Île-de-France Mobilités Launches 30-Kilometre Paris Metro Line 14 Extension Linking Orly Airport to Saint-Denis Pleyel

Grand Paris Express Backbone Delivers 30-Kilometre Driverless Rapid Transit Spine

PARIS, Île-de-France — In a monumental achievement for public mobility across the greater Paris metropolitan region, Île-de-France Mobilités and transport operator RATP have officially inaugurated full commercial revenue passenger service across the southern and northern extensions of Paris Metro Line 14. Stretching approximately 30 kilometres from the northern transit hub at Saint-Denis Pleyel to Paris-Orly Airport in the south, Line 14 is now the longest automated driverless subway line in the Île-de-France transit network, forming the foundational central spine of the ambitious Grand Paris Express orbital rail program.

Representing a multi-billion-euro public infrastructure investment delivered by the Société des Grands Projets and RATP, the dual extensions connect key economic zones, business districts, and national sports venues directly to Paris's second-largest international aviation gateway, fundamentally reshaping travel across the capital region.

Eight Landmark Subterranean Stations Anchored by Saint-Denis Pleyel and Orly Airport

The project introduced 14 kilometres of newly excavated tunnel in the south and 1.6 kilometres in the north, adding eight state-of-the-art passenger stations:

• Saint-Denis Pleyel: The massive northern terminus designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, serving as a monumental multimodal transit interchange connecting RER D, Metro Line 13, and future orbital lines 15, 16, and 17.
• Maison Blanche: Located in Paris's 13th arrondissement, establishing critical transfers with Metro Line 7 and regional tram lines.
• Hôpital Bicêtre: Providing direct underground rapid transit connectivity to the Kremlin-Bicêtre university hospital complex.
• L’Haÿ-les-Roses & Chevilly-Larue: Connecting southern suburban communities and the international Rungis wholesale food market (*Marché d’Intérêt National*).
• Thiais–Orly: Serving residential and commercial logistics zones with direct connections to the RER C suburban rail network.
• Aéroport d’Orly: The southern terminus constructed beneath the airport parking esplanade, linking terminals directly with Paris Metro transit and Tramway T7.

High-Speed Journey Times and Autonomous MP14 Rubber-Tired Rolling Stock

The Line 14 extension delivers unprecedented travel-time reductions across the metropolitan area. Commuters can now travel from Châtelet in central Paris to Orly Airport in just 25 minutes—slashing previous transit times by more than half and eliminating the need for cumbersome multi-leg transfers via the RER B and Orlyval shuttle.

Commercial operations are powered by a fleet of Alstom MP14 eight-car rubber-tired trainsets governed by Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) unattended train operation. Running at peak headways of just 85 seconds, the trains feature fully automated regenerative braking, LED ambient lighting, onboard digital security surveillance, and full-height glass platform screen doors at every station.

Slashing Regional Carbon Footprint and Relieving Suburban Highway Congestion

With ridership projected to reach 1 million passengers daily, Line 14 significantly reduces reliance on private motor vehicles along the heavily congested A6 and A86 motorway corridors.

By preventing an estimated 100,000 private vehicle journeys every single day, the electrified transit expansion delivers substantial air-quality improvements across the Paris basin, cementing Greater Paris's status as a global pioneer in low-carbon, high-capacity urban mobility.