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| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Locale | Paris |
| Termini | Porte Dauphine Nation |
| Connecting lines |                        |
| Stations | 25 |
| Service | |
| System | Paris Métro |
| Operator(s) | RATP |
| Rolling stock | MF 01 (45 trains as of 22 March 2011) |
| Ridership | 88 million(2022) (avg. per year) |
| History | |
| Opened | 13 December 1900; 124 years ago (13 December 1900) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 12.4 km (7.7 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 750VDCthird rail |
| Conduction system | Conductor (PA) |
| Average inter-station distance | 513 m (1,683 ft) |
Paris Métro Line 2 (French:Ligne 2 du métro de Paris) is one of the sixteen currently open lines of theParis Métro. Situated almost entirely above the formercustoms barrier around the capital (Boulevards extérieurs), it runs in a semicircle in the north of Paris.
As its name suggests, Line 2 was the second line of the Métro network to open, with the first section put into service on 13 December 1900, as a branch of the Line 1. It adopted its current configuration on 2 April 1903, running betweenPorte Dauphine andNation. There have been no changes in its layout since then.
At 12.3 km (7.6 mi) in length,[1]: 12 it is the ninth-busiest line of the system, with 105.2 million riders in 2017. 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, thefire at Couronnes.
On 30 March 1898 adéclaration d'utilité publique was published, recognizing the public benefit of the first six planned lines of the Paris Métro. In response, the city began rapidly constructing the first line in hopes of opening it in time for the1900 World's Fair. During the first stage of development, three lines designated A, B, and C were planned for construction:
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; Line C would pick up the segment from Étoile to Porte Dauphine. This change allowed trains on Line B to stop at Porte Dauphine. Porte Dauphine was thus 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, while the remaining section from Nation to Étoile was designated as Line 2 South. Line 2 South would eventually become a part ofLine 5, then ofLine 6.
The first 1,600 metres (0.99 mi) section of Line 2 was constructed at the same time asLine 1, opening only a little later on 3 December 1900. This section consisted of three stations (Porte Dauphine,Victor Hugo andÉtoile) 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 turnaround loop : A particularity only Lines 2 and 6 still use today.
Line 2 is also the only line of the network to employ a level crossing, despite it not being present on the passenger section of the route : at the entrance of its depot atCharonne.
Line 2 has 25 stations.
| Date | Old name | New name |
|---|---|---|
| 15 October 1907 | Boulevard Barbès | Barbès – Rochechouart |
| 1 August 1914 | Rue d'Allemagne | Jaurès |
| 6 October 1942 | Aubervilliers | Aubervilliers – Boulevard de la Villette |
| 19 August 1945 | Combat | Colonel Fabien |
| 10 February 1946 | Aubervilliers – Boulevard de la Villette | Stalingrad |
| 1970 | Étoile | Charles de Gaulle – Étoile |
| 13 September 1970 | Bagnolet | Alexandre Dumas |
Metro line 2 passes near several places of interest :
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