Châtelet–Les Halles

Châtelet–Les Halles (French: [ʃɑtlɛ le al]) is a major train hub in Paris and one of the largest underground stations in the world. Opened in 1977, it is the central transit hub for the Île-de-France metropolitan area, connecting three of five RER commuter-rail lines and five of sixteen Métro lines.[1] The hub hosts 750,000 travellers per weekday (493,000 for the RER alone) and platforms separated by up to 800 metres (0.49-mile).[2] It is named after the nearby Place du Châtelet public square and the Forum des Halles, a shopping mall.

Châtelet–Les Halles
RER station
Place Marguerite de Navarre entrance
Location	1st arrondissement of Paris, Île-de-France France
Coordinates	48.8615°N 2.3465°E / 48.8615; 2.3465
Owned by	RATP Group
Operated by	RATP Group
Line(s)
Platforms	4
Tracks	7
Other information
Station code	8775860
Fare zone	1
History
Opened	9 December 1977 (1977-12-09)
Traffic
Passengers (2015)	26,017,693 (RER A & B)
Services
Preceding station   RER   Following station Auber toward Saint Germain-en-Laye, Cergy-le-Haut or Poissy Gare de Lyon toward Boissy-Saint-Léger or Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy Gare du Nord toward Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 – TGV or Mitry–Claye Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame toward Robinson or Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse Gare du Nord toward Creil Gare de Lyon toward Melun or Malesherbes Connections to other stations Preceding station   Paris Métro   Following station Louvre - Rivoli toward La Défense Transfer at: Châtelet Hôtel de Ville toward Château de Vincennes Cité toward Mairie de Montrouge Transfer at: Châtelet Les Halles toward Porte de Clignancourt Châtelet toward Mairie de Montrouge Transfer at: Les Halles Étienne Marcel toward Porte de Clignancourt Pont Marie toward Villejuif – Louis Aragon or Mairie d'Ivry Transfer at: Châtelet Pont Neuf toward La Courneuve – 8 mai 1945 Terminus Transfer at: Châtelet Hôtel de Ville toward Mairie des Lilas Pyramides toward Saint-Lazare Transfer at: Châtelet Gare de Lyon toward Olympiades

Terminology

Station layout showing both RER and Métro lines

Formally, the name Châtelet–Les Halles designates the RER station alone. Informally, it refers to the hub comprising the eponymous RER station (hosting lines A, B and D) plus the contiguous Paris Métro stations Châtelet (lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14) and Les Halles (line 4).

For purposes of wayfinding, the massive station complex is broken up into three sectors: Forum, Rivoli, and Seine.

The Forum sector is below and named after the Forum des Halles and includes the RER platforms and the Les Halles station on Paris Métro Line 4. Exits numbered 1 through 9 are located in the sector.

The Rivoli sector is below and named after the Rue de Rivoli, a major road known for its shopping and includes the Châtelet station of lines 1, 4, and 14 of the Paris Métro. Exits numbered 10 through 14 are located in the sector.

The Seine sector is named after the nearby Seine river and includes the Châtelet station of lines 7 and 11 of the Paris Métro. Exits numbered 15 through 19 are located in the sector.

RER station layout

The tracks of the three RER lines are all oriented parallel in an east–west direction. The seven tracks are grouped on four platforms, with the outer platforms reserved for Lines A and B and the central ones for Line D. This enables easy cross-platform connections between RER A and RER B trains traveling in the same direction, and a solution for those RER D trains which use the station as a terminus.

G	Street Level	Exit/Entrance
B1	Mezzanine	to Exits/Entrances, connections to
Platforms (B2)	Track 1A	→ toward Boissy-Saint-Léger or Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy (Gare de Lyon) →
	Island platform, doors will open on the left, right
	Track 1B	→ toward Robinson or Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame) →
	Track 3	→ toward Melun or Malesherbes (Gare de Lyon) →
	Island platform, doors will open on the left, right
	Track Z	→ Terminating trains
	Island platform, doors will open on the left, right
	Track 4	← toward Creil (Gare du Nord)
	Track 2B	← toward Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV or Mitry–Claye (Gare du Nord)
	Island platform, doors will open on the left, right
	Track 2A	← toward Saint Germain-en-Laye, Cergy-le-Haut or Poissy (Auber)

Renovation

A major redevelopment of the hub and adjoining Forum des Halles shopping mall was completed in 2018, with the main aim of improving safety in the event of an emergency evacuation at peak traffic time.[3] The renovation included the construction of a major new entrance at Place Marguerite de Navarre, with direct access to the RER station hall; the complete renovation and enlargement of the RER station hall; and extension of key escalators to lower levels of the station.

See also

• List of stations of the Paris Métro
• List of stations of the Paris RER

References

1. Roland, Gérard (2003). Stations de métro. D’Abbesses à Wagram. Éditions Bonneton.
2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "STIF - Redevelopment of the hub RER Châtelet - Les Halles" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2011. (4.04 MB)(in French)