Paris To Get Massive New Metro System

Image: Aerial panoramic cityscape view of Paris, France with the Eiffel tower on a fall day. (encrier / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

by Scott Hartbeck
Last updated: 12:45 PM ET, Wed December 6, 2023

The Paris Métro system could look much different the next time you visit the City of Light.

A huge extension to the network called the Grand Paris Express is taking shape in the French capital, and it will change the face of public transportation in the city for years to come.

Dating from the early 20th century, the Paris Métro currently consists of 16 lines that radiate out from the city center like spokes. The Métro is known for iconic art nouveau entrances and artistic flair, touches that have made it synonymous with the city.

The Grand Paris Express project will see over 120 miles of track added to the system over four brand-new lines and extensions to existing lines. The upgrade will also see 68 new stations added to the Métro system.

In a departure from the current Métro layout, these new lines will connect the outer suburbs of Paris to the city and one another, vastly improving the ability of citizens and visitors alike to navigate between the outer regions of the city.

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It is a much-needed upgrade, too.

CNN reported, "the Paris Métro railway system, built in the 1900s and now carrying nearly four million passengers every day, is struggling to cope with the demands of modern commuting, its aging facilities and infrastructure creaking under the city’s growing population.

For many in Paris, particularly those living or working around its less fashionable outer suburbs, it’s a challenge to navigate across the city without having to route each journey through the central districts, adding travel time and worsening congestion."

CNN also reported that the trains on the new Grand Paris Express will be driverless, reducing overall expenses and making the service less prone to labor disruption.

Wondering when you’ll have the opportunity to ride the new Grand Paris Express?

An extension of line 14 to Orly Airport—a hub for Air France and several low-cost European airlines—is scheduled to be completed by the start of the Olympic Games next summer, with other lines expected to come aboard in 2025 and beyond.