Line 18: The Grand Paris Metro to Nanterre?

The future Grand Paris Express metro reignites interest in extending Line 18 to the future Nanterre La Folie station, to connect with Line 15 and RER E.

The Grand Paris Express Line 18 metro project is on track. Currently, it connects Orly Airport and Versailles. However, the extension to Nanterre had been put on hold since 2011, with commissioning not expected before 2030. Nonetheless, the steering committee meeting on February 16th “reaffirmed” the interest in this route.

A Versailles-Nanterre route still under discussion

The Société du Grand Paris (SGP), which is leading the new line project, announces “continuing studies on extending Line 18 from Versailles to Nanterre”. The feasibility of this section and the connections will proceed after the construction of the stations begins. According to the SGP, the “work will start in the coming months”.

This extension to Nanterre, passing through the Rueil-Malmaison stop, would enable connections to the rest of the Grand Paris Express metro network. Instead of an isolated terminus at Versailles, which is connected to the RER C or Transilien, Line 18 would link to Line 15. At the future Nanterre La Folie station, this new terminus would also connect with the RER E, which would have Mantes-la-Jolie as its new western terminus.

When will the Line 18 metro start?

Currently, the Société du Grand Paris states “nearly 90 km dug out of the total 200 kilometers of the network”, and “35 km of rails laid”. These figures relate to the initial segment between Orly Airport and Versailles-Chantiers.

The first section between Massy-Palaiseau and Saint-Aubin is scheduled for 2026, followed by extension to Orly by late 2027. The entire line is expected to be completed only by the end of 2030. As for the extension to Nanterre, it is likely to be realized by 2035 at the earliest, subject to confirmation.

Also read: Paris Metro: a refresh for Line 6… with old trains