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🇫🇷 France /Disasters & Emergencies

RATP Establishes 'Anticipation Unit' to Tackle Heatwaves

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The RATP, Paris's public transport operator, has established a "anticipation unit" to prepare for future heatwaves following a historic summer episode.
  • This unit analyzes various scenarios based on heat intensity and duration to implement appropriate measures, as stated by the company's CEO.
  • High temperatures can strain transport infrastructure, leading to reduced speeds and decreased passenger numbers, with the RATP implementing measures like refrigerated ventilation in trains and buses.

Paris public transport operator RATP has launched a new "anticipation unit" to better prepare for upcoming periods of intense heat. The move comes after France experienced a historic heatwave, prompting the transport company to develop strategies for managing the challenges posed by high temperatures.

works every day on the different scenarios that we could implement

— Xavier PiechaczykDescribing the function of the new anticipation unit.

Xavier Piechaczyk, CEO of RATP, explained that the unit, established recently, works daily on developing various operational scenarios. These plans are designed to be implemented based on the intensity and duration of expected heatwaves. Piechaczyk made these remarks while attending the Aix-en-Provence Economic Meetings, as France braced for another heatwave with several southern departments under orange alert.

Extreme heat can significantly impact transport infrastructure and rolling stock, requiring rapid responses from maintenance teams. While underground metro lines benefit from cooler temperatures, above-ground sections and trams are more vulnerable. High temperatures can cause deformation of roads and rails, necessitating daily temperature monitoring of rails. The RATP has deployed connected sensors to provide real-time rail temperature data for its above-ground network.

The fact of being underground limits temperature peaks, while for the above-ground sections or the tramway, high temperatures can generate deformations of the roadway, of the rails.

— Xavier PiechaczykExplaining the impact of heat on different transport infrastructures.

During the previous heatwave, RATP recorded a 15% drop in ridership on Paris metros and RER lines, with bus usage in the inner suburbs falling by 30%. To mitigate the effects on passengers, 50% of metro trains are currently equipped with refrigerated ventilation systems, which offer a moderate cooling effect and are more energy-efficient than traditional air conditioning. All new MF19 train models, being deployed until 2034, will feature this system. Additionally, 93% of RER trains and 49% of trams currently have refrigerated ventilation, with plans to equip all buses by 2035.

During the heatwave, when many French people limited their travel, we recorded a 15% drop in ridership on metros and RERs in Île-de-France.

— Xavier PiechaczykReporting on the decrease in passenger numbers during the previous heatwave.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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