Paris Metro Line 8 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Paris Métro Line 8 is one of 16 metro

Paris Métro

The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...

lines in Paris, France. It connects the Balard

Balard (Paris Métro)

Balard is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro and a stop on tramway line 3.-History:The station was opened on 27 July 1937 as part of the extension of line 8 from La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle. The tramway line 3 stop opened on 16 December 2006 as part of the initial section of the line between...

station in southwestern Paris, to Créteil – Préfecture

Créteil - Préfecture (Paris Métro)

Créteil - Préfecture is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It was the southern terminus of the line as is on the surface.The station opened on 10 September 1974 with the extension of the line from Créteil - L'Échat...

station in Créteil

Créteil

-Health:As of 1 January 2006, 27 pharmacies, about 60 dentists, about 60 general practitioners, 10 pediatricians, and a half-dozen ophthalmologists and dermatologists constitute the general medical staff of the city.Health facilities include:...

, a town south-east of the French capital, following a parabolic route on the right bank of Seine

Seine

The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...

River. It was the last line of the original 1898 Paris Métro plan and was initially meant to link the Porte d'Auteuil

Porte d'Auteuil (Paris Metro)

Porte d'Auteuil is a métro station serving Line 10 . It is situated in the 16th arrondissement.- History :The station opened on 30 September 1913 as part of the extension of line 8 from Beaugrenelle...

and the Opéra

Opéra (Paris Metro)

Opéra is a station of the Paris Métro, named after the nearby Opera Garnier, built by the architect Charles Garnier. It is located at the end of the Avenue de l'Opera, one of the accesses being opposite the Opera, and serves the district of the Boulevard Haussmann...

stations. This initial section opened in December 1913.

It was deeply modified during the 1930s as line 10

Paris Metro Line 10

Paris Métro Line 10 is one of 16 metro lines in Paris, France. The line links the Boulogne – Pont de Saint Cloud metro station in Boulogne in the west with the Gare d'Austerlitz, travelling under the neighborhoods situated on the Rive Gauche in the southern half of Paris and the commune of...

took over the western section. The current route, starting in southwestern Paris at the Balard

Balard (Paris Métro)

station, serves successively the south-west part of the city, the Grands Boulevards, the Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....

, and ending in the southeastern inner suburbs through the cities (communes) of Charenton-le-Pont

Charenton-le-Pont

Charenton-le-Pont is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe....

, Maisons-Alfort

Maisons-Alfort

Maisons-Alfort is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Maisons-Alfort is famous as the location of the National Veterinary School of Alfort, the most renowned veterinary medical school in France...

and finally Créteil

Créteil

that the line reached in 1974 at the Créteil – Préfecture

Créteil - Préfecture (Paris Métro)

station following several extensions. It became the first underground line to connect the prefecture of one of the new departments of Île-de-France

Île-de-France (région)

Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....

.

It is the only Paris underground line to cross the Seine

Seine

and its principal tributary, the Marne

Marne

Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...

, in the air via a bridge between Charenton – Ecoles

Charenton - Écoles (Paris Métro)

Charenton - Écoles is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont.The station opened on 5 October 1942 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton. It was the eastern terminus of the line until 19 September 1970, when the line was extended to Maisons-Alfort...

and Ecole Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort

École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort (Paris Métro)

École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort, named after the nearby École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, the national veterinary school founded in 1765....

, as well as the Seine

Seine

in underground between Concorde

Concorde (Paris Metro)

Concorde is a station on lines 1, 8 and 12 of the Paris Métro in the Place de la Concorde in central Paris and the 1st arrondissement.The station was opened on 13 August 1900, almost a month after trains began running on the original section of line 1 between Porte de Vincennes and Porte Maillot on...

and Invalides. With 89 million travellers in 2004, it is the eighth line of the network for its traffic.

