MI09 makes first journey on Paris RER A line
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On Monday 5th December, Nicolas Sarkozy travelled on one of the new MI09 trainsets built by Alstom and Bombardier for the RER A regional express line.
This first trip marked the entry of the new, higher-capacity trains into commercial service.
The maiden journey began at Vincennes and ended at La Défense, where the President of the Republic gave a speech at the CNIT on the modernisation of urban transport, in presence of Jean-Paul Huchon(1), Pierre Mongin (2), Patrick Kron(3) and Henri Poupart-Lafarge(4).
To replace its fleet of single-decker MI84 trains, which have been in use on the line for more than 25 years, the RATP signed a contract with the Alstom-Bombardier consortium in April 2009 for 130 MI09 double-decker trainsets. The first phase of 60 trainsets will be delivered from now through 2014 at a rate of 2 trainsets a month.
Since Line A is one of the busiest railway lines in Europe, capacity has been prioritised: the double-decker trains can handle a flow of more than a million passengers per day, with each transporting up to 1,725 people and reaching a top speed of 120 km/h, thus making traffic on the line more fluid.
Passenger comfort will also be enhanced with a video surveillance system, LCD information screens, designated seats for those with reduced mobility and a new design. In addition, the MI09 trainsets are fitted with a high-performance traction chain that will reduce energy consumption and generate less dust on stopping due to greater use of electric braking.
(1) Chairman of the Ile de France region, Chairman of the STIF
(2) Chairman and CEO of RATP
(3) CEO Alstom Group
(4) Alstom Transport President