Paris Métro Line 18

Line 18 is the result of the Grand Paris public transport network project, presented by the President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. This provided for a large gauge green line connecting Orly Airport to Roissy via Saclay and La Défense. The green line is then included in the Grand Paris Express project with a terminus this time fixed at Nanterre, with entry into service then envisaged between 2025 and 2030.

On 6 March 2013, the Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault unveils the map of the future network of the Nouveau Grand Paris (new name of the Grand Paris Express), on which appears for the first time the denomination of "line 18". Its route is then limited to the section {{stn|Aéroport d'Orly}} – Versailles-Chantiers, the future of the section to Nanterre becoming uncertain. A variant of the route making it possible to serve the Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University was being considered, but was subsequently abandoned in favor of a more direct route. It is also on this occasion that the choice of a metro with an appropriate gauge is indicated, in view of the expected ridership which does not justify trains as large as on the other lines.

In 2014, Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced that the sections CEA Saint-Aubin – Massy – Palaiseau and Massy – Palaiseau – Aéroport d'Orly would be effective from 2024, the line having to be ready in time to serve the site envisaged for the Universal Exhibition of 2025.{{cite web | url = http://www.metronews.fr/paris/grand-paris-la-ligne-14-reliera-l-aeroport-d-orly-des-2024/mngi!Gps5AHP4Pho | title = Grand Paris: line 14 will connect Orly airport from 2024 | website = metronews.fr | date = 9 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140713084730/http://www.metronews.fr/paris/grand-paris-la-ligne-14-reliera-l-aeroport-d-orly-des-2024/mngi!Gps5AHP4Pho | access-date = 26 January 2017 | archive-date = 13 July 2014 | quote = The Prime Minister has also undertaken to bring forward by three years the link project between Orly and the Saclay pole by the future line 18 of the Grand Paris Express. This link would thus be effective from 2024}}

The reinforced consultation on the line 18 project (section Orly Airport – Versailles-Chantiers ) took place from 12 May to 12 June 2015.[http://www.societedugrandparis.fr/troncon/ligne-18 Line 18 in consultation], Société du Grand Paris The public investigation file was sent to the regional prefect by the SGP in the summer of 2015, for an investigation from 21 March to 26 April 2016.[http://www.societedugrandparis.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/dp_grand-paris_14avril2015.pdf Press kit of the Interministerial Committee on Grand Paris of April 14, 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417110300/http://www.societedugrandparis.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/dp_grand-paris_14avril2015.pdf |date=17 April 2015 }}, page 7, accessed 17 April 2015.

Line 18 is declared of public utility on 28 March 2017.{{Légifrance | base = JORF | numéro = DEVT1637685D | texte = Decree n ° 2017-425 of 28 March 2017 declaring of public utility and urgent the work necessary for the realization of the automatic metro section… corresponding to line 18…}}, published in the "Official Journal" n ° 0076 of 30 March 2017, on legifrance.gouv.fr , consulted on 30 March 2017.

In January 2018, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced the withdrawal of the French candidacy for the organization of the Universal Exhibition of 2025.{{cite web | url = http://www.rtl.fr/actu/politique/exposition-universelle-2025-les-dessous-de-l-annonce-du-renoncement-de-la-france-7791921587 | title = Universal Exhibition 2025: below the announcement of the renunciation of France | publisher = rtl.fr | date = 22 January 2018 | author = Pauline De Saint-Rémy and Loïc Farge | access-date = 23 January 2018}} It was then envisaged that a first section from Massy-Palaiseau to CEA Saint-Aubin be put into service from 2026.{{cite web | title = The new roadmap of the Grand Paris Express | url = https://www.societedugrandparis.fr/gpe/actualite/la-nouvelle-feuille-de-route-du-grand-paris-express-1683 | website = societedugrandparis.fr | date = 22 February 2018 | access-date = 23 February 2018}}.{{cite web | author = Cécile Chevallier | title = Plateau de Saclay: the line 18 will be in service in 2026, we promise! | url = http://www.leparisien.fr/essonne-91/plateau-de-saclay-la-ligne-18-sera-en-service-en-2026-promis-08-01-2019-7983633.php | website = leparisien.fr | date = 8 January 2019 | access-date = 9 January 2019 | quote = Michel Cadot [prefect of the Île-de-France region] told Les Echos daily that the section between Massy-Palaiseau station and CEA Saint-Aubin will be operational in 2026.}}

