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Metro: Line 6 to be under construction for 10 years soon?

undefined undefined 3 mars 2025 undefined 18h00

undefined undefined 4 mars 2025 undefined 08h48

The Editor

© Saskia B / Shutterstock

We all know that a subway needs maintenance. Just look at Paris, which has been under continuous construction for decades to make it more efficient, more punctual, more comfortable, and more… However, one major issue still remains largely overlooked: accessibility. This barrier might soon be lifted, but not without another massive renovation project.

This is the new goal of Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM): to make the metro accessible to everyone, especially to people with reduced mobility (PRM). It's a measure we can only support, as using public transport is currently a nightmare for those affected, but unfortunately, it requires colossal construction work that could last more than a decade. And the first line that could finally enter the era of modernity and inclusivity? The 6.


A line ahead of its time

This is the first stone of a project that promises to be titanic. On February 13th, during the Paris Council, the city approved the funding for a study project to consider…A transformation of line 6 that crosses the capital from east to west. The goal of this consultation is simple : to look into the feasibility of total or partial accessibility of this entire section of the Paris public transport network. With one million euros in hand, the experts will have until 2026 to share their opinions on the matter.

So, why choose line 6, which currently connects Place de la Nation to Place de l’Étoile, you might ask? Well, because it’s a priority according to the City of Paris, and more specifically, Lamia El-Aaraje, deputy to Anne Hidalgo in charge of disability and urban planning. And for good reason! This line has 13 elevated stations (out of 28), which can be transformed more easily, serves a number of major tourist spots in Paris, and offers multiple connections with existing accessible lines for people with reduced mobility, such as the RER A, B, or line 14.


A huge project

At the end of these initial discussions, if the project is deemed feasible, it probably won’t come to life right away. Indeed, after this first year of studies, we should expect between 3 to 5 years for the design.

Plans and obtaining the necessary permits before starting the construction phase which, should last a good ten years, and this just for line 6, once again.

Colossal delays indicate that the entire metro system won’t become accessible overnight. Especially considering that these works for just one line cost between 660 and 850 million euros. That's an absolutely astronomical sum, to be multiplied by the number of lines needing modernization. However, let's remember that right after the Olympics, Valérie Pécresse, president of IDFM, committed to providing a third of this amount. Well, only 566 million more to find!