Bonjour,
the Élysée Treaty that started the reconciliation between Germany and France celebrated it 50th anniversary this year. Frensh railway SNCF and German railway Deutsch Bahn offered special tickets to celebrate anniversary: Paris round trip for 50 Euros. I took the chance for a trip to the Seine for a few days.
The Weather was mixed, but for rainy times there are the museums and the Métro
.
RER
Let's start with some impressions from the RER network.
A multi-level train of line RER C in the Station Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. These trains have a rather rustic charme with their brown interior (which has the charme of the 70s), no air condition and mostly without announcement on the next stop
On line RER B several refurbished class Z8100/MI79 trains were in service. They looked like brand new rolling stock:
Departure boards use various styles too: The next trains on the platform were indicated by a rather brash screen
For the itinerary of a trains several style of display are used. Once again RER C:
of RER B at "Saint Michel - Notre Dame" station:
"Cite Universitaire" on RER B allows a bird eye view down to the platform:
Métro 1: Rubber
As I guess most people know, the Paris Métro is running two types of trains: rubber-tyred ("Matériels sur pneumatiques", class MPxx) and steal-tyred ("Matériels fer", class MFxx). xx indicates the year the rolling stock was commissioned.
For starters, some pictures of rubber-tyred trains: two train of freshly automated Line 1 meet at Bastille station.
Apart from a short section of track between Pont de Neuilly and Esplanade de la Défense, this station is the only part of the line above ground.
During the automation of the line, gates were added to each platform, which will open once the trains has stopped. These can be seen on the picture.
Most stations have a similar design (white tiles), but some are quite different: For example Cité on Line 4. With the automation of line 1 several class MP89 trains were moved to line 4. They replaced the MP59 stock that was in service on this line for several decades.:
or Arts et Métiers on Line 11
This Line 6 stopped when he was along about half of the platform. The conductor made a quick announcement, and a dew minutes later the train was running again:
Line 6 is running above ground for most of its way. It is quite fun the ride along the line after dark and enjoy the lights of Paris (Eiffel tour included).
Approach to the Quai de la Gare station (the building in the back is the Treasury)
A train on the ramp just outside Bercy station
Métro 2: Steal
A few years back when I went to Paris for the last time only some MF01 stock trains were running on Line 2. Nowadays, only MF01 trains are used on this line. This line has a few above ground sections too, which offer some nice places for photos.
Two trains meet on the elevated section between Jaurès und Stalingrad stations.
Countdown clocks on the platform show the wait time for the next two trains
Line 7 and Line 13 have several branches, so their countdown clocks are a bit different. For instance this one of line 7 in Gare de l'Est station:
Fortunately, some of the old, iconic Métro entrances still exist. Like this one at Pere Lachaise:
Line 5 is equipped with two types of rolling stock: class MF67 and MF01 trains run on this line. Some pictures taken at Quai de la Rapée stop:
A few yard away, the trains cross the Seine and head for the next stop: Gare d'Austerlitz:
Tram
The Parisians tram network has grown of the last years. The line work as some outer circle, that links several stops of several Métro line. The latest addiotion was the extension of Tram 3.
This line passed right around the corner from my hotel. A tram at stop Porte Dorée:
Down in the Métro a departure screen by the stairs, informed about the next departures of buses and trams above:
Große Bahn
Now some pictures of the heavy rail at various locations.
Far away from home a regional train (TER) set from the region Pays de la Loire (at the Atlantic Ocean) in Gare d'Austerlitz:
Trainsets for regional services from Gare de l'Est are quite colorful:
A rare bread in France now: Diesel engines for long distance services:
Two TGVs in Gare Montparnasse station
In France, platform are announced a short period of time before the departure. So everyone in hanging around the departure boards and screens. Once a platform is shown, the whole herd gets into motion. Departue board at Montparnasse station
Sightseeing
An finally, some sight seeing impressions.
I can not decide, if it is great architecture or just ugly: The Palais Omnisports:
A short walk away is Parc de Bercy. This park is worth a visit.