On 15 May 2020, the Société du Grand Paris awarded Vinci Construction the first civil engineering contract for the {{Nobr | line 18}}, for an amount of 800 million euros: it concerns the section from Orly to the Saclay plateau.{{cite web | author = Cécile Chevallier | title = Line 18 of the Grand Paris express: work on the tunnel will start this summer | url = http://www.leparisien.fr/essonne-91/ligne-18-du-grand-paris-express-les-travaux-du-tunnel-demarreront-cet-ete-16-05-2020-8318247.php | website = leparisien.fr | date = 16 May 2020 | access-date = 16 May 2020}}{{cite web | title = Grand Paris Express : a consortium led by Vinci wins a contract worth nearly 800 million euros | url = https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/economie-social/grand-paris-express-un-groupement-mene-par-vinci-decroche-un-contrat-de-pres-de-800-millions-d-euros-1589568146 | website = France Bleu | date = 15 May 2020 | access-date = 16 May 2020}}

From Monday 15 June to Friday 17 July 2020, an additional public inquiry is carried out, to obtain an amending declaration of public utility, allowing the declaration of public utility to be made compatible with the town planning documents of Orsay, Palaiseau and Wissous.{{cite web | language = fr | title = Single public inquiry prior to the amending declaration of public utility concerning the project for line 18 of the transport network of the Grand Paris Express connecting the Orly Airport stations (excluded) to Versailles Chantiers, making the town planning documents of the municipalities of Orsay, Palaiseau and Wissous (91) compatible | url = https://www.enquetes-publiques.com/Enquetes_WEB/FR/EP20111/Accueil.awp | date = 15 June 2020 | access-date = 22 July 2020}}

Line 18 is planned to be put into service in the following stages:{{cite web | title = Single public inquiry prior to the amending declaration of public utility concerning the project for line 18 of the Grand Paris Express transport network linking Orly Airport stations (excluded) at Versailles Chantiers, bringing the planning documents of the municipalities of Orsay, Palaiseau and Wissous (91) into compatibility: File | url = https://www.enquetes-publiques.com/Enquetes_WEB/FR/EP20111/Dossier.awp?AWPID1F8039BF=DE1537C819E4D36608A94069CF43C6583139380D | website = www.enquetes-publiques.com | access-date = 22 July 2020}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Pose des rails sur le viaduc, construction des gares… le chantier de la ligne 18 du métro avance |url=https://actu.fr/societe/pose-des-rails-sur-le-viaduc-construction-des-gares-le-chantier-de-la-ligne-18-du-metro-avance_60346292.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=actu.fr |language=fr}}

• in October 2026, for the section from {{stn|Massy-Palaiseau}} to {{stn|Christ de Saclay}},
• at the end of 2027, for the section from {{stn|Aéroport d'Orly}} to {{stn|Massy-Palaiseau}},
• by 2030, for the section from {{stn|Christ de Saclay}} to {{stn|Versailles Chantiers}}.

For an opening after 2030, an extension from {{stn|Versailles Chantiers}} to {{stn|Nanterre–La Folie}} is under study.

