MF19, Alstom’s new-generation metro, welcomes its first passengers on Line 10 of the Paris metro

A major project for the Paris metro

Financed 100% by Île-de-France Mobilités and operated by RATP, the MF19 metro will replace the existing rolling stock on lines 10, 7bis, 3bis, 13, 12, 8, 3 and 7 of the Paris metro. Line 10 is the first to be equipped with this new-generation metro.

“Today we are witnessing a historic moment for public transport in the Île-de-France region: MF19 will revolutionise the daily lives of passengers and transform the Paris metro over the long term. All the Alstom employees who have worked on this project can be proud of this success, which is the result of a close collaboration with Île-de-France Mobilités and RATP,” said Frédéric Wiscart, President, Alstom France. 

A metro designed for passenger comfort 

A real concentrate of technology, MF19 offers passengers a bunch of features to improve their journeys:

• Comfort: cooled ventilation, ergonomic and comfortable seats, USB ports, carefully designed lighting environment with 100% LED lighting.

• Space: integral “boa” intercommunication, allowing passengers to move from one end of the train to the other; two modular configurations, a “comfort” version and a “capacity” version, adapted to the ridership and traffic of each line.

• Accessibility: reserved spaces for people with reduced mobility, audible and visual passenger information, widened doors.

• Passenger information: numerous real-time information screens showing the name of the next station, as well as practical information (connections, disruptions, exits, etc.).

• Enhanced security thanks to video protection.

A metro designed from the beginning to meet the needs of the different lines

MF19 offers a high level of adaptability and modularity to suit the needs, constraints and developments of eight Paris metro lines. 

From the outset, all the configurations envisaged were developed. MF19 can be fitted with 4 or 5 cars and measure between 61 and 77.5 m depending on the length of the platforms. It is also available with automatic driving or a driver’s cab.

The metros are also designed to be configurable according to capacity requirements (with more or fewer seats).

In addition, the configurations and fittings have been designed to be reversible in order to adapt to changes on the lines. For example, the driver’s cab can be replaced by an automatic cab, and trains can be converted from a short to a long version – and vice versa.

A latest-generation on-board speed control system to accompany MF19

In order to upgrade the line and bring the MF19 into service, Alstom’s on-board speed control system, which meets RATP Octys standards, has been successfully deployed on Line 10. Developed in partnership with RATP, this system, based on CBTC[1] technology, provides location and speed control functions while meeting the highest safety standards. 

The deployment on Line 10 is part of a wider strategy developed by RATP to equip other lines. RATP has also awarded Alstom the contract to equip lines 7bis and 3bis of the Paris metro with this on-board technology.

Lines 5, 6, 9 and 11 are already equipped with the Octys solution developed by Alstom for RATP. 

An ambitious project mobilising Alstom’s French expertise 

2,300 Alstom employees, including 700 engineers, are working on the MF19 project. 

Eight Alstom sites in France participate in the design and manufacture of the rolling stock :

• The Valenciennes-Petite Forêt and Crespin sites are in charge of studies, design, train assembly, testing/validation and homologation;

• the Crespin and Le Creusot sites produce the bogies;

• Ornans, the engines;

• Tarbes, the traction chains;

• Toulouse, development of electrical harnesses;

• Villeurbanne, on-board electronics;

• and Aix-en-Provence, IT security.

Production and delivery of the trains are continuing according to the schedule requested by Île-de-France Mobilités and RATP. A new production line was recently opened at Alstom’s Valenciennes site to keep pace with the increase in production rates.

Alstom teams are also working with RATP to bring MF19 into service on its various lines. 

Finally, Alstom’s sites in Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Ouen and Villeurbanne are contributing to the development and deployment of the on-board solution for RATP’s Octys program. 

MF19 metros are part of Alstom’s market-leading Metropolis metro solutions, designed to help cities breathe for over 60 years. More than 80 customers worldwide operate metros manufactured by Alstom.

ALSTOM™ and Metropolis™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.

[1] Communication-Based Train Control