Auditioned in January by Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), the new CEO of the Autonomous Paris Transport Authority (RATP), Jean Castex, promised to restore a normal frequency of metros from 1er March (for lines 3, 5 and 8) and from 1er April for lines 1, 2, 3 bis, 6, 7, 10 and 12.
The year 2022 has been chaotic, recognized IDFM and RATP. After the most intense period of the Covid-19 epidemic, IDFM had lowered the frequency of metros from -4 to -31% depending on the line, in order to adapt the offer to lower attendance.
But in the fall of 2022, the use of the Paris metros has returned to 87% of its pre-pandemic level. At the same time, the frequency during peak hours did not return to normal. And users of crowded metros are struggling to understand why the service is deteriorating, while the price of the Navigo pass is increasing.
To measure the extent of the problem, we compared the data published by the RATP for the year 2022 (from January to November, last month available) and 2019. Result: waiting times have increased for all lines, and every month of the year. Line 12 is systematically (except in October, within one second) at the top of the lines whose average frequency has decreased the most: the wait between two trains increased by 55 seconds in 2022 compared to 2019. Line 6 and line 3 completes the podium of lines with the lowest frequency: respectively + 39 seconds and + 30 seconds between trains, compared to 2019.
Find all the details of the increase in waiting time during peak hours, for each line, in the graph below, inspired by a article published on Franceinfo.
The detailed analysis, for each metro line, of the frequencies carried out in 2022, makes it possible to identify those which are problematic for users.
Some lines (13, 12, 7, 7 bis, 6, 3 and 3 bis) only very partially complied with the frequency defined by IDFM, which is different for each. Others are improving from the 96.5% punctuality rate: lines 2, 5, 9 and 11. The automated lines, 1 and 14, have both a frequency and excellent punctuality.