The State-Region memorandum of understanding having ratified the fact that the {{nobr | line 18}}, originally called the green line, would be an automatic metro line with suitable gauge.[http://www.ville.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/ProtocoleD_accordEtatRegion.pdf Protocol between the State and the Region relating to public transport in Ile-de-France] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108070906/http://ville.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/ProtocoleD_accordEtatRegion.pdf|date=8 November 2011}}, Ministry of the City.[http://www.ville.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/CarteContributionEtatEtRegionDebatsPublics.pdf Contribution of the State and the Region with public debates – Map of public transport networks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303222903/http://www.ville.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/CarteContributionEtatEtRegionDebatsPublics.pdf|date=3 March 2011}}, Ministry of the City. the type of rolling stock that will circulate there will be an automatic metro, running on iron. The cars will have a width of approximately {{Convert|2.50|m|sp=us}} (a size similar to that of the current Paris metro) and the trains will be composed of three or four cars which can accommodate 350 travelers by train.{{cite web | url = https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/projet/metro-18-nouvelle-ligne-aeroport-dorly-versailles-chantiers/ | title = Metro 18 : New line – Orly Airport> Versailles Chantiers | website = www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr | access-date = 25 September 2019 | archive-date = 25 September 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190925135501/https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/projet/metro-18-nouvelle-ligne-aeroport-dorly-versailles-chantiers/ | url-status = dead }} The trains will be supplied by a third rail in 1500 V, unlike lines 15, 16 and 17.[http://www.societedugrandparis.fr/ en-mouvement-ligne-18 / meeting-from-May-12-to-June-12-2015-to know Meet-up from May 12 to June 12, 2015 to find out more], '' Société du Grand Paris' '.

Preparatory works (relocation of networks) started in January 2018 at the future station Massy Opéra .[https://www.societedugrandparis.fr / gpe / actualite / massy-displacement-of-underground-existing-networks-1636 Massy: displacement of existing underground networks], Société du Grand Paris, 10 January 2018.

Image:Travaux de construction de la gare d'Antonypôle (8), Antony.jpg

Image:Viaduc Ligne 18 N118.jpg near Orsay (July 2022).]]

The market for the construction of the tunnel, stations and service works between the future station Aéroport d'Orly and the Saclay plateau, beyond the Massy station. Palaiseau was awarded in May 2020 to a consortium made up of Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Spie Batignolles Civil Engineering, Dodin Campenon-Bernard, Vinci Construction France, Spie Batignolles Foundations and Boots Foundations. The amount of the contract is EUR 799 million excluding taxes. This contract includes the construction of {{Convert|11.8|km|sp=us}} of tunnel which will be dug by two tunnel boring machines, the construction of the Antonypôle, Massy Opéra and Massy-Palaiseau stations, as well as the crossing of the future Aéroport d'Orly, already under construction, and 13 works of service east of the line.{{cite web | url = https://media-mediatheque.societedugrandparis.fr/pm_1_122_122974-lxqh9ye9e6.pdf | title = La Société du Grand Paris awards the first civil engineering contract of line 18 | website = societedugrandparis.fr | date = 15 May 2020 | access-date = 19 May 2020}}

Two tunnel boring machines will be used to dig the {{convert|11.8|km}} tunnel of the eastern section of Line 18 between Aéroport d'Orly and the Saclay plateau.

File:Carte Métro Paris Ligne 18 (Projet 2030).svg

With a length of {{Cvt|35|km}}, line 18 has an underground section of approximately {{Cvt|22|km}} (61% of the line) and an overhead section of {{Cvt|13|km}} (39% of line).

The line starts underground at Orly Airport to the south-east at the limit of the departments of Essonne and Val-de-Marne, under the car parks between the west and south terminals. The station is in correspondence with the Line 14 (which is parallel to it) and is extended by a rear station.

The route heads north and passes under the airport runways before turning west. It crosses the municipality of Wissous without stopping, passes under the A6 and A10 highways and then turns slightly south before turning serve the station "Antonypôle" located in the town of Antony, Hauts-de-Seine. Entering the territory of the municipality of Massy, the line then serves "Massy Opéra" then passes under the LGV Atlantique before coming into line with the beam train from Massy – Palaiseau. It then serves the station of the same name where it connects with the RER B, RER C and TGV station.

The line slants again towards the west and enters the town of Palaiseau before passing under the D36 then coming to stand parallel to the latter at the level of the district "Camille-Claudel." At this point the line becomes aerial and is inserted into a viaduct. It goes beyond the connection to the future Palaiseau maintenance workshop, bypasses the École polytechnique then serves after a curve and a counter-curve the air station of "Palaiseau". The viaduct then heads south, crosses N118 and serves the Orsay-Gif station located at the limit of Orsay, Gif-sur-Yvette and Saint-Aubin. The route then heads due north then north-west along N118 and serves the CEA Saint-Aubin station in Saclay.

