Paris Métro Line 2

Line 2
An MF 2000 stock train at Nation
Overview
System Paris Métro
Termini Porte Dauphine
Nation
Connecting lines Paris Métro Paris Métro Line 1 Paris Métro Line 3 Paris Métro Line 4 Paris Métro Line 5 Paris Métro Line 6 Paris Métro Line 7 Paris Métro Line 7bis Paris Métro Line 9 Paris Métro Line 11 Paris Métro Line 12 Paris Métro Line 13
RER RER A RER B RER D
Transilien Transilien Transilien
Stations 25
Ridership 92,100,000 (2010) (avg. per year)
7th/16 (2010)
Operation
Opened 1900
Operator(s) RATP
Conduction system Conductor (PA)
Rolling stock MF 2000
(45 trains as of March 22, 2011)
Technical
Line length 12.4 km (7.7 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Route map

 Porte Dauphine
RERRER C
 Victor Hugo
 Charles de Gaulle - Étoile  Paris MétroParis Métro Line 1Paris Métro Line 6 RERRER A
 Ternes
 Courcelles
 Monceau
 Villiers
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 3
 Rome
 Place de Clichy
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 13
 Blanche
 Pigalle
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 12
 Anvers
Montmartre Funicular
 Barbès – Rochechouart
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 4
Gare du Nord
Paris-Nord SNCF
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 4Paris Métro Line 5 RERRER BRER D TransilienTransilienTransilien SNCF
 La Chapelle
Magenta
RERRER E
 Stalingrad
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 5Paris Métro Line 7
Canal Saint-Martin
 Jaurès
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 5Paris Métro Line 7bis
 Colonel Fabien
 Belleville
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 11
 Couronnes
 Ménilmontant
 Père Lachaise
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 3
 Philippe Auguste
 Alexandre Dumas
 Avron
 Nation
Paris MétroParis Métro Line 1Paris Métro Line 6Paris Métro Line 9 RERRER A
Charonne Shops

Line 2 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system in Paris, France. Situated almost entirely above the former city walls (boulevards extérieurs), it runs in a semi-circle in the north of Paris.

As its name suggests, Line 2 was the second line of the Métro to open, with the first section put into service in December 1900; it adopted its current configuration in April 1903, running between Porte Dauphine and Nation. There have been no changes in its service pattern since.

At 12.4 km (7.7 mi) in length, it is the seventh-busiest line of the system, with 92.1 million passengers in 2004. Slightly over 2 km (1.2 mi) of the line is built on an elevated viaduct with four aerial stations. In 1903, it was the location of the worst incident in the history of the Paris Métro, the fire at Couronnes.

History

Chronology

  • 13 December 1900: The first portion of line "2 Nord" was opened between Porte Dauphine and Étoile.
  • 7 October 1902: The line was extended from Étoile to Anvers.
  • 31 January 1903: The line was extended from Anvers to Bagnolet.
  • 2 April 1903: The line was extended from Bagnolet to Nation.
  • 10 August 1903: A short circuit on a train caused a disastrous fire that killed 84 people at Couronnes and Ménilmontant stations.
  • 14 October 1907: Line "2 Nord" was renamed line 2.

Birth of the line

A metro car departing from Jaurès along the Boulevard de la Villette

On March 30, 1898 a déclaration d'utilité publique was made, recognizing the public benefit of the first six planned lines of the Paris metro. In response, the city began rapidly constructing the first line in hopes of opening it in time for the world's fair in 1900. During the first stage of development, three lines designated A, B, and C were planned for construction:

  • A: from Porte de Vincennes to Porte Dauphine.
  • B: circular route along the old city walls
  • C: from Porte Maillot to Menilmontant, using line B tracks from Étoile to Batignolles.

However, after a detailed traffic study was conducted, changes were proposed to the tracks lying west of Étoile: the segment from Étoile to Porte Maillot of line C would be integrated into line A, and line C would pick up the segment from Étoile to Porte Dauphine. This change allowed trains on line B to stop at Porte Dauphine, and thus Porte Dauphine was designated the terminus and origin of line B.

Shortly thereafter, line B was split into two lines in hopes of simplifying its use; the section from Porte Dauphine to Nation was designated as Line 2 North, and the remaining section from Nation to Étoile was designated Line 2 South. Line 2 South would eventually become line 6.

The first 1,600 metres (0.99 mi) section of line 2 was constructed at the same time as line 1, opening only a little later on December 3, 1900. This section consisted of three stations, Porte Dauphine, Victor Hugo, and Étoile, and was circulated by rolling stock consisting of three cars each. At Étoile, trains reversed direction via a track transfer (due to it serving as only a temporary terminus), while at Porte Dauphine and Nation direction was reversed using a turn-around loop.

Map and stations

This line counts 25 stations.

Map of Paris Métro Line 2

Renamed stations

DateOld nameNew name
15 October 1907Boulevard BarbèsBarbès – Rochechouart
1 August 1914Rue d'AllemagneJaurès
6 October 1942AubervilliersAubervilliers – Boulevard de la Villette
19 August 1945CombatColonel Fabien
10 February 1946Aubervilliers – Boulevard de la VilletteStalingrad
1970ÉtoileCharles de Gaulle – Étoile
13 September 1970BagnoletAlexandre Dumas

Tourism

  • The elevated line between Barbès – Rochechouart and Jaurès stations offers views of Paris.
  • Metro line 2 passes near several places of interest :

See also

English

French

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