For thirty years, the RATP group has made accessibility of its network for people with disabilities one of its priorities. However, in the metro, access is still complicated in some cases, or even impossible, in the majority of stations. For the underground network, 9% of the Paris metro is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Only around forty stations can be used by people with reduced mobility out of more than 300. The Paralympic Games have also highlighted the difficulties for these groups of people to get around the capital. Last September, the “pact for an accessible metro” was signed at the headquarters of the APF-France handicap association. The Ile-de-France region and the City of Paris agreed to work hand in hand to transform the Ile-de-France network.
A few months after this agreement, the City, the Ile-de-France region and Ile-de-France Mobilités announced the conduct of a large-scale study to assess the feasibility of a complete renovation of line six, which connects Nation to Etoile. This study should make it possible to define a plan of attack by the end of 2026. In concrete terms, all stations will be closely scrutinized to determine whether renovations are possible and under what conditions. Note that 13 of the 28 stations on this route are aerial, which should facilitate the adaptation work.
A major project
Several scenarios should be delivered and, if necessary, it will be necessary to count on several additional years for the logistics that such projects require. The construction should last between six and ten years according to estimates, a colossal project that could cost between 660 and 850 million euros. The immobilization of line 6 is thus not for tomorrow, but confirms that the capital is moving a little further towards accessibility at all levels. Let us recall that all bus lines have been fully accessible since May 2024, after the renovation of many stops required more than three years of work and now allows all lines to display an accessibility rate of more than 70%. The sidewalks have been widened and drivers have been trained to accommodate people with disabilities.
How to find an accessible route for people with mobility issues reduced?
To move around more easily in the urban space, people with disabilities can refer to the routes proposed by the “Bonjour RATP” application. It offers accessible journeys that can be recognized by the presence of the PRM pictogram next to the price and under the quick description of the changes to perform.
Elsewhere on the RATP network
The Orlybus shuttle bowed out on March 3. This end had been scheduled since the commissioning of line 14, which now serves the airport. But with many closures planned this year, users will have to turn to other, slower... but also more economical, solutions. As a reminder, access to Orly is billed 13 euros with a special ticket. Thanks to the introduction of a single bus ticket, regardless of the distance, the journey to Orly now costs only two euros with the T7 tram line, or the buses that serve the airport.
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