ALSTOM has secured a €1.1bn follow-on order for 103 metro trains for the Paris metro which will be funded by regional transport authority Île-de-France Mobility (IdFM).
The MF19 trains will entirely replace the Line 13 fleet, plus some of the existing trains in service on lines 8 and 12. In December IdFM announced that Line 13 would be the fourth on the Paris metro to be converted to automatic train operation (ATO). The steel-wheeled MF19 trains are due to be delivered in the second half of 2027, with full automation of Line 13 at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) not expected until 2035.
IdFM says an order to replace the remaining trains on lines 8 and 12, plus those on lines 3 and 7 will follow shortly.
The latest order follows the signing of a €2.9bn framework contract in 2019 for up to 440 trains. The initial order was for 44 trains for lines 3b, 7b and 10.
In total, eight metro lines (3, 3b, 7, 7b, 8, 10, 12 and 13) will receive MF19 trains, which will replace MF67, MF77 and MF88 sets. The first MF19 cars are expected next year, when 14 trains for Line 10 should be delivered, with 30 trains for lines 3b and 7b due to follow.
IdFM says it wants to accelerate modernisation of the Paris metro network, which will have received investment totalling nearly €10 bn by 2035. It adds that the latest order will enable Alstom to secure its supply chain while coordinating fleet deliveries with the completion of infrastructure work for automatic operation, including platform works, installation of platform screen doors and signalling upgrades on the lines concerned.
Orders will be called off by Paris metro operator RATP. IdFM has instructed RATP to do this as soon as possible and ensure that delivery and commissioning schedules are met.
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