Paris: Line 6 swaps its old trains… for old trains

Nothing is lost, everything is recycled: Paris Metro Line 6 will replace its old trains with new ones… already in service for more than a quarter of a century.

Is the City of Paris becoming less attractive with the decision to replace the iconic white and green train of Line 6 — which can be seen in all the tourist photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background — with a slightly more modern yet less charming model?

The charming MP73 trains (named after 1973, the year they were designed) were undeniably outdated, but they had a unique charm. They are now being replaced, from January 2023 until 2026, by the MP89 model (calculate the age…) previously in service on Line 4. These units are modernized and well maintained by the RATP, which explains their durability. The Paris Autonomous Transport Authority explains this renewal as an effort to increase the line’s reliability for travelers — a valid point.

Old with old?

The deployment, which has already begun, will involve 47 trains, including 10 in 2023. To be compatible with the specifics of Line 6, the MP89s had to undergo configuration changes. Their length has been reduced from 6 to 5 cars, since the platforms on this line are shorter. Conversely, the modernization does not include air conditioning, so summer trips might be less comfortable. However, the MP89s have the advantage of providing a large flow of natural air onboard due to the absence of separation between the units. Air flows in at the front and out at the back, regardless of your hairstyle :-).

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