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PARIS

The Paris Metro and RER closures in August you need to know

A month of discontent, delays and disruption is in store for anyone using the Metro or RER services in Paris this August, as the capital steps up preparations for next year's Olympics.

Published: 2 June 2023 16:29 CEST
Updated: 1 August 2023 10:17 CEST
The Paris Metro and RER closures in August you need to know
Expect plenty of travel disruption in Paris this summer. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

Line closures and maintenance delays are routine in Paris in the summer, when passenger numbers are down because many people are away on holiday. But the amount of work is higher than normal this year, with improvements planned on almost every major line in and out of the capital.

Nine metro lines, as well as three tramways, will be affected throughout the summer, with the schedules for certain major routes like the RER commuter train system set to also be disrupted.

Here’s what we know about line closures in the coming weeks in AUgust:

Metro

Line 4 

No service between August 12th and 17th from Porte-de-Clignancourt to Barbès-Rochechouart. 

Line 5

No service until August 11th between the stations Gare-du-Nord and République.

Line 9

The entirety of Line 9 will be closed on September 3rd.

Line 11 

Closed on the following Sunday, August 27th, for work on the extension to Rosny-sous-Bois. The line will also close at 10pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until the end of September. 

Line 12

Closed from August 2nd to 8th between the stations Front-Populaire and Jules-Joffrin.

Line 13

The Porte-de-Saint-Ouen station will be closed from until August 18th. 

Line 14

Until August 11th, no services will run on the entirety of the line.

Tramways

Line T2

From August 12th to 27th, the tram will not run between Pont-de-Bezons and La Défense.

From August 12th to 18th, traffic will also be halted between Porte-de-Versailles and Issy-Val-de-Seine.

Line T3A

Until August 11th, traffic will be halted between Porte-d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes.

RER A

Europe’s busiest railway line will be closed from Nation and Val-de-Fontenay and Fontenay-sous-Bois stations from August 9th to 18th; and between Cergy-le-Haut and Conflans-Fin-d’Oise stations from August 5th to 20th.

RER B North

The line will be closed between Gare-du-Nord and Mitry-Claye on August 12th, 13th and 14th. 

On September 23rd and 24th, the section between Aulnay-sous-Bois and Mitry-Claye will not be served.

Replacement buses will be in operation, but users are warned to expect delays.

RER B South

The station Bagneux will remain closed until August 27th.

Between Fontaine-Michalon and Massy-Palaiseau, from August 5th to August 20th, traffic will be halted to carry out modernisation work on the Chartres and Gallardon bridges. 

All trains will terminate at Fontaine-Michalon and Massy-Palaiseau. A replacement bus will serve Massy-Palaiseau, Massy-Verrières, Les Baconnets and Fontaine-Michalon stations.

Until August 4th, traffic will be interrupted to allow completion of the Massy-Valenton-Ouest project between La Croix de Berny and Massy-Palaiseau, and to continue work on the Chartres and Gallardon bridges. 

All trains will terminate at La Croix-de-Berny and Massy-Palaiseau. A shuttle bus will serve the remaining stations.

The branch between Bourg-la-Reine and Robinson will be closed until August 26th. All trains will terminate at Bourg-la-Reine. Substitutions will be made at Bourg-la-Reine, Sceaux, Fontenay-aux-Roses and Robinson stations.

RER C

The Austerlitz – Javel – Henri-Martin section will be closed until August 26th.

No trains will run between Massy and Pont-de-Rungis, either, during the replacement of the Gallardon rail bridge in Massy, and for the Massy southern rail bypass project.

RER D

Disruption can be expected on weekends, until August 26th, in particular on morning / early afternoon trains going into Paris (until 2:55pm); and for the other direction (leaving Paris) after 3pm.

RER E

The Challes-Gournay station and Vaires-Torcy stations will experience several disruptions.

From August 5th to 6th, the Challes-Gournay will closure (in both directions), and neither will the Vaires-Torcy station (for those going towards Paris).

The same will go for August 11th to 12th, as well as August 19th to 20th, and finally August 26th to 27th.

