View source for MF 88

{{Short description|Paris Metro train}}
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{{Expand French|MF 88|date=September 2020|topic=transport}}
{{Infobox EMU
| background = #8FD5BB
| name = MF&nbsp;88
| image = Station-Louis-Blanc.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = MF&nbsp;88 trainset at [[Louis Blanc station]] on [[Paris Métro Line 7bis|Line 7bis]].
| interiorimage = Interieur MF88.jpg
| interiorcaption = Interior of MF&nbsp;88 trainset
| stocktype = 
| service = 1993–present
| manufacturer = [[Alstom|GEC Alsthom]], [[Faiveley Transport|Faiveley]], [[Renault]], [[Ateliers du Nord de la France|ANF]]
| replaced = [[Sprague-Thomson]]
| constructed = 1990–1992
| yearscrapped = 2013
| numberbuilt = 27 cars (9 trainsets)
| numberscrapped = 3 cars (1 trainset)
| successor = [[MF 19]]
| formation = 3 cars per trainset
| capacity = 425 people per trainset
| operator = [[RATP Group|RATP]]
| lines = {{rint|paris|m}}{{nnbsp}}{{rint|paris|m|7bis}}
| trainlength = {{cvt|45.44|m|ftin}}
| carlength = {{cvt|15.15|m|ftin}}
| maxspeed = {{Unbulleted list
   | Design: {{cvt|80|km/h|0}}<ref name="gatson" />
   | Service: {{cvt|70|km/h|0}} (Initial)<br>{{cvt|40|km/h|0}} (Current)<ref name="gatson" />
   }}
| traction = GEC Alshtom [[gate turn-off thyristor|GTO]]-[[VVVF]]
| traction motors = 3-phase AC [[induction motor]] type 4ELA 2552
| poweroutput = {{cvt|840|kW|hp|lk=on}}
| electricsystem = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}}
| collectionmethod = [[Contact shoe]]
| uicclass = Bo'Bo'+2'2'+Bo'Bo'
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| deceleration = {{convert|0.9|m/s2|mph/s|abbr=on}} (Service)<br>{{convert|1.1|m/s2|mph/s|abbr=on}} (Emergency)<ref name="gatson" />
}}

The '''MF&nbsp;88''' ({{langx|fr|'''M'''étro '''F'''er appel d'offres de 19'''88'''}}; {{langx|en|Steel-wheeled metro ordered in 1988}}) is a steel-wheel variant of [[electric multiple unit]]s used on [[Paris]]'s [[Paris Métro|Métro]] system. [[Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens|RATP]] contracted a consortium of manufacturers, with [[Ateliers du Nord de la France]] in charge of the project. 

They were built following successful tests of a [[prototype]] train-set called the "BOA", derived from the [[MF 77]], which tested new features such as [[open gangway]] connections between cars to improve passenger distribution and special [[bogie]]s to reduce [[friction]] caused by the sharp curves found in the Métro network. The MF 88 introduced a number of innovations in its time, including AC induction motors and an on-board computer system using a new standard integrated computing architecture.<ref name="computers">{{cite book |last1=Bancelin |first1=J |last2=Bordenave |first2=H   |title=Control, Computers, Communications in Transportation |chapter=Test and Development Bench for an In-Borne Computing Architecture |date=10 July 1990 |page=15-18|doi=10.1016/B978-0-08-037025-5.50008-6 |isbn=978-0-08-037025-5 }}</ref><ref name="computer2">{{cite book |last1=Boullie |first1=JB |last2=Brun |first2=M |chapter=A new rolling stock architecture using safety computers and networks |title=Proceeding International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks. DSN 2000 |date=6 August 2002 |pages=157–162 |doi=10.1109/ICDSN.2000.857529|isbn=0-7695-0707-7 }}</ref> It is planned for the [[MF 19]] rolling stock to replace the MF&nbsp;88 in 2025.<ref name="replacement">{{cite news |last1=Philippe-Enrico |first1=Attal |title=MF 19, le renouveau des rames fer du métro |url=https://www.railpassion.fr/materiel-actualites-rp/mf-19-renouveau-rames-fer-metro/ |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=Rail Passion (Magazine) |date=10 July 2018}}</ref>

