Despite its recent modernization worksthe Gare du Nord is having difficulty carve out a place in the hearts of its Ile-de-France users. And unfortunately for her, the severe traffic disruptions expected for the All Saints’ Day holidays are not likely to fix things, since enormous work will have significant impact on train trafficand in particular that RER B and Damong the most popular in the capital.
A heavily affected network
Three times this fall, you will have to hold on if you pass through the Gare du Nord. Indeed, from October 25 to 27of 1st to 3 and the November 23 and 24 next year, a good number of trains will be deleteddue to the modernization of a bridge in the Saint-Denis area, on the northern axis which leaves from the station. Unfortunately, this involves a big upheaval for RER lines B and Dbut also for transiliens H and K.
During these few days, alone nine trains per hour will circulate on the northern axis of the RER BAnd one train in two between Denfert-Rochereau and Gare du Nord, with an interconnection suspended in this station (understand: you will have to change platforms systematically). Same refrain for the RER Dwith six trains per hourand none traffic between Gare du Nord and Châtelet. Line H will be very disrupted, with less traffic, and the K line is completely interrupted.
For great ills, great remedies
To overcome this situation, which unfortunately risks leading to overcrowding of line 4, already overcrowdedthe RATP has promised to strengthen the service on the said line. Same thing for 5 and 14, which should also serve as a fallback solution. Some buses will also be therebut hey, we’re not sure that it’s really enough to resolve the problem and that it will allow this day to take place as calmly as possible.
If, normally, most of the work is done at night to prevent disruption as much as possiblethis time, given the scale of the project, it is impossible not to do this in THE best conditionsnamely during the day. And for good reason, we are still talking about replacing a bridge located above of the most traveled routes in Europewhich still weighs 1800 tons ! No wonder it takes time. And more than you think, since further disruptions are expected in February…
