Modernisation and automation of Paris Metro Line 4

Project opportunity

Most of the Paris Metro network was built between 1900 and 1935. In the years between 1955 and 1975, the metro transport system underwent its first wave of modernisation with the emergence of Operations Control Centres (OCC), signal boxes, on-line regulation systems, and an automated pilot system.

Because of the need for regular renewal of equipment, RATP launched a second wave of modernisation that we are currently in the midst of. This modernisation programme has the following goals:

• Guarantee better safety
• Increase transport capacity
• Improve the quality of service
• Overcome the obsolescence of equipment
• Reduce maintenance and operation costs.

In this context, Metro Line 1 was the first line on the network to be converted from manually driven operation to fully automated operation. Line 1 was chosen because it was the oldest and busiest line of the network, and the level of traffic on it remains high all day long but is subject to route-changes due to large-scale events in Paris. The line also doubles the route of regional trains RER line A (the busiest in Europe).

Automation of Line 1 was completed in December 2012 after a mixed fleet operation period (trains under manual control and trains without drivers operating at the same time). At the time, this modernisation process of automating an operating line without interrupting the traffic was unprecedented in the world; it was conducted with the comfort of the 750,000 daily passengers always in mind.

Dealing with curves and platform screen doors (PSDs) during the retrofit, plus negotiating with the social partners and organising the mixed fleet operation were among the difficulties of the project.

Now the automatic system brings adaptability and potential tailoring to the offer, plus an increase in commercial speed and capacity, eco-driving, strong resilience and traffic reliability improvement. Among the KPIs, the number of trains during peak-hours is now 100%, whereas it struggled to reach 92% before the automation.

And the customers are appreciative: traffic is growing 70% faster on Line 1 than on the other lines of the network.

Line 4

Carrying approximately 740,000 passengers a day, Line 4 is the second busiest metro line after Line 1 with recurrent overloading during peak and off-peak hours. Line 4 crosses Paris from North to South and serves 27 stations along a 12.1km-long route.

The future 1.7km-long extension of Line 4 will concern the communes of Montrouge and Bagneux in the South of Paris, and will include two new stations.

Line 4 has connections with all the Paris Metro lines and RER (Regional Express Network). Three main train stations (Gare Montparnasse, Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord), many tourist areas, districts and employment centres are also in the operating area of the line.

Line 4 shows close resemblance to Line 1, and before it was automated the line-equipment was aging and faced recurring problems in terms of regularity. The line’s traffic is very sensitive to events on the streets and the numbers of interconnections with the rest of the network is very important.

The feedback on Line 1 has demonstrated, first and foremost, that the automation of an existing line is technically feasible and that it makes sense within the wider modernisation plan of the Paris Metro; and, secondly, that automation and renovation of transport infrastructure has a significant positive effect on regularity – the reasons for this can include:

• It makes it possible to quickly restart operations in nominal mode after an incident
• PSDs reduce incidents
• The newly deployed systems are more available.

The Line 4 automation project and the upgrade of the line infrastructure will help to anticipate substantial gains in terms of regularity, quality of service offered to passengers, flexibility of operation and safety, just like we now experience on Line 1.

The key components of the project

The automation project of Paris Metro Line 4 requires:

• The implementation of an automatic train operating under a system virtually equivalent to the one on Line 14 and Line 1, including the modernisation of the Operations Control Centre (OCC)
• The upgrade of existing lineside signals
• An upgrade programme of transport infrastructure like the subgrade or civil engineering works
• The reinforcement of the platforms anticipating the installation of PSDs
• The complete renewal of rolling stock
• A new line-management organisation.

This automation project is estimated to be finished in 2022.

Operation system

The automated train operation management system can be broken down into two aspects:

1. An OCC allowing operation and maintenance operators to ensure the supervision and control of the system. The OCC is interfaced with:

1. The CBTC (Communications Based Train Control) which ensure the driverless shuttles according to requests from the OCC. It is based also on signalling in order to control routes and PSDs
2. Audio visual means for communicating with passengers

2. On-board CBTC shuttles which interface with:

1. Rolling stock in order to acquire the status of the train and perform traction control, braking or opening and closing doors
2. On-board audio visual means to provide the elements needed for the control of passenger information
3. Trackside beacons throughout the line for the detection of trains.

