Moving forward in step with regions
We see ourselves as a long-term partner with the regions we work with and strive to act responsibly in every aspect of our business. The integral projects involved in building a metro line have a significant impact. This is particularly the case for the metro line 14 south operations that are going to bring major change along the line’s extended route all the way to Orly Airport.
Upgrading, automating, transforming
Automating an existing metro line in a dense and restricted urban environment is a colossal technical undertaking. Yet as a solution, it brings greater energy efficiency, customer service and safety to your high-traffic lines. Pioneers of fully-automated technology with Paris metro line 14, we are also adept at taking older lines to higher levels of automation. Not to mention a leader in upgrading train command and control systems on metro lines that date back 100 years. In 2012, our teams successfully completed a world first – completely automating a metro line: 13,500 on-site operations, mostly carried out at night to avoid any major traffic interruption for passengers, resulted in upgrading metro line 1 in Paris, carrying around 750,000 passengers a day. Today it is the turn of metro line 4 to go through this transformation.
Working together for more liveable cities
RATP Group earned ISO 50001 certification for its energy management system in 2018 and a year later it became the first multimodal transport operator in the world to receive “Committed to CSR – Confirmed” status from Afnor Certification. Minimising our environmental impact is one of our top priorities. Each time that we replace rolling stock, we make every effort to reduce sound levels inside and out. We upgrade ventilation systems to improve air quality across our infrastructure and boost rolling stock’s electrical braking system to reduce particulate emissions. A further action involves the water cycle: metro line 14 has been equipped with a greener maintenance site including industrial water treatment and washwater recycling systems on site.
Innovation for all
The automated metro strives to cater to passengers’ requirements in every respect, from frequency, commercial speed and information to safety and accessibility. In 2020, the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) awarded five stars to metro line 14, becoming the first high-traffic metro line in France to achieve this level of excellence. In the automated metro, accessibility is an integral aspect of service quality. Metro lines 1 and 14 are S3A certified (1). Metro line 1 was also awarded the Cap’Handéo mobility label for its service to people with mental disabilities. Metro line 14 has its sights on this label by 2021. Another important aspect is connectivity. The entire network operated by RATP Group, including the extensive Paris metro, has been covered by 4G services since June 2020. The magazine Ville, Rail & Transports singled out this achievement for its Smart City award.
Integrated and open expertise
As an integrated company, RATP Group has all the technical and legal skills and human resources required to design, build, operate and maintain an automated metro system. But we also have the capabilities to co-construct projects with rail industry leaders. Our teams have also worked with Alstom, Siemens and Hitachi to develop the OCTYS system. This interchangeable product means that solutions developed by other industrial suppliers can be seamlessly integrated into the Paris metro network. An outward-looking mindset that also applies to our innovation policy.