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Metro: for the first time, Paris's busiest line has changed!

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The Editor

© Adnane / Wikimedia Commons

The Paris Metro, like everything else, evolves. And even more so in recent years, as the lines extend in all directions, offering nearly endless travel possibilities. In fact, one of the lines has just dethroned Line 1, which has been at the top of the ridership rankings non-stop since it opened…

It’s a revolution in the history of the Paris metro. For the very first time since July 19, 1900, when line 1 was launched, the line that crosses Paris from Château de Vincennes to La Défense is no longer the most frequented by passengers. So, who has managed to dethrone the yellow trains and their around 750,000 daily riders? And most importantly, what explains this phenomenon? We’ll tell you all about it.


The crème de la crème of the Paris metro

We won’t keep you waiting any longer, the most frequented line in the capital is now… line 14 ! And at the same time, considering it’s the fastest line in Paris and one of the only lines that is automated at this time, we’re not very surprised by this result. I

It still manages to record around 820,000 daily travelers, with the majority passing through Gare de Lyon stations (250,000 people every day) and Châtelet-les-Halles. So what are the reasons behind this drastic increase in traffic?


Two factors not to overlook

On one hand, as we mentioned earlier, it's the extension of the line, both north and south, that helps attract many travelers. In total, over 190,000 daily passengers use the southern route, with 43,000 making their way to the Orly airport extension. Up north, the same story unfolds, as Saint-Denis Pleyel already sees 22,000 daily crossings, a number that is expected to rise with the upcoming opening of lines 15, 16, 17, and 18.

On the other hand, the RATP also mentions longer trains than those on other lines, allowing for 33% more passengers, which also explains a larger number of riders. Similarly, this line offers more trains than the others, with average intervals of just 85 seconds, making it the fastest in Paris. And guess what? There’s no stopping here, as 3 new trains will be making their debut in the coming years!