Paris Metro - Energy Usage Calculations

_{(Image above) New Line 18 station, Moulon Campus, under construction in Orsay, Paris}

Challenge

Paris Metro’s Lines 16, 17 and 18 will form part of Grand Paris Express, a new network of rapid transit routes encircling the French capital, allowing passengers to travel from suburb to suburb without having to pass through the central district.

Routes 16 and 17 will also connect to Saint-Denis–Pleyel station, near to the Stade de France, which opened in June 2024 in readiness for the Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics. Thereafter, it will act as a major interchange on the Grand Paris Express network.

During the competitive process to select the concession holder for Lines 16, 17 and 18, public transport operator Keolis sought to include accurate energy usage forecasts within their submission and explore where they could introduce energy efficiency measures without impacting on service levels.

Approach 

Ricardo’s team was appointed by Keolis to produce the energy usage calculations extending across not only the traction energy (with both lines operating on a 1500Vdc network), but also subsystems such as the onboard heating, lighting, ventilation and cooling.

The team began by developing a digital model of each line, simulating the infrastructure and driving profile of the routes to help calculate the energy use between two stops. The model assessed potential acceleration and braking movements, for example, as well as the energy used at dwell points when the vehicle is standing still".

The team has developed various robust methodologies for modelling the interactions between rolling stock, infrastructure and control systems, largely based on their extensive experience on the Dutch network. This has helped them to design models that account for the unique operational environment of line sections, including different loads, speed profiles, slopes and tunnels.

By comparing different timetables, for example, the modelling can pinpoint where efficient driving techniques could contribute towards reduced energy use. These might include sections where operations should prioritise coasting, or identifying locations where speed limits could be used without impacting on service capacity". 

Results

Île-de-France Mobilités subsequently awarded Keolis the contract to operate metro lines 16, 17 and 18, with passenger services anticipated to start on the lines in 2026.

The seven-year contract for lines 16 and 17 also includes the operation of Saint-Denis Pleyel station which, from summer 2024, will play an integral role in the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, serving both the main athletics and aquatic centres and the athletes’ Olympic Village.