A new automated pilot system will replace the low frequency automated pilot system currently used (which was established in 1971) and will allow mixing automated trains with manually driven trains. For this, it will be interfaced with the renovated existing signalling.

The modernisation of the Operations Control Centre

The current OCC installed in November 2001 by the French manufacturer Atos is the first centralised and computerised OCC on the Paris Metro network. For the automation of Line 4, a new centralised OCC will be implemented.

Migration from the current OCC – already modernised – to a new OCC is a huge challenge in comparison with the automation of Line 1. Also, the extension of Line 4 to Bagneux adds one more strain to this delicate project.

Audio visual means

The quality of information and communication with passengers is vital for modern metro networks.

The automation project of Line 4 will use the feedback from Line 1 and also on Lines 2, 5 and 9 (with the deployment of new type-MF 01trains, which have on-board modern audio visual equipment, even if the trains are manually driven).

The deployment of the audio visual equipment involves the design and supply of all on-board audio visual equipment on automatic shuttles, platforms, under the tunnel, plus the establishment of data transmission infrastructure (specific to automation) and the establishment of interfaces with the OCC.

Infrastructure modernisation

The infrastructure of Line 4 (tracks, tunnel, signalling, and power supply) has reached the end of its life-cycle. The refurbishment of existing equipment is needed, regardless of the choice to automate.

Moreover, signalling continues to be used in degraded mode on an automated line and the proper functioning of the signalling system is essential for the mixed fleet operation phase.

Platform screen doors

All 29 stations on Line 4 will be equipped with semi-full-height platform screen doors (PSDs). Feedback from Line 14 and Line 1 show that the presence of PSDs plays a significant role in the regularity of operation, and provides an undeniable feeling of safety for passengers.

Their installation will require civil engineering works for reinforcement and the enhancement of platforms knowing that stations have different architecture and construction methods.

Rolling stock

Shortly after the extension of Line 14 to the North, automatic shuttles with six passenger cars will be replaced by the new generation of rolling stock type-MP14 with a higher capacity (eight passenger cars).

Most of these shuttles must be redeployed on Line 4. A new generation of rolling stock (about 20 shuttles with six passenger cars) acquired in the future (type-MP14) will complete the future Line 4 rolling stock fleet.

Ultimately, Line 4 will operate with three different types of automatic rolling stock: MP89 and MP05 from Line 14, and MP14 (six passenger cars), which will generate an additional challenge in the development of the automatic system.

Project organisation

For the success of the project, interfaces between sub-projects will have to be tightly managed. For example, thanks to the feedback from the automation of Line 1, we now know how crucial it is to take into account the critical interface between civil engineering and PSDs. Moreover, particular attention must be given to the organisation of night works. Careful planning of these works will be necessary; it should take into account the requirements of high quality of communication for passengers on the project and its impacts on the operation.

The complexity of the project is also due to the need to control interactions with many other projects or activities of maintenance. In addition, Line 4 will have an exceptional concentration of worksites between 2015 and 2018.

All this makes the automation of Line 4 automation a huge challenge that only an integrated company can face. RATP – thanks to its experience in operations, maintenance and engineering – is able to carry out such a project, as shown in the past.

Conclusion

The automation of Line 4 will increase its capacity, regularity, quality of service, reactivity and security. As for Line 1, the goal is to complete this project without interrupting passenger traffic.

This new project will allow the RATP group, owner of the operation, to strengthen its leadership in the field of complex modernisation projects, which is based primarily on its integrated model and its high-tech engineering experience.

Biography

Edgar Sée graduated as an Engineer from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris. He joined RATP in 2003 and occupied several posts in operation – especially during the automation project of Metro Line 1 – before becoming Head of Metro Line 14 in June 2011. In September 2013, Edgar was appointed as Project Manager for Metro Line 4 Automation.