The last regularity numbers are particularly bad on lines 3, 4, 6, 8 and especially 11, 12 and 13.
The regional transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) is concerned about the deterioration since the summer of regularity in the Paris metro, operated by the RATP, due to a shortage of drivers. The latest regularity figures available, those for September, are bad – between 84% and 92% – on lines 3, 4, 6, 8 and especially 11, 12 and 13, the director general of ‘IDFM, Laurent Probst.
“It’s rare to have such low numbers on several metro lines“, he regretted, referring to much too long waiting times between two trains on certain lines – and, therefore, an explosion of complaints on social networks. “At the end of September, we had no alert from the RATP. (…) We do not yet have the figures for October, but we have a feeling that they are of the same ilk“, noted Laurent Probst, acknowledging that lines 1, 5, 9 and 14 worked well.
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These problems in the metro are added to those of the buses, which have become very irregular in the Paris conurbation for a few months. “There is a real lack of drivers. The personnel problem that we thought was confined to the bus is now spilling over to the metro, and that’s worrying“, underlined the person in charge. “The RATP has recruitment difficulties, we need to help them recruit“, he added. In the meantime, he encourages the Régie to “put the package when it’s crowded», that is to say in particular on Tuesday and Thursday.
Laurent Probst believes that the “operating difficulties» of the RATP do not come from the slight drop in the offer wanted by IDFM, to save money while attendance is still 15% lower than its pre-pandemic level. “If we had the offer we ordered, that is to say 98% of the normal, travelers would hardly notice it and we would have fewer complaints on social networks“, he observed. “We are quite ready to order more offers if attendance goes up, the subject is not there“, he concluded.
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