Metro escalators 10cm ‘too wide’

THIRTY escalators in Paris’s Metro will have to be replaced - because they are 10cm too wide.

The escalators, at stations on lines six, 13 and 14 were installed between 2006 and 2007, Le Figaro reports, but they have been plagued by breakdowns and the need for costly repairs ever since.

The 1m stairs were supposed to increase capacity, but they were found to be unsuitable for the space available.

So-called “enhanced maintenance” took place every four weeks, as opposed to six months, as was scheduled.

Following numerous complaints and petitions from Metro users, RATP has decided to replace the stairs at an estimated cost of at least €6m by next year.

Who will foot the bill will reportedly be the subject of a hearing at the Administrative Court. RATP accused manufacturer Cnim of design flaws back in 2011.

Replacing the faulty escalators is in addition to a wider rolling programme to replace 350 moving stairs in the Metro by 2019.

Earlier this year, SNCF and RFF were widely criticised after it emerged that a new generation of trains set to run on France’s rail network were too wide for many stations.

Photo: Gabriel Jorby