Paris Metro

[Kris]

Anybody been on the Paris Metro?

Very interesting system. There are a couple of lines where the trains have pneumatic tyres - sound quite different from the others and you get the smell of the rubber in the station too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wqwFPo5Ubs

Most of them you can see out the front - very interesting in the tunnels which twist and turn, rise and fall more than our underground and are usually illuminated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuIpy5P8gkg

The Meteor line - which I haven't travelled on - is driverless and you can sit right at the front.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ_ayqBBB_0

Notice the announcements in French, English and Spanish. No German oddly. I don't think they've forgiven them yet because of Uncle Adolf's orders to blow the city up.

 

[Crompton Karl]

The Meteor line is Quite fun, reminds me of the Docklands Section from Bank, and you can sit right at the front. RATP, the equivalent of TFL, want to make as many of the Metro lines in Paris Driverless. However, i prefer the RER, an amazing system. If only the Mayor of London or the Government could get off its backside and get CrossRail up and running, get Thamslink 2000 of the Drawing board and then think up a few other heavy rail underground options (i.e. like the always spoken about SW - Clapham to North London service through the capital, not the Kensington branch) then London would have a system comparable to the RER.

Karl

 

[gordonthemoron]

However, the Paris metro is not as cramped as the Tube

 

[westcoaster]

when we went to paris we went to get straight on the metro, as the train came in and stopped the doors did not open, we stood there like wally's thinking, everyone else is getting on, what we did not realise is on some metros you have to open the doors manually lifting up a metal leaver,

 

[Nathan]

we did not realise is on some metros you have to open the doors manually lifting up a metal leaver,

I lifted it and stepped out! ended a little bit further down the platform because it was still moving. I was glad i got out, because of the heat and having watched those awful screaching tyres pull away fairly quickly some nutter decided to pull the emergancy chain, like that it was away then crunch at a stop passengers were everywhere. Worse than my bus

 

[Kris]

when we went to paris we went to get straight on the metro, as the train came in and stopped the doors did not open, we stood there like wally's thinking, everyone else is getting on, what we did not realise is on some metros you have to open the doors manually lifting up a metal leaver,

I often thought - those metal levers are the ideal design to catch on peoples' clothing (the outside ones) and drag them along. Wouldn't be allowed here.

 

[Mojo]

I went to Paris a few years ago, but because I was with someone in a wheelchair, only got to ride on the Metro once.

I didn't understand how their fares system works - I bought a single journey ticket, and at the interchange station there were barriers between the lines, so I had to buy another ticket as my original ticket was rejected. At my destination, the exit barriers (which are about 2m high) wouldn't accept my ticket, and there were no staff supervising - fortunately one of the barriers was broken so I could exit through that - but I wasn't impressed at the thought of being stuck inside an Underground station, or arrested by the police for doubling up with someone through a barrier!

 

[tubenutter]

Im not sure if it's like this on all lines, or just the RER, or something like that cos I can't really remember, but when I was in Paris I'm sure you didnt need to put your ticket in to exit the system.