The line then turns towards the west and crosses a long inter-station still in the air along the D36. It crosses the municipalities of Villiers-le-Bâcle and Châteaufort, marking the entry of the line into Yvelines. It then arrives at the National Golf of Magny-les-Hameaux and finds its course underground.

The tunnel heads north-east and serves the underground station of "Saint-Quentin Est" at Guyancourt. It crosses Guyancourt then oblique towards the east and arrives at the station "Satory" located at Versailles. Finally, the line passes under N12 and heads north-east before running alongside the railway tracks and arriving at the terminus of Versailles – Chantiers where it connects to RER C and Transiliens U and N.{{cite web | publisher = Société du Grand Paris | title = Line 18 of the Grand Paris Express in 3D | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JVYSv2IpJQ&t=142s | date = 22 June 2015 | access-date = 12 July 2018}}

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File: Plan_Paris_Métro_ligne_18.svg

An operations center playing the role of maintenance and storage site for trains is planned at Palaiseau, along the departmental route 36, near the École Polytechnique campus. Earthworks, carried out by Eiffage, begin in 3rd quarter 2020.{{cite web | url = https://www.societedugrandparis.fr/gpe/centre-dexploitation/centre-dexploitation-palaiseau-1011 | title = Operation center [of] Palaiseau | website = societedugrandparis.fr | date = 2 September 2020 | access-date = 11 October 2020}}

Many local criticisms have been voiced regarding this project. Thus, residents and elected officials of the municipalities crossed by the aerial metro ask that it be buried.{{cite web | url = http://www.leparisien.fr/villiers-le-bacle-91190/ils-s-elevent-contre-le-futur-metro-aerien-du-plateau-de-saclay-01-11-2015-5237325.php | title = They protest against the future aerial metro of the Plateau de Saclay | website = leparisien.fr | date = 1 November 2015 | access-date = 2 April 2016}}{{cite web | url = http://www.monsaclay.fr/2012/05/10/les-habitants-du-plateau-de-saclay-se-mobilisent-contre-le-projet-de-metro-aerien-du-grand-paris/ | title = The inhabitants of the Saclay plateau mobilize against the Grand Paris aerial metro project | website =monsaclay.fr | date = 10 May 2012 | access-date = 2 April 2016}} In addition, the inhabitants of Wissous, a town located between Antony and Orly Airport, crossed by the line but not served by it, in fact feel forgotten by the project.{{cite web | title = Metro: the counter-project of Wissous, the great "forgotten" of line 18 | website = leparisien.fr | date = 7 June 2015 | url = http://www.leparisien.fr/wissous-91320/metro-le-contre-projet-de-wissous-la-grande-oubliee-de-la-ligne-18-07-06-2015-4840455.php | access-date = 22 July 2017}}

The most important criticisms come from expert opinions outside the field of local democracy, pointing out in particular a gap difficult to justify between the dimensioning of this infrastructure and the flows that it would accommodate in view of the tools of territorial analysis and flow simulation. . Indeed, the justification of the line 18 project within the overall public transport network project of Greater Paris presented in 2009–2010 was that of the connection of employment centers among them, which would imply a significant flow between them. However, " connections between job centers in Île-de-France only represent 3% of transport needs ".{{cite web | language = fr | title = Analysis of the utility of an Orly-Versailles heavy transport type line 18 of the Grand-Paris-Express | url = https://j-lorthiois.fr/analyse-de-lutilite-dun-transport-lourd-orly-versailles-de-type-ligne-18-du-grand-paris-express/ | website = Jacqueline Lorthiois | date = 16 July 2020 | access-date = 16 August 2020}} In addition, the analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of the territories crossed shows that we have in the Orly pole " a high proportion of workers "on the spot", that is to say holding a job. in their commune of residence ", and that in the centers of Massy and Versailles," "trips are much more made internally than to an external basin" ".