== Design ==
Carrying on the features of the BOA,<ref name="janes" /> a total of nine MF&nbsp;88 train-sets were built, which have only ever operated on [[Paris Métro Line 7bis|Line 7bis]] in a three-car formation. It was the first model with AC motors, supplied by GEC Alsthom,<ref name="janes">{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Geoffrey Freeman |title=Jane's World Railways 1991-92 |date=1 November 1991 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=9780710609557 |page=74 |edition=33rd }}</ref> as opposed to DC and with interconnecting gangways.<ref name="Metropole">{{cite web |url=http://www.metro-pole.net/expl/materiel/mf88/mf88.html |title=Article MétroPole - « Le MF 88 » |language=French |date=2006-01-05 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716170337/http://www.metro-pole.net/expl/materiel/mf88/mf88.html |archivedate=2006-07-16 }}</ref><ref name="janes" /> The MF&nbsp;88 was also the first to adopt a new computing architecture, developed by TechnicAtome, over relay-based systems used in older Paris Metro rolling stock.<ref name="computers" /><ref name="computer2" /> It also introduced an independent-wheeled steering axle design,<ref name="janes"/> but this turned out to cause several problems for RATP and was not adopted in subsequent Paris Metro rolling stock.<ref name="Metropole" />

It was also the last model not newly built with automatic announcements and with user-activated doors (all subsequent models, as well as more recently the MF&nbsp;77s on Line 13, have had all doors open at once). The high rate of wear-and-tear of the train-sets has made maintenance much more expensive than expected. The independent-wheeled steering axle design was found to be problematic and was causing excessive wear on the track.<ref name="gatson">{{cite book |last1=Gaston |first1=Jacobs |title=Le métro de Paris : Un siècle de matériel roulant |date=2001 |publisher=La Vie du Rail |isbn=9782902808977 |page=167-170}}</ref> This is because of the design flaw in the [[chassis]], each intermediate bogie only has one [[axle]], similar to a typical car, bus, some [[Rubber-tyred metro|rubber-tyred trains]] (although the rubber-tyred lines of the Paris Métro use the typical 2-axle bogies), or certain [[Railbus|railbuses]], but unusual for a more “standard” railcar, especially one powered by electricity.<ref name="technical specifications">[https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Deliberation_no2013-534_-_Schema_directeur_materiel_metro.pdf STIF - ''Schéma directeur du matériel métro''][https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iledefrance-mobilites.fr%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F04%2FDeliberation_no2013-534_-_Schema_directeur_materiel_metro.pdf%2Findex.html Archived]</ref>

==Technical specifications==
* Manufacturers: [[Alstom|GEC Alsthom]], [[Faiveley Transport|Faiveley]], [[Renault]], [[Ateliers du Nord de la France|ANF]]
* Electric source: {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}}
* Traction: [[Gate turn-off thyristor]] (GTO)
* Power: 2 [[Traction motor|motors]] per motor coach with {{convert|210|kW|hp|abbr=on}} each, {{convert|840|kW|hp|abbr=on}} total per train
* Maximum operating speed: {{convert|70|km/h|abbr=on}}, currently reduced to {{convert|40|km/h|abbr=on}} due to rolling stock's condition<ref name="gatson" />
* Bogies: Bi-directional
* Length: {{convert|46.44|m|ftin|frac=32}}

[[File:Arrivée Arrival Mf88.ogg|thumb|Arrival of a MF&nbsp;88 on Line 7bis]]
[[File:Depart Departure Mf88.ogg|thumb|Departure of a MF&nbsp;88 on Line 7bis]]

== Formations ==
As of 1 September 2022, eight MF&nbsp;88 trainsets were in service and were formed as shown below. One trainset was scrapped in 2013.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Paris : le matériel RATP du métro à fin 2022|journal=Réseaux urbains|year=2023|last=Colin|first=Pierre|issue=169|pages=41–44|url=https://www.fptu.fr/ru/sommaires.php?ru=169}}</ref>

As of 1 March 2022, eight trainsets are allocated to Pré Saint-Gervais depot for use on Line 7bis.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|style="background-color:#ccc;"|&nbsp;
| colspan="3" |<small>{{align|left|<- Louis Blanc}}/{{align|right|Pré Saint-Gervais -> }}</small>
|-style="line-height: 3.3px; background-color:#{{rcr|Paris Métro|7bis}}"
|colspan="7" style="padding:0; border:0;"|&nbsp;
|-style="line-height: 6.7px; background-color:#{{rcr|Paris Métro|7bis}}"
|colspan="7" style="padding:0; border:0;"|&nbsp;
|-
! Car No. !! 1!! 2 !! 3 
|-
! Type
|  M || T || M 
|-
! Designation
| 88M.xxx  || 88B. xxx || 88M. xxx 
|-
! Equipment
| VVVF || CP, SIV || VVVF
|}

{{Commons category|MF 88}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Paris Metro/RS}}
{{RER rolling stock}}
{{Paris transport network}}

[[Category:Paris Métro rolling stock]]
[[Category:Paris Métro line 7bis]]
[[Category:750 V DC multiple units]]
[[Category:Alstom multiple units]]
[[Category:Electric multiple units of France]]