Paris’ RER (Réseau Express Régional) network, which connects the French capital with the suburbs, will be extended by 55 kilometers in the run-up to the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. The eight kilometers will run in tunnels 30 meters underground. That project was honored in Mumbai at the end of November with this year’s ITA/AITES Tunnel Award 2023.
750,000 daily passengers
The new extension of the RER network is called EOLE (Est Ouest Liaison Express, which can be translated as East-West Express Link) or is an extension of RER line E. It will connect St. Lazare Station in the heart of Paris with the western metropolitan region. With over 450,000 daily passengers, St. Lazare is Europe’s second busiest station and the completion of the EOLE project will be crucial to meet the growing transport needs of the region. It is expected that around 750,000 passengers will use the new line daily.
Combination of bored and dug tunnel
The EOLE project involves tunnel construction under densely populated areas in Paris and the Hauts-de-Seine district. This has meant that special consideration has had to be given to the residents of the affected areas throughout the construction phase. Parts of the tunnel stretch have been bored with a tunnel boring machine, while the rest has been excavated with more traditional and precise techniques. The latter is safer under the deep foundations of the surrounding skyscrapers.
Semi-automated operation
The EOLE project uses a semi-automated operating system (NExTEO), where the trains communicate with an intelligent control center. This CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control) system enables more flexible train operation with shorter time intervals between trains, improving efficiency and capacity on the line.
The RER network consists of five lines that cover Paris and extend far into its suburbs. It differs from the Paris metro system in that it serves both the center and the outskirts with fewer stops and higher speeds. The RER lines are integrated with the rest of the public transport system in Paris, including the metro and various bus and tram lines.
