Siemens to Fully Automate Paris Metro Line

Siemens Mobility has secured a major contract from French public transport operator RATP to deliver the new Train Operation Automation System for Paris Metro Line 13. This choice follows the decision made in 2022 by the transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités to automate this line.

The project will transform one of the city’s busiest metro lines with Siemens Mobility's CBTC GoA4 technology, enabling fully automated, driverless operations for increased transport capacity and service reliability, and optimized energy consumption. The comprehensive contract includes providing the automation system, a new operations control center, and equipment for 66 trains, with an optional maintenance agreement for up to 30 years. The project builds on Siemens Mobility's successful track record of implementing driverless technology on Paris Metro Lines 1, 4, and 14, and will enable driverless operation on Line 13 as well by late 2032.

“Our selection for the Line 13 automation project reflects RATP´s continued trust in our expertise," said Marc Ludwig, CEO of Siemens Mobility Rail Infrastructure. "We’ve had the privilege of contributing to several successful projects in Paris over the years. With Line 14, we achieved a world first by upgrading an existing driverless system to our advanced CBTC GoA4 technology while simultaneously extending automation to new sections of the line. This breakthrough enables Line 14 to serve up to one million passengers daily at 85-second intervals. With Line 13, we're building on this expertise, upgrading one of Paris' busiest lines to operate fully automatically."

The comprehensive modernization of Line 13 will begin with the introduction of new rolling stock in 2027, followed by the implementation of an advanced automation system. The line's current GoA2 system, which operates with drivers controlling doors and safety functions while automatically managing train acceleration and braking, will be upgraded to a fully automated GoA4 system. The project scope includes equipping the new train fleet, renovating the Operations Control Center (OCC), providing comprehensive staff training, and an optional maintenance agreement.