MRV (Paris Métro)

MRV, project name, for Matériel Roulant Voyageurs (Passenger Rolling Stock) are the future rolling stock for the new Line 18 of the Paris Métro.

Background
As part of the construction of Line 18 of the Paris metro, the Société du Grand Paris launched a call for tenders in the first quarter of 2019 for the acquisition of new self-driving trains and associated systems.

In October 2021, the Société du Grand Paris announced that the manufacturer Alstom had been selected to supply 37 trains from the Alstom Metropolis range with three cars, automation systems and centralized operating command stations for a total amount of 400 million euros. A first firm tranche of 15 trains for an amount of 230 million euros has been ordered for delivery from 2024 and commercial entry into service of the new trains should take place when Line 18 opens on its section from Massy - Palaiseau to CEA Saint-Aubin, scheduled for 2026.

The trains will be designed at the Alstom site in Petite-Forêt (Valenciennes).

Description
The MRV are fully automated and have a length of 45 m, with three cars with open-gangway connections. The capacity of a complete train is 498 places including 54 seats. Unlike the MR3V/MR6V, with a width of 2.8 m, the MRV has a width of 2.5 m, close to the 2.45 m train width of the older lines of the Paris Métro. The MRV will use third-rail power supply and its maximum commercial speed will be 100 km/h.

Due to its unique characteristics, loading gauge, power supply and automation, the MRV will be specific to Line 18 and unique in France. The choice of a 1500V power supply by 3rd rail was motivated to avoid the installation of catenaries on the viaduct part, already widely criticized by the surrounding population (but not the university campuses).

This will have an impact on the price of the trains, because they are very specific, on the interconnection with other lines, and on a risk of problems, technology previously non-existent.

The trainsets will be pre-equipped for an extension to 4 cars if the attendance is too high....

Exterior
The first exterior designs of the trains were unveiled in late November 2021. Île-de-France Mobilités opened an online consultation in early December 2021 for the final choice of the front of the train out of three proposed variants. After 15 days of consultation the third proposal, named “Pure fluidity”, was selected.