It was a long-awaited transport line extension in the Paris region. Since May 6, the RER E has been extended westwards, with the opening of three brand-new stations. First there's Nanterre-la-Folie, the new temporary terminus, then La Défense Grande Arche and finally Neuilly-Porte Maillot Palais des Congrès. We decided to take the train on Sunday July 7, between Magenta and Neuilly-Porte Maillot Palais des Congrès. The RER NG (for"Nouvelle Génération") trains are particularly beautiful and comfortable, but you have to be patient to get on board, or arrive at the right time.
Since its inauguration on May 6, and for a few months to come, train timetables have been adjusted. On this new section, trains only run on weekdays between 10:00 and 16:00, and on weekends and public holidays between 10:00 and 20:00. During these periods, there will be 1 train every 15 minutes. In addition, to reach one of these three new stations from the east of the line, an interconnection is required, either at Haussmann - Gare Saint-Lazare, or at Magenta - Gare du Nord.
The result? This Sunday afternoon, not many commuters are using this route from Magenta station to the west of the Paris region. But we're not complaining. Quite the contrary, in fact. It's rare to find such an empty train in Paris.
But when will the transport offer be extended on this RER E extension? When will it be possible to use this new section on weekdays, early in the morning or late at night?
For the time being, no precise date has been given. However, users can look forward to seeing this expanded transport offer by the end of 2024. " At the end of the year, once the 34 RER NG trains have been received, commissioned and made reliable, Transilien SNCF Voyageurs will then be able to expand its transport offer with 1 train every 4 minutes in peak hours and 1 train every 6 minutes in off-peak hours," reads the RER E blog. " All RER E services will then be extended to Nanterre-la-Folie," it adds.
In the meantime, RER E is announcing an enhanced transport offer during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, "in order to meet the heavy crowds of this exceptional period ".
Extra trains will therefore be running on this extension of the RER E line from Friday July 26 to Sunday August 11, and from August 29 to September 8.
In detail, the shuttle service will be supplemented by four trains at peak times, solely between Porte-Maillot (Olympic multimodal hub) and Nanterre-La-Folie. At weekends, trains will run non-stop from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., at a rate of 4 trains per hour. Remember that the RER E will serve the Vaires-sur-Marne nautical stadium and the Paris La Défense Arena, for the swimming events.
4 trains per hour between Nanterre-la-Folie and Neuilly-Porte Maillot Palais des Congrès
4 trains per hour between Nanterre-la-Folie and Magenta - Gare du Nord
4 trains per hour between Nanterre-la-Folie and Magenta - Gare du Nord
During this period of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a few extra trains will also be running between Haussmann - Gare Saint-Lazare and Chelles " to reinforce service to the Vaires-sur-Marne Olympic basin ", says the RER E blog.
In addition, between the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and from September 9, "the transport plan in force since May 6, 2024 will resume, until the end of the year", it is specified.
Official website
maligne-e-t4.transilien.com