Thus, from 2015, the General Investment Commission (CGI) issued an unfavorable opinion for line 18, in its Saclay-Versailles section.{{cite web | url = https://www.lejournaldugrandparis.fr/ligne-18-avis-defavorable-du-commissariat-general-de-linvestissement-pour-le-troncon-orsay-versailles/ | title = Line 18: unfavorable opinion of the general investment-commission for the Orsay-Versailles I section | website = Journal du Grand Paris | date = 8 November 2015 | access-date = 31 January 2017}}

The FNAUT Île-de-France transport users association considers {{nobr | line 18}} as {{blockquote | a prestigious metro disconnected from real needs travel.}} AUT / FNAUT Île-de-France therefore wishes that an opinion be rendered unfavorable to the public utility of this line.{{cite web | url = http://www.aut-idf.org/Ligne-18-du-Grand-Paris-Express | title = Line 18 of the Grand Paris Express: why we give an unfavorable opinion | website = aut-idf.org | date = 27 April 2016 | access-date = 6 May 2016}} In 2017, it renews its criticisms on the oversizing of the {{nobr | line 18}} and considers that a tram-type service could be sufficient for the latter.{{cite web|title=Grand Paris Express: shocking proposals from the users association|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/info-paris-ile-de-france-oise/transports/grand-paris-express-les-propositions-chocs-de-l-association-des-usagers-26-10-2017-7357257.php|author=Jean-Gabriel Bontinck|date=26 October 2017|website=leparisien.fr}}

According to Pascal Auzannet, former senior official in charge of reflections on the Grand Paris metro project within RATP in the 2010s,{{cite book | language = fr | author1 = Pascal Auzannet | title = Les Secrets du Grand Paris: Focus on a public decision-making process | publisher = Hermann | date = 2 January 2018 | isbn = 978-2705695798 }} it would be wiser to extend the 7.3 kilometers from the Orlyval to the Saclay plateau. Indeed, with a transport capacity at peak hour greater than 7500 passengers, this possibility is compatible with the traffic forecasts presented in 2016 during a public inquiry. In an interview with the Public Establishment in charge of the development of the urban project of the Saclay plateau, subsequent to the publication of the book, he generalizes this comment by indicating: “ The choice of a metro (rather than simple buses on specific sites) was therefore fully justified, but was there a need for a heavy metro, as on the other lines, with the risk of overcapacity? Personally, I have always thought that the initial option was oversized. (...) at the beginning, we envisaged capacities of 40,000 passengers in each direction of traffic, while demand by 2030 should not exceed 5–6,000”.{{cite web | language = fr-FR | title = The secrets of Grand Paris… Interview with Pascal Auzannet | url = https://www.media-paris-saclay.fr/les-secrets-du-grand-paris-entretien-avec-pascal-auzannet/ | website = Paris-Saclay | access-date = 22 July 2020}}

On 22 June 2018, during a conference of "Professional Groups of Arts and Crafts", Jean-Marc Jancovici, speaking of the carbon impact of the various infrastructures, said: “Line 18 […] will never refund its initial carbon, so if we want to do it [this project] on the grounds of carbon, we must not do it".{{cite web | url = https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iVC14FwME6M&t=54m3s&feature=youtu.be|title=For a Europe of energy and climate the Union in the long term |website=YouTube | date = 22 June 2018 | access-date = 24 February 2020 }}

In July 2018, the Council of State rejected the requests of several communities and associations for the defense of the environment and validated the declaration of public utility.{{cite web | url = http://www.conseil-etat.fr/Actualites/Communiques/Ligne-18-du-metro-du-Grand-Paris | title = Line 18 of the Grand Paris metro | website = conseil-etat.fr | date = 9 July 2018 | access-date = 10 July 2018}}

In July 2020 during the last public inquiry into the project, FNAUT Île-de-France Transport Users Association pointed out in a message posted on the microblogging network Twitter{{cite tweet| language = fr | title = Ouverture d'une nouvelle enquête publique sur la ligne 18 du GPE jusqu'au 17/7 : l'occasion de réinterroger la pertinence de tout ou partie du projet, d'autant que la facture a gonflé de 1,3 Milliards d'€ ! https://enquetes-publiques.com/Enquetes_WEB/FR/EP20111/Accueil.awp| user=asso_usagersidf|number=1283079498938953729|date=14 July 2020 | website = Twitter | access-date = 16 August 2020}} that the socio-economic profitability of this line has been revised upwards in an unexplained manner.

