why traffic is interrupted on the RER B this weekend

The modernization of the RER B continues and is coming to fruition. Considered one of the most suffering public transport lines in the Ile-de-France network, it must undergo a certain number of adjustments. In particular work on infrastructure and systems which should make it possible to improve the reliability and regularity of this particularly busy line. But they cannot be done without the temporary closure of certain sections. Thus, RER B traffic has already been interrupted this week on its northern part every evening from 10:45 p.m. between Châtelet–Les Halles and Charles de Gaulle 2/Mitry-Claye Airport. And it will be interrupted again this weekend for three days, from Saturday November 9 to Monday November 11, between Denfert-Rochereau and La Croix de Berny/Robinson, in both directions of traffic.

Concretely, it will therefore not be possible to go from the city center of Paris to the south of the line, nor to Antony where Orlyval – which leads to Orly airport – will also be closed to the public from Saturday 9 to Monday, November 11. As an alternative, two shuttles will be deployed and reinforced from 5 a.m. and until 1 a.m.: a direct shuttle will serve Porte d'Orléans, Bourg-la-Reine and La Croix de Berny, and an omnibus shuttle which will serve all stations between Denfert-Rochereau and Bourg-la-Reine. In addition, four regular bus lines will also be reinforced for the occasion: lines 128, 192, 197 and 394.

The objective of this operation? “The modernization in the broad sense of the RER B”explains Armel Desorbay, project manager for this temporary traffic interruption (ITC), before reminding that the RER B “close to saturation”just like the RER A, is one of the busiest lines in Europe “with more than a million daily travelers”. Numbers “increase of 13% in 5 years” for the southern part managed by RATP, and 2.5% over the last year for the entire line. “This influx of course requires an adaptation of the railway installations, some of which are aging”specifies the RATP, according to which “their development is imperative in order to ensure an efficient transport offer”.

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Increasing performance as a goal

On the program in particular, the renewal of the Bourg-la-Reine signaling station and other technical installations such as the switchgear motors which today allow “to ensure the management of rail train traffic” of the line, continues Armel Desorbay. This interruption will also be an opportunity for RATP “to adapt certain infrastructures for the arrival of MI20”these highly anticipated new trainsets that Alstom is struggling to deliver. Scheduled for 2025, their delivery will not ultimately take place before 2031. This requires “to carry out track leveling work” of certain platforms such as at the Parc de Sceaux station, but also “to renew the track and the ballast” at Robinson station.

In total, no less than 8 weekends of total closure of the section will be necessary until 2026 to carry out all of this work. A blessing in disguise since in the long term, they should allow “increasing operating performance” as well as “enhancing comfort for travelers”underlines the RATP. According to the operator, it is also a “prerequisites for the deployment of the future NExTEO system”. A brand new piloting automation tool whose commissioning planned for 2031 should enable “to gain punctuality and performance”. In the meantime, the RER B is still lagging behind, with a level of punctuality estimated at 89.43% in September.

A year ago, Valérie Pécresse recalled the special attention paid to this line. “We want to make RER B one of the most reliable RER lines in Europe”she then said, on the occasion of the presentation of the report commissioned from the railway expert Yves Ramette to improve the situation of this line. The president of the region and Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) took the opportunity to put pressure on the SNCF – which operates the line to the north – and the RATP – which operates the line to the south – so that they work more hand in hand. And the ambition is strong, since the president's objective was to “gain 1% regularity per year on average” to reach “95% regularity in 2031”.