This time, it's really the very last straight line!
After a decade of work – marred by a multitude of technical problems which led to a delay of 4 and a half years – the northern extension of line 12 from its current terminus “Front Populaire” to “Mairie d'Aubervilliers” , 2 km further on, is finally ready.
The two new stations are fitted out and equipped.
And the safety and signaling systems, already tested on the new section of line, are all operational.
There is only one step left to complete: “physically” connect the old network and the extension.
This operation will be completed this Wednesday, we say to the RATP, which had to partially close the 12 (whose temporary terminus was transferred to Jules-Joffrin in the 18th arrondissement) since Saturday to carry out this final project.
The "sewing" of the two ends of the line is indeed more complex than it seems.
Between 50 and 80 workers mobilized
It is not just a matter of connecting the control, piloting and safety systems, etc., of the old and the new section to one another, like connecting an extension cord.
It is also necessary to equip the central command post of the 12 with a new software readapted to the dimensions of the extended line... It is still necessary and above all to transform the rails of the rear station of the current terminus of Front-Populaire (which serve of sidings during the night) into traffic lanes capable of accommodating trains traveling at 70 km/h.
Between 50 and 80 workers have therefore been taking turns since Saturday, 24 hours a day, in the former rear station to replace the rails and remove the switches which allowed the maneuvers and the parking of 14 trains in the end of line tunnel.
These heavy works which require the use of several worksite trains (operating on battery, the power supply being cut off at the end of the line) and which could not be carried out only at night, we drive to the ITC (Temporary traffic interruption) on the end of the line.
It will be lifted this Thursday.
Line 12 will only reopen to the current Front-Populaire terminus.
All the trains in circulation will deposit their passengers there as usual… Before continuing, empty, to the future terminus of Mairie d'Aubervilliers.
This “blank run” should last until the commercial commissioning of the extension, scheduled for May 31.
