THE extension of RER Line E from Haussmann-Saint Lazare to Nanterre-La Folie entered service on May 6, running for 8km and serving three new stations at Porte Maillot, La Défense-Grande Arche and Nanterre-La Folie.
Paris transport authority Île-de-France Mobility (IdFM) says that the new stations have been designed with passenger comfort in mind, with high ceilings enabling natural light to enter in in order to create a bright and modern environment underground at Porte Maillot and La Défense.
Opening to Nanterre-La Folie marks the completion of Phase 1 of the 55km western extension of Line E from Haussmann-Saint Lazare to Mantes-la-Jolie. Phase 2 to Mantes is expected to be completed in 2026.
IdFM says that when Phase 2 is completed, RER Line E will have more interchanges with other lines than any other on the Paris RER and suburban network.
At Porte Maillot, Line E now enables passengers to change to RER Line C, Paris metro Line 1 and light rail route T3b. Interchange is provided at La Défense with RER Line A, lines L and U of the suburban rail network, metro Line 1 and light rail line T2.
Line E will also interchange at La Défense with the future Line 15 of the Grand Paris Express automated metro network, and at Nanterre with lines 15, 16 and 17.
The extension of Line E to Nanterre is expected to relieve RER lines A and B, reducing passenger numbers by 15% and 10% respectively by providing a direct link between Paris Nord mainline railway station and the La Défense business district.
Journey time between Haussmann Saint-Lazare and Nanterre-La Folie is 8min. During the initial phase of operations, there will be a train every 15min from Magenta-Gare du Nord via Haussmann Saint-Lazare to Nanterre-La Folie on weekdays from 10.00 to 16.00, and from 10.00 to 20.00 at weekends and on public holidays.
Extra services will operate in the morning and evening between Porte Maillot and Nanterre when Paris hosts the Olympic Games from July 24 to August 11 and the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8. The Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre will host swimming events and water polo.
The full timetable and through service from Nanterre beyond Magenta to stations on the eastern branches of RER Line E is due to be introduced at the end of this year, when Alstom has delivered 34 RER NG double-deck EMUs.
Trains will then operate every 4min in the morning and evening peaks and every 6min at other times.
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