The Paris metro reached an important milestone this Monday with the inauguration of the extension of line 14, which now connects the center of Paris to Saint-Denis-Pleyel station. This inauguration, led by President Emmanuel Macron, marks the end of an ambitious and complex project. Thanks to this new section, users will be able to reach Orly airport from the center of Paris in just 25 minutes, and benefit from improved access to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
The project, which lasted seven years, required continuous work, even during the confinement of March 2020, to be ready in time for the Olympic Games. Digging the Saint-Denis – Pleyel station involved the excavation of 500,000 cubic meters of earth, equivalent to 100 Olympic swimming pools. The scale of this underground station is remarkable, extending over one hectare and sinking 28 meters underground.
Line 14, which was already in service during the work, had to undergo a modernization of its traffic management system while being extended towards the north and the south. This double technical feat has been highlighted by experts, who consider it an exceptional feat. With its 27 kilometers, line 14 becomes the longest metro line in Paris and will see its transport capacity increase, from 600,000 to nearly a million travelers per day.
The extension of line 14 plays a strategic role for the Olympic Games, by connecting three key sites: the Athletes’ Village, the Aquatic Center and the Stade de France. The completion of this project within the planned deadlines is a success which testifies to the efficiency and determination of the teams involved.
