Paris Métro Line 11

Line 11
Year opened	1935
Last extension	1937
Rolling stock	MP 59 4 carriages per trainset MP 73 (1 set)
Stations served	13
Terminal stations	Châtelet (Paris Métro) Mairie des Lilas (Paris Métro)
Length	6.3 km (3.9 mi)
Average interstation	525 m
Journeys made	46,854,797 (per annum)

Paris Métro Line 11 is one of 16 Paris métro lines. It links Les Lilas in the North East of the city to Châtelet in the center of Paris. It is the shortest of the 14 metro lines having independent management (those of lines 3bis and 7bis are managed respectively by those of lines 3 and 7). It is the thirteenth busiest line on the network.

Unlike most Paris Métro lines, line 11 was not included in the original late 19th century scheme. It was built in the 1930s to replace the former Belleville funicular tramway. It was intended to create a more effective transportation system which could handle the increasing traffic on the route and to extend it to the center of Paris, at Châtelet.

Chronology

• 29 December 1922: Paris council voted for the creation of a new metro line which would replace the Belleville funicular and which would be extended to Châtelet.
• 28 April 1935: Line 11 was inaugurated from Châtelet to Porte des Lilas.
• 17 February 1937: The line was extended from Porte des Lilas to Mairie des Lilas.
• 8 November 1956: The rails were converted to cater for rubber-tyred trains.

Rolling stock

A MP 59-trainset

As the current MP 59 stock is becoming outdated, it is possible that the MP 73 stock from Line 6 may replace them.

Being the first metro line to be converted to rubber-tyred pneumatic operation, the first set of rubber-tyred rolling stock to be in service on Line 11 was the MP 55, which operated from October 1956 through January 1999. They were then replaced by refurbished MP 59 stock from Line 4. The MP 55 stock consisted of 4 carriages, as well as the current MP 59 stock. One MP 73 of line 6 is in service on the 11 as well.

Since the MP 59 are the oldest of the Paris Metro rolling stock, it is expected that they will reach the end of their working lives around 2015 or 2016. Although there is no official word as to what will replace the MP 59, several options have been discussed. One option would be to bring MP 73 stock from Line 6 (since they will eventually be replaced by a new rubber-tyred stock) onto Line 11. This option would allow the line to have enough capacity for the planned extension to Gare de Rosny - Bois-Perrier, extension of the trains from 4 to 5 carriages is in investigation. Due to the extension, the number of trainsets will raise from 25 to 40. However, since there is no direct connection between Line 11 and the other rubber-tyred lines (1 & 4) [1], any rubber-tyred train would have to be transferred through Line 3, which is a steel-wheeled line. This brings up the possibility of converting Line 11 back to steel-wheel operation and removing the rubber-tyred rails along the existing section upon opening of the Rosny extension.

Future

• In order to ensure better commuter service to the Northeastern inner suburbs, a five-station, 5 km extension eastbound from Mairie des Lilas to Rosny-sous-Bois is under consideration.
• The scheme has been proposed by local authorities, and adopted during the 2007 review of the Ile-de-France Transportation Plan.
• The line should be extended to Montreuil Hôpital (2007–2013) and then to Rosny – Bois-Perrier.
• It will provide new connections with the RER E and the extended tramway line 1, which will be linked more easily to the downtown and the commuter hub of Châtelet les Halles.

List of new stations and transfers (with expected opening dates)

Towns	New stations	Expected opening date
Les Lilas	Quartier des Sentes	2007–2013
Romainville	Place Carnot (Transfer with Tram 1)	2007–2013
Montreuil – Noisy	Hôpital intercommunal	2007–2013
Montreuil	Boissière	2014–2020
Rosny-sous-Bois	Rosny – Bois-Perrier (Transfer with RER )	2014–2020

Map

Geographically accurate path of Paris metro line 11.

Tourism

Metro line 11 passes near several places of interest :

• The Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) of Paris.
• The Centre Georges Pompidou accommodating the Paris Museum of Modern Art.
• The Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (engineering school).
• The popular quarter of Belleville, hosting one of Paris' "Chinatowns" and centres of other Asian cultures.

See also

• List of stations of the Paris Métro
• List of stations of the Paris RER

External links

• (French) RATP official website
• RATP english speaking website
• Interactive Map of the RER (from RATP's website)
• Interactive Map of the Paris métro (from RATP's website)
• (French) Mobidf website, dedicated to the RER (unofficial)
• (French) Metro-Pole website, dedicated to Paris public transports (unofficial)
• (French) Line extension project