“For us the Olympics have already started”, would like to emphasize Jean Castex. Visiting the maintenance center for metro line 9, the CEO of RATP comes to ensure that preparations are progressing well. Between now and the summer, the line’s 75 trains must undergo a thorough inspection. Motors, brakes, ventilation… everything goes because these are all potential breakdowns to avoid.
For this, the Paris transport authority is carrying out “Preventive maintenance”. That is to say the early replacement of sensitive parts, without waiting for damage.
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These operations mainly take place on weekends, when line traffic is lower. And in the event of a small breakdown, a breakdown assistance station will also remain open 7 days a week at the other end of the line in Montreuil.
“We are in the process of checking all the ventilation systems, they are very important for the comfort of travelers on hot days,” explains Stéphane Legrand, the manager of the Boulogne-Billancourt workshop.
To maintain these rates, the maintenance teams have been reinforced. For line 9, 14 people were recruited last year to reach 57 maintainers.
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As for the drivers too, 250 reinforcements must be ready to take up service during the summer, including nearly 50 only for line 9. Jobs which will be continued after the Olympic Games.
Logistics must also be completely reviewed in anticipation of the traffic restrictions linked to the Olympics. Most of the parts for the maintenance sites will therefore have to be delivered at night during the competition.
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