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Metro: no air conditioning in all trains until 2033!

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The Editor

© Jagoda Bartus / Le Bonbon

Yes, in the past few days, temperatures have slightly dropped in the capital, but they will be on the rise again very soon, starting this weekend! And here’s the bad news: you won't be able to find refuge in the subway for a bit of coolness... At least not right away!

While Paris has just experienced an exceptionally hot wave, Parisians have double the creativity to find places to cool off (thanks to the Saint-Martin Canal), everyone could see that the capital's metro was definitely not one of those blessed spots. On the contrary, some lines even turned into a waiting room for hell for a few days. And unfortunately, the situation isn’t going to change anytime soon.


An oven beneath the streets of Paris

Right now, you might not know (or feel), but the capital actually has almost 50% of its lines equipped with a effective cooling system. Yes, yes, 50%, which means technically one metro line out of two. Specifically, the best-equipped lines (and therefore to be favored without shame) are...

Lines 1, 2, 5, 9, 11, and 14, are completely equipped with air conditioning, also known as climate control. A part of line 4 is also blessed, while the rest of its fleet has to make do with enhanced mechanical ventilation — which means air circulation that's a bit less hot than lukewarm — just like lines 6, 13, and 7bis. For other modes of transport, one thing is for sure, rush to the tram, fully air-conditioned. On the RER side, 100% of line A is cooled and 80% of line B. For lines C and D, you're down to 30% of air-conditioned cars. Lastly, 75% of line E is ventilated. And all of this is when the system decides to work, of course!


A situation on the verge of change

However, no matter the mode of transport, the good news is that the situation should evolve in the coming years. It may be not fast enough for some, but it's already something. Indeed, with the arrival of the new MF19 trains on the metro, more and more lines will soon benefit from air conditioning systems that truly make a difference. So, line 10 already has a few cool trains (20% at the time we're speaking), and will soon be followed by the remaining 7 lines in the coming years, by 2033 to be exact. On the RER, the same goes, as new trains are expected on line D, and line E is set to reach 90% by the end of the year. Well, in the meantime, we're...Don't forget your water bottle, your fan, and your mister, and let's be patient...