deep cleaning,” repainting of walls “to brighten the premises,” and “improvement of waiting areas.” The 12th arrondissement town hall has also requested Saemes, the company managing the bus station, to renovate toilets and enhance seating and lighting to ensure “decent travel conditions until the total relocation.”
Looking ahead, a new, larger bus station is slated to open in Saint-Denis Pleyel, Seine-Saint-Denis, in 2030. This facility is expected to become the primary hub for most long-distance coach operators currently based at Bercy. In addition to the Porte Maillot station, a “site de remisage” (a depot) will open at the Boulevard de Douaumont car park in the 17th arrondissement to support these transitions, as confirmed by FlixBus.
This strategic relocation and the opening of the Porte Maillot station represent a significant restructuring of Paris’s long-distance bus infrastructure, aiming to enhance passenger experience and optimize urban transport flow in the coming years.
