RER B

Infobox Paris Network
Line=RER B
ColourName=#537db9
TextColour=White
YearOpened=1977
LastExtension=1994
RollingStock=MI 79, MI 84
StationsServed=47
LengthKm=80.0
LengthMiles=49.7
AverageInterstation=1,739
AnnualPassengers=165,100,000

The RER B is one of the five lines in the RER Rapid transit system serving Paris, France.

The line runs from "Robinson (B2) and Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (B4) to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle (B3) and Mitry-Claye (B5)"

* First inauguration : December 9, 1977
* Length : 80.0 km (49.7 miles)
* Number of stops : 47
* Traffic (2004) : 165,100,000 journeys per annum "(figure only for the RATP section of the line)"

The southern part of the line (south of Gare du Nord) is operated by RATP, the northern part by SNCF. Trains are owned by either company. Drivers change at Gare du Nord. Trains moving from one network to the other at this station is known as the "Interconnexion". Technical difficulties of the interconnection include: the shared tunnel with RER D between Châtelet - Les Halles and Gare du Nord, and the fact that while the northern suburbs use 25 kV AC current, the RATP part uses 1500 V DC, forcing the use of dual-voltage trains.

Chronology

Line B was the product of the connection in 1977 of the Ligne de Sceaux terminus, Luxembourg, with the Gare du Nord via Châtelet - Les Halles. In 1988 St-Michel - Nôtre-Dame station between "Luxembourg" and "Châtelet - Les Halles" was opened to provide connection with RER C and Métro Line 10 at Cluny - La Sorbonne, a station which had been closed since the beginning of the second world war and was entirely renovated for the occasion.
* 1846 : The Ligne de Sceaux is inaugurated from Massy to Denfert-Rochereau.
* From 1889 to 1895 : The line is extended from Denfert-Rochereau to Luxembourg.
* 1937 : The CMP (the company which operated Paris subways at the time) buys from the PO company the "ligne de Sceaux" which connected the Luxembourg Garden to Robinson and Massy – Palaiseau.
* December 9, 1977 : The "ligne de Sceaux" is extended to Châtelet-les Halles, 2 km, and becomes the RER B.
* December 10, 1981 : The line is extended from Châtelet-les Halles to Gare du Nord, 2.5 km (branch B1). RATP trains to Robinson and Massy make end-to-end ("bout à bout") connections with SNCF trains to Aulnay, Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Mitry, 42 km, but without through working due to a difference in electrical system (1500V DC to the south, 25kV AC to the north).
* January 1983 : New station, Parc-des-Expositions, opened. Located between Villepinte and Roissy.
* June 7, 1983 : Some trains work through between points north and south of Gare du Nord ("Interconnexion Robinson / St-Rémy – Roissy / Mitry"). Service increased in 1984 and 1987.
* February 17, 1988 : The station St-Michel - Notre-Dame is inaugurated between Luxembourg and Châtelet in order to offer a quick connection with metro line 10 and the RER C.
* October 2, 1994 : OrlyVAL line opens, connecting Antony station with Orly Airport, 8 km.
* November 13, 1994 : The line is extended to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 – TGV, 1 km.
* January 28, 1998 : "La Plaine" station is renamed "La Plaine - Stade de France"

Map

List of RER B stations

* RER B3
** Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 – TGV
** Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1
** Parc des Expositions
** Villepinte
** Sevran – Beaudottes
* B5
** Mitry – Claye
** Villeparisis – Mitry-le-Neuf
** Vert-Galant
** Sevran – Livry
* Aulnay-sous-Bois
* Le Blanc - Mesnil
* Drancy
* Le Bourget
* La Courneuve – Aubervilliers
* La Plaine – Stade de France
* Gare du Nord
* Châtelet - Les Halles
* St-Michel - Notre-Dame
* Luxembourg
* Port-Royal
* Denfert-Rochereau
* Cité Universitaire
* Gentilly
* Laplace
* Arcueil – Cachan
* Bagneux
* Bourg-la-Reine
* B2
** Sceaux
** Fontenay-aux-Roses
** Robinson
* B4
** Parc de Sceaux
** La Croix de Berny
** Antony
** Fontaine-Michalon
** Les Baconnets
** Massy-Verrières
** Massy – Palaiseau
** Palaiseau
** Palaiseau – Villebon
** Lozère
** Le Guichet
** Orsay – Ville
** Bures-sur-Yvette
** La Hacquinière
** Gif-sur-Yvette
** Courcelle-sur-Yvette
** Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse

ee also

* List of stations of the Paris Métro
* List of stations of the Paris RER

External links

* [http://ratp.fr/ RATP official website] "(in French)"
* [http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php# RATP website in English]
* [http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carterer.php Interactive Map of the RER (from RATP's website)]
* [http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteparis.php Interactive Map of the Paris métro (from RATP's website)]
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/mobidf/ Mobidf website, dedicated to the RER (unofficial)] "(in French)"
* [http://www.metro-pole.net/ Metro-Pole website, dedicated to Paris public transports (unofficial)] "(in French)"