Transilien

Line H

From August 5th to 6th traffic will not run between Ermont-Eaubonne and Valmondois; as well as Pontoise and Persan-Beaumont.

Line J

There will be several disruptions on this line. Until August 13th, traffic will be interrupted between  Épône-Mézières and Mantes-la-Jolie. 

From August 5th to 6th, August 19th to 20th, and 26th to 27th, trains will not run between Les-Mureaux and Mantes-la-Jolie.

From August 12th to 13th, August 19th to 20th, and August 26th to 27th, traffic will not run between Paris Saint-Lazare and Saint Cloud – Garches – Marnes-la-Coquette.

Line L

From August 5th to 20th, traffic will not run between Maisons-Laffitte and Cergy-le-Haut.

Line P

Until August 13th, traffic will be halted between Plaisir-Grignon and Mantes-la-Jolie.

Until August 27th, traffic will be halted between Meaux and La-Ferté-Milon.

And until August 27th, the Nangis station will be closed.

Line U

Traffic between La Défense and Suresnes will be halted three times – from August 12th to 13th; August 19th to 20th; and finally August 26th to 27th.

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For members

TRAVEL NEWS

Will my French partner need a visa to visit the UK with me?

The UK is set to introduce an Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme in November - so what does it mean for anyone travelling from France?

Published: 20 September 2023 13:58 CEST
Will my French partner need a visa to visit the UK with me?

We known about the EU’s long-delayed ETIAS entry requirement for all holidaymakers from non-EU countries – including Britons – which is currently scheduled to come into force in 2024

For now, no precise introduction date has been set for ETIAS, and it may even get delayed again (until after the Paris Olympics if France gets its way).

Meanwhile, the UK is set to introduce its own version – known as Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This won’t affect Brits, even if they live outside the UK, but could affect anyone travelling with a non-UK national, even if that person is your registered partner or spouse. 

What’s it all about then?

It is very similar to the EU’s yet-to-be-imposed ETIAS entry system, or the US’s already-existing ESTA visa waiver (if you’ve been to the US recently you will recall having to pay a small fee and fill in an online form).

Travellers heading to the UK from a gradually increasing number of nations will need an ETA to:

  • come to the UK for up to six months for tourism, medical treatment, to visit family and friends, business or study;
  • come to the UK for up to three months under the Creative Worker visa concession;
  • transit through the UK – even without going through UK border control.

There’s a fee for ETIAS. Will there be a fee for the UK’s ETA, too?

Yes. £10. Per applicant. Including minors. The good news is that an ETA will last for two years, and you can use it for any travel to or through the UK during that period.

Unless the passport that it’s linked to runs out in that two-year period. Then it will need renewing.

Who needs one?

Right now, no one needs an ETA. From November 15th, 2023, any national of Qatar travelling to the UK will need one – and will be able to apply for one from October 25th.

Nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates, will need one to travel to the UK on or after February 22nd, 2024. Applications open from February 1st, 2024.

Nationals of other countries, including France and other EU nations, do not need to apply for an ETA yet – and no dates have been confirmed for its roll-out to other citizens of nations beyond those already mentioned. 

It is, however, anticipated that EU countries will be added. The British government has produced a video explainer on it.

How do I apply?

Remember, you don’t yet. But, as the system is rolled out, you’ll need to apply online at the gov.uk website, or via an as-yet unavailable UK ETA app.

How long will it take?

The online form should take between 10 to 15 minutes to complete per applicant. Email confirmation of acceptance (or refusal) should take no more than 72 hours. Additional checks may take longer.

Do I still need to bring my passport and/or travel documents when travelling?

Yes. The ETA will be electronically linked to a single passport – and you’ll also need to carry all relevant travel documents. If you renew your passport you will need to apply for a new ETA as well.

Okay… so who doesn’t need one?

It seems that the ETA will gradually be rolled out to all arrivals into the UK, although beyond those countries listed above there is no indication of when that will be.

We do know, however, that the following groups definitely won’t need one;

  • British or Irish passport holders (including dual nationals)
  • Anyone who has permission to live, work, or study in the UK (for example someone with EU Settled Status)
  • Anyone who has a visa to enter the UK.
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