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METRO

So which is the least reliable train line in Paris?

New stats have shown just how bad some of the Metro and RER lines are in the city when it comes to timeliness.

So which is the least reliable train line in Paris?
Photo: AFP
If you live in Paris, you've no doubt been hit somehow by a delayed train (perhaps even regularly). 
 
Indeed, many commuters will have been hit this week by cancelled trains as transport workers strike (again). 
 
But now we know exactly how bad the trains are in a broader sense, thanks to new figures collected by the RATP transport chiefs and the SNCF network, stats published by Le Figaro newspaper on Thursday
 
Beginning with the Metro, and in terms of punctuality alone, it was line 13 that performed the absolute worst in Paris. 
 
Over 2015, the line – which stretches 24 kilometres from the northern to the southern suburbs of Paris – never reached its monthly target of having 96.5 percent of trains showing up on time. In fact, at the beginning of the year over one in ten of the trains didn't show up on time. 
 
Lines 1 and 14 performed the best, which is no surprise considering they're the only two that are automated, followed by line 3, which never dipped below a 98 percent score for the year. 
 
Trains and flights hit by French transport strike
 
When it came to peak hour traffic, the worst of all was line 9, which runs from Montreuil to Boulogne-Billancourt, and serves the Eiffel Tower via the Trocadero stop. 
 
In fact, during these peak times more than half of the city's 16 train lines didn't make the 96.5 percent punctuality goal, noted Le Figaro. 
 
Perhaps surprisingly, line 13 which was the absolute worst outside of rush hour performed among the best when it came to peak hour traffic, along with the automated services of line 1 and 14.
 
Indeed, both line 1 and 14 had near perfect scores across the board for all of 2015. 
 
On the RER lines, it was the east-west line A that performed worst in terms of punctuality. Frustratingly for commuters, it's this line that is the busiest – and is actually the busiest train line in Europe. 
 
Nevertheless, it was by far the worst train for punctuality of all the RER lines (A through to E). At its worst, in October, fewer than 80 percent of the RER A trains were showing up at stations on time. 
 
The best of the RER lines was E, which reached a top of 98.9 percent towards the end of the year. This line is the newest of the RER train lines, and has the fewest stations. It's mostly used by those living in the eastern suburbs. 
 
Lastly, when it came to the Transilien line, the worst performing was Line L, which dropped to 78.5 percent punctuality at its worst in the summer. The best lines were H, U, N and P. 
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METRO

The Paris transport works that could disrupt your summer

Every year, major engineering works take place on the capital's public transport network in July and August, when Parisians flee the city for their summer holidays. Here’s the lines affected this year.

The Paris transport works that could disrupt your summer
Photo: Ludovic MARIN / AFP.

Metro

The most significant changes to Metro lines will take place on line 6. The line will be closed between Montparnasse-Bienvenüe and Trocadéro throughout July and August, and the Nationale station will remain closed until the end of August. Replacement bus services will be available but will add time to your journey.

The Mairie des Lilas stop will also be inaccessible from June 26th, so line 11 line will end at Porte des Lilas until August 29th.

There will also be disruption on line 14, with no trains running between Gare de Lyon and Olympiades from July 25th until August 22nd, as work takes place to extend the line to Paris Orly Airport.

RER

Services on the RER A line will be suspended between Auber and the Université, Cergy and Poissy stations from June 26th until August 29th, every day from 9pm and all day on weekends.

From August 9th to 13th, and August 16th to 20th,  services will be suspended all day between Auber and La Défense, and no trains will be running to or from Poissy.

Frequent work is planned on RER B, which will affect journeys between the city centre and Charles de Gaulle and orly airports. There will be no services between Aulnay-sous-Bois and Charles de Gaulle 2 Airport on the weekend of June 26th-27th, or any day after 11pm from July 1st until August 27th. There will however be a replacement bus.

Services between Charles de Gaulle terminals 1 and 2 will also be suspended on July 3rd and 4th. Likewise for journeys between Gare du Nord and Charles de Gaulle 2 on August 14th and 15th.

Improvements take place during the summer, when public transport is less crowded. Photo: Aurore MESENGE / AFP.

The Luxembourg stop meanwhile will be closed throughout the whole of July. As will the Fontaine-Michalon station to the south of Paris from June 28th to July 23rd, and Denfert-Rochereau every weekend from July 24th until August 22nd.

The RER C will also see its share of engineering works, with no trains running between Pontoise and Avenue Henri Martin on weekdays after 9:30pm, from July 1st until July 13th.

There is greater disruption to come on weekends from July 15th to August 21st. Services will be suspended between Musée d’Orsay and Pontoise, Saint-Quentin en Yvelines and Versailles Château Rive Gauche, and Massy – Palaiseau and Pont de Rungis Aéroport d’Orly.

Tram

Most tramlines will be unaffected by works, but there will still be interruptions in certain areas. Notably, the stretch of the T3b line from Porte de Vincennes to Delphine Seyrig will be blocked between July 3rd and 9th.

Full details of the disruption can be found on the RATP website.

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