Trainsets for Paris RER Line B get a facelift

The first RER B trainset (MI79) modernized by Alstom was unveiled on 6 December in the presence of RATP President Pierre Mongin, SNCF President Guillaume Pépy and Ile-de-France region and STIF President Jean-Paul Huchon. It was operated between the Paris stations Denfert-Rochereau and La Plaine Stade de France. In October 2007, Alstom was selected to research and supply equipment for the interior renovation of the 119 suburban trains on Line B of the RER.

The interior fittings were completely redesigned by the MBD Design agency under the direction of Alstoms Design & Styling department in close cooperation with the customers. The renovated trains have a refrigerated ventilation system. A visual and voice information system for passengers provides destination, stop and connection details. Lastly, the access doors at either end of the trainset have been equipped with an automatic running board for easier access to the train.

The contract, worth 103 million, was financed to 50% by the STIF (the Ile-de-France Transport Authority) and to 50% by the operators, the RATP and the SNCF (68 trainsets belong to the RATP and 51 to the SNCF). The operators are both responsible for supervising this renovation, while the RATP also acts as contracting authority.

The MI79 trainsets are built in Alstoms Valenciennes plant, and have been delivered to the RATP and the SNCF since 1980. Following this mid-life renovation, the 119 trainsets will remain in service for another 15 to 20 years. 850,000 passengers use Line B of the RER every day.

The renovation in figures:  

• 5,000 parts are necessary for renovating an MI70 carriage.
• The project represents 120,000 hours of study.
• 10,300 plans and documentations have been produced.
• Some 50 Alstom employees are at work simultaneously (during the renovation and creation of the first prototype).

*Réseau Express Régional, the Paris regions suburban train network