Since 2015, elected officials and residents in Palaiseau have mobilized for the construction of a new metro station next to the new eco-district of Camille-Claudel which is to house 4,000 inhabitants. This station would be located between the Massy-Palaiseau and Palaiseau stops, at the point where the line emerges from the ground to run on a viaduct.{{cite web | url = https://www.essonneinfo.fr/91-essonne-info/74366/palaiseau-petition-arret-metro-camille-claudel/ | title = Palaiseau: a petition for a metro stop to Camille Claudel | website = essoneinfo.fr | date = 3 March 2015 | access-date = 2 April 2017 | archive-date = 3 April 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170403015948/https://www.essonneinfo.fr/91-essonne-info/74366/palaiseau-petition-arret-metro-camille-claudel/ | url-status = usurped }}

The report of the Public Inquiry Commission of 2016 recommended that a land reserve be set up for the possible realization of this project after the opening of the line.{{cite web | url = http://www.enquetepubliqueligne18.fr/rapport-commission-enquete/conclusion.html | title = Report of the commission of inquiry | website = enquetepubliqueligne18.fr | date = 13 July 2016 | access-date = 2 April 2017}}

The amending DUP investigated from 15 June to 17 July 2020 took this recommendation into account by modifying the profile of the line in the Palaiseau sector. A {{convert|100|m}} long landing is thus planned between the emergence of the tunnel and the viaduct to allow for the construction of a future station.

The line is envisaged to be extended from Versailles to Nanterre beyond 2030. As of 2019 this extension is not funded.[http://www.grand-paris.jll.fr/fr/projet-grand-paris/ grand-paris-express / line-18 / line 18 – Grand Paris] on www.grand-paris.jll.fr

During the meeting of the steering committee of the Orly Airport station, on 3 May 2016, the Grand Paris company announced that in order not to mortgage the future, protective measures will be taken at the station Aéroport d'Orly to create a possible extension to the east of the line beyond 2030. This measure is taken after requests from local elected officials of Val-de-Marne and Essonne to connect {{stn|Villeneuve-Saint-Georges}}, located on RER D, to the Orly Airport area to facilitate its access. Other elected officials want the extension to go to {{stn|Boissy-Saint-Léger}}, located on RER A, to the same reasons. Finally, the department of Val-de-Marne via the Orbival association will mobilize elected officials to reflect on this extension.{{cite web | url=http://94.citoyens.com/2016/grand-paris-express-le-prolongement-a-lest-de-la-ligne-18-rendu-possible,04-05-2016.html | title = Grand Paris Express: extension to the east of line 18 made possible | website = 94.citoyens.com | date = 4 May 2016 | access-date = 5 May 2016}}

The public inquiry commission recommends during its publication of 13 July 2016 that the Aéroport d'Orly station be built in such a way as to make possible an extension to RER D.

Line 18 will serve several notable points of Île-de-France:

• the Orly Airport;
• the Saclay plateau and its universities;
• the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in the town of Guyancourt;
• the city of Versailles.

The proposed rolling stock for line 18 is the MRV (Matériel Roulant Voyageurs), a new automated design with a width of {{convert|2.45|m}}, using conventional steel wheel on steel rail technology and third rail electrification. Alstom has been chosen to build these trains.

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{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Paris Métro Line 18}}

• Paris Métro
• Grand Paris Express

• [http://www.societedugrandparis.fr/ligne/ligne-18 Line 18], presentation of the project on the site of the Société du Grand Paris
• [http://www.enquetepubliqueligne18.fr/ Public survey of line 18]

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Category:Paris Métro line 18