Paris Métro Line 4

Infobox Paris Network
Line=line 4
ColourName=#bb4b9c
TextColour=White
YearOpened=1908
LastExtension=1910
RollingStock=MP 59
StationsServed=26
LengthKm=10.6
AverageInterstation=424
LengthMiles=6.6
AnnualPassengers=155,348,608

Paris Métro Line 4 is the second busiest metro line serving Paris. It crosses the city from the Porte de Clignancourt in the north to the Porte d'Orléans in the south. The line is completely underground and is operated with rubber-tyred trains of MP 59 stock. The main reason that Line 4 is one of the busiest and most crowded Metro lines in the city is that it includes stops at three of the city's six major rail termini (Gare Montparnasse, Gare du Nord, and Gare de l'Est), as well as two stations with multiple RER connections (Les Halles and Saint-Michel); in addition it is the only line in either network to connect with every other line (3bis and 7bis branch lines notwithstanding).

Chronology

*21 April 1908: A first section of the line was inaugurated to the north of the Seine between Porte de Clignancourt and Châtelet.
*30 October 1909: A second section of the line was inaugurated south of the Seine between Porte d'Orléans and Raspail.
*9 January 1910: Both sections were linked by a new tunnel between Châtelet and Raspail. Line 4 was the first line crossing the Seine river underground.
*1967: The rails were converted in order to cater for rubber-tired trains.
*3 October 1977: The station Les Halles was rebuilt to interchange with the new RER network.

Future

Once the Line 1's MP 89 is gradually being replaced by the fully automated MP 05 (2008-10), Line 1's MP 89CC rolling stock will be transferred over to Line 4 to replace the aging MP 59 rolling stock.

A one-station extension to the south is underway, with the new station (Mairie de Montrouge) expected to be open to the public in 2011.

The line is planned to be extended further south after that with two more stations: Verdun Sud at the frontier between Montrouge and Bagneux (in Montrouge) and Bagneux in Bagneux.

An extension to the north as far as Mairie de Saint-Ouen (for interchange with the Saint-Denis branch of the Line 13) has also been put forward.

The line is expected to be converted to an automated system (like Line 14), after conversion of Line 1 is completed.

Map and Stations

tations renamed

*15 November 1913: Vaugirard station was renamed Saint-Placide.
*5 May 1931: Boulevard Saint-Denis was renamed Strasbourg - Saint-Denis.
*25 August 1931: Marcadet (on line 4) and Poissoniers (on line 12) were combined and the resulting station was renamed Marcadet - Poissonniers.
*6 October 1942: Montparnasse (on lines 4 and 12) and Bienvenüe (on lines 6 and the current 13) were combined and the resulting station was renamed Montparnasse - Bienvenüe.

Tourism

Metro line 4 passes near several places of interest :
*Barbès and the Goutte d'Or and their African and Asian influences.
*Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est XIXth century train stations.
*L'Île de la Cité with the Notre Dame Cathedral.
*Saint-Michel and the Latin Quarter.
*Saint-Germain des Prés quarter with its church and famous cafés.
*Rue de Rennes shopping street.
*Luxembourg Garden.
*Montparnasse, its famous cafés and the Montparnasse Tower.

Gallery

Cité
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Marcadet - Piossonniers
Montparnasse - Bienvenüe
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Odéon
Porte d'Orleans

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Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Vavin

ee also

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

External links

* [http://ratp.fr/ RATP official website]
* [http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php# RATP english speaking website]
* [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)]
* [http://www.metro-pole.net/ Metro-Pole website, dedicated to Paris public transports (unofficial)]