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Heatwave: up to 56°C recorded in Paris public transport

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The Editor

© Jagoda Bartus / Le Bonbon

For the past few days, it's been super hot in the capital. While some spots, like the Canal Saint-Martin, have turned into true oases, others are definitely places to avoid like the plague. This is especially true for public transport, which seems to be caught in the flames of hell.

As if taking public transport in Paris wasn’t already a challenge on a regular day—except during the blessed period of the 2024 Olympics—during a heatwave, it turns into a trial worthy of the most intense editions of Hunger Games. People get sticky, unpleasant, and with the lack of air conditioning on most lines, the temperatures reach completely absurd levels, as evidenced by the readings taken this week.


Record Temperatures

Since the beginning of the heatwave, each day, an unbearable suspense hangs over the users of public transport in the Île-de-France: will their line be able to cope with the heat?

function in extreme heat ? A question that mainly concerns train passengers, but doesn't exclude bus enthusiasts, for whom keeping services running is becoming increasingly complex.

Indeed, this Wednesday, June 24, the temperature of several RATP buses was analyzed at the Porte d’Ivry terminus, and the result is alarming. As reported by Yassine Jioua, a CGT delegate, to Le Parisien, the thermostat reached 48°C in the driver's cabin and up to 56°C at the back of some vehicles that lack air conditioning. This is a regrettable situation for both drivers and passengers.


Mandatory Measures

In light of these conditions, the RATP has decided to take action, allowing breaks that are twice the normal length to help drivers cope with the heat. However, this exemption only applies

47°C dans des bus neufs à 700 000 €, avec des climatisations en panne faute de personnel pour les réparer.

Les usagers paient près de 100 € leur Navigo pour voyager dans ces conditions. Salariés et voyageurs subissent.

Madame @vpecresse, jusqu’à quand ?#Canicule #Transport pic.twitter.com/lLMaX5wCv6

— Ahmed Berrahal (@berrahalAhmed93) June 22, 2026

To defend against the threats from drivers exercising their right to withdraw concerning workplace health, IDFM points out that buses are very difficult to cool down given their exposure outdoors all day, and that the Greater Paris fleet is undergoing ventilation upgrades, with a 100% goal by 2030. For now, we’re keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that our favorite line doesn't overheat…