The Canal Saint Martin with its locks and bridges is really nice place for a walk (especially in the Summer):
The Eiffel Tour on a cloudy morning
To sum this up: The four days went by way to fast. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
C'est tous
Charly
the Élysée Treaty that started the reconciliation between Germany and France celebrated it 50th anniversary this year. Frensh railway SNCF and German railway Deutsch Bahn offered special tickets to celebrate anniversary: Paris round trip for 50 Euros. I took the chance for a trip to the Seine for a few days.
The Weather was mixed, but for rainy times there are the museums and the Métro
.RER
Let's start with some impressions from the RER network.
A multi-level train of line RER C in the Station Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. These trains have a rather rustic charme with their brown interior (which has the charme of the 70s), no air condition and mostly without announcement on the next stop
On line RER B several refurbished class Z8100/MI79 trains were in service. They looked like brand new rolling stock:
Departure boards use various styles too: The next trains on the platform were indicated by a rather brash screen
For the itinerary of a trains several style of display are used. Once again RER C:
of RER B at "Saint Michel - Notre Dame" station:
"Cite Universitaire" on RER B allows a bird eye view down to the platform:
Métro 1: Rubber
As I guess most people know, the Paris Métro is running two types of trains: rubber-tyred ("Matériels sur pneumatiques", class MPxx) and steal-tyred ("Matériels fer", class MFxx). xx indicates the year the rolling stock was commissioned.
For starters, some pictures of rubber-tyred trains: two train of freshly automated Line 1 meet at Bastille station.
Apart from a short section of track between Pont de Neuilly and Esplanade de la Défense, this station is the only part of the line above ground.
During the automation of the line, gates were added to each platform, which will open once the trains has stopped. These can be seen on the picture.
Most stations have a similar design (white tiles), but some are quite different: For example Cité on Line 4. With the automation of line 1 several class MP89 trains were moved to line 4. They replaced the MP59 stock that was in service on this line for several decades.:
or Arts et Métiers on Line 11
This Line 6 stopped when he was along about half of the platform. The conductor made a quick announcement, and a dew minutes later the train was running again:
Line 6 is running above ground for most of its way. It is quite fun the ride along the line after dark and enjoy the lights of Paris (Eiffel tour included).
Approach to the Quai de la Gare station (the building in the back is the Treasury)
A train on the ramp just outside Bercy station
Métro 2: Steal
A few years back when I went to Paris for the last time only some MF01 stock trains were running on Line 2. Nowadays, only MF01 trains are used on this line. This line has a few above ground sections too, which offer some nice places for photos.
Two trains meet on the elevated section between Jaurès und Stalingrad stations.
Countdown clocks on the platform show the wait time for the next two trains
Line 7 and Line 13 have several branches, so their countdown clocks are a bit different. For instance this one of line 7 in Gare de l'Est station:
Fortunately, some of the old, iconic Métro entrances still exist. Like this one at Pere Lachaise:
Line 5 is equipped with two types of rolling stock: class MF67 and MF01 trains run on this line. Some pictures taken at Quai de la Rapée stop:
A few yard away, the trains cross the Seine and head for the next stop: Gare d'Austerlitz:
Tram
The Parisians tram network has grown of the last years. The line work as some outer circle, that links several stops of several Métro line. The latest addiotion was the extension of Tram 3.
This line passed right around the corner from my hotel. A tram at stop Porte Dorée:
Down in the Métro a departure screen by the stairs, informed about the next departures of buses and trams above:
Große Bahn
Now some pictures of the heavy rail at various locations.
Far away from home a regional train (TER) set from the region Pays de la Loire (at the Atlantic Ocean) in Gare d'Austerlitz:
Trainsets for regional services from Gare de l'Est are quite colorful:
A rare bread in France now: Diesel engines for long distance services:
Two TGVs in Gare Montparnasse station
In France, platform are announced a short period of time before the departure. So everyone in hanging around the departure boards and screens. Once a platform is shown, the whole herd gets into motion. Departue board at Montparnasse station
Sightseeing
An finally, some sight seeing impressions.
I can not decide, if it is great architecture or just ugly: The Palais Omnisports:
A short walk away is Parc de Bercy. This park is worth a visit.
The Canal Saint Martin with its locks and bridges is really nice place for a walk (especially in the Summer):
The Eiffel Tour on a cloudy morning
To sum this up: The four days went by way to fast. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
C'est tous
Charly