The RER E line extension has officially opened as of December 15, 2024, transforming commuter transportation across Île-de-France. After eight long years of construction and over five billion euros invested, the new section of the line connects commuters directly from Chelles, Gournay, and Tournan to Nanterre-la-Folie without the need to change trains at Gare Saint-Lazare.
This new service significantly decreases travel time for users. Trains are now able to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h, allowing passengers to travel from Gare du Nord to La Défense in just 10 minutes and to Nanterre-la-Folie within 15 minutes. Many users have celebrated this development as it paves the way for greater ease of access across the region.
According to SNCF, "C’est un grand jour pour les voyageurs du RER E," marking the transition of the train services to continuous operation throughout the day, even during peak hours. The introduction of 16 trains per hour during busy times and 10 trains at other periods aims to transport 600,000 passengers daily by significantly increasing capacity and frequency. Before this change, users had to transfer at Gare Saint-Lazare to reach the Nanterre station, causing inconvenience and longer travel times.
Valérie Pécresse, president of Île-de-France Mobilités, added, "L’intérêt de cette ligne, c’est qu’en devenant une nouvelle épine dorsale est-ouest, permet de désaturer les tronçons centraux du RER A, du RER B et du RER D," emphasizing the extension's strategic importance for relieving congestion on the most crowded rail line in Europe, the RER A.
With the line now serving as the backbone of east-west transit, the RER E is poised to attract more passengers from the RER A, which has been overburdened due to its popularity. The regional transportation authority expects passenger numbers to spike, resulting from the ease of direct travel to business hubs like La Défense.
The extension project, referred to as Eole, entails the renovation of the existing line between Mantes-la-Jolie and La Défense, plus the construction of new infrastructure including the drilling of a tunnel from La Défense to Haussmann Saint-Lazare. Although the project faced delays, pushing back initial projections, it is now seen as integral to enhancing the region’s transport links.
Currently, expectations are set for additional extensions to be complete by late 2029, though costs have now risen to approximately 6.6 billion euros. There is no doubt the RER E line extension marks a fundamental change for daily travelers and lays the groundwork for sustainable transport growth across the Île-de-France region.
