The first section of Grand Paris line 18 moves closer to completion as technical management transfers to IDFM, with a December opening expected despite delays and a complex organizational structure.
Line 18 enters technical management
The first section of the new line 18 of the Grand Paris metro system will transition to technical management by IDFM tomorrow, marking a key step in its development. This shift follows a trial operation phase with the operator Keolis, with an anticipated opening in December.Elzière reflects on the project’s challenges
Vianney Elzière, director of line 18 for the Société des Grands Projets, discussed the ten years spent managing the construction site. Elzière, who previously worked as a defense engineer and project management expert, had no prior experience with automated metro systems and faced unique challenges.Delays in the project timeline
Line 18 was initially expected to be completed by this summer, but delays have occurred. Elzière explained that the original goal was to transfer to technical management by July 31, but it became clear in June that the conditions were not met, leading to a two-month extension.Unique organizational structure of the project
The project, as outlined by the Grand Paris law in 2010, features an unusual organizational setup. The Société des Grands Projets, which owns the project, is not the transport organizing authority, which in turn designated an operator who is not the maintainer.Complexity of the four-part arrangement
This structure is not found in other French cities like Lyon, Rennes, Lille, or Marseille, where only two actors—AOM and operator-maintainer—are involved. For line 18, a four-person arrangement has been established, which Elzière described as more complex than the two-actor model.