Chronology

13 July 1913: line 8 was opened between Beaugrenelle and Opéra.
30 September 1913: The line was extended from Beaugrenelle to Porte d'Auteuil.
30 June 1928: The line was extended northbound from Opéra to Richelieu-Drouot.
5 May 1931: The line was extended from Richelieu-Drouot to Porte de Charenton.
27 July 1937: The section between La Motte-Picquet and Porte d'Auteuil was transferred to line 10. Line 8 was extended from La Motte-Picquet to Balard.
2 September 1939: In common with many other stations, trains stopped serving Croix Saint-Martin and Champ de Mars because of the war. However, both stations were eventually permanently closed.
5 October 1942: The line was extended eastbound from Porte de Charenton to Charenton – Écoles.
19 September 1970: The line was extended from Charenton – Écoles to Maisons-Alfort – Stade.
27 April 1972: The line was extended from Maisons-Alfort – Stade to Maisons-Alfort – Les Juillottes.
24 September 1973: The line was extended from Maisons-Alfort – Les Julliottes to Créteil – l'Echat.
9 September 1974: The line was extended from Créteil – l'Echat to Créteil – Préfecture.
8 October 2011: The line was extended from Créteil – Préfecture to Pointe du Lac.

Birth of the line

Line 8 is the last line created by the concession of 30 March 1898. The déclaration d'utilité publique

Déclaration d'utilité publique

A Déclaration d'utilité publique, or declaration of public utility, is a formal recognition that a proposed project has public benefits. Many large construction projects in France, especially relating to infrastructure, must achieve DUP before work can begin....

was approved on 6 April 1903. The project consisted of connecting Opéra with Porte d'Auteuil via Grenelle with a shuttle in the same way the other lines of the network. But following the idea to operate line 7

Paris Metro Line 7

Paris Métro Line 7 is one of sixteen lines of the Paris Métro system. Crossing the capital from its north-eastern to south-eastern sections via a moderately curved path, it links La Courneuve – 8 Mai 1945 in the north with Mairie d'Ivry and Villejuif – Louis Aragon in the south, while passing...

with a junction in the periphery of Paris, a branch towards the Porte de Sèvres (today Balard) starting from the Grenelle station 1910, the trains were sent alternatively on the two branches.
The works started with the construction of the underwater crossings of the Seine

Seine

from April 1908, between the stations Concorde

Concorde (Paris Metro)

and Invalides at the level of Pont Mirabeau

Pont Mirabeau

The pont Mirabeau was built between 1895 and 1897. It was listed a historical monument in 1975.-Geography:The bridge spans the Seine from the 15th arrondissement , to the 16th arrondissement. It links rue de la Convention and place Mirabeau, on the left bank, to rue de Rémusat. On the left side,...

. It was finished in January 1911 after a significant delay caused by the flood of the building site at the time of the historical great flood of Paris in 1910

1910 Great Flood of Paris

The 1910 Great Flood of Paris was a catastrophe in which the Seine River, carrying winter rains from its tributaries, flooded Paris, France, and several nearby communities....

. The crossing of the river was routed via a curve two hundred and fifty meters away.

Originally metal "caissons" were to be sunk vertically, as had already been done at line 4

Paris Metro Line 4

Line 4 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. Situated entirely within the boundaries of the City of Paris, it connects Porte de Clignancourt in the north and Porte d'Orléans in the south, travelling across the heart of the city. As a result, it is sometimes called...

; instead a tunnel was drilled following a single circular tube with the help of a shield, as the public authorities opposed to the initial method because of the risks to boating activity above. On the other hand, the crossing close to Pont Mirabeau was carried out using said vertical caissons. The Invalids-Javel section which does not raise particular difficulties had been completed in 1910. The Grenelle station was built as a double station, which allows to send the trains towards Auteuil and the junction saw Porte de Sèvres on a level with single platform, and to receive the trains of the two branches in opposite direction around a central platform on another level.

Without waiting the completion of work close to the Pont Mirabeau, the line was opened to the public 13 July 1913 between the stations Beaugrenelle and Opéra; the extension with Porte d'Auteuil followed 30 September 1913. At that time, Invalides and Concorde stations were still unfinished and were finally opened 24 December 1913 and 12 March 1914 respectively.. In 1914, the line includes fifteen stations between Porte d'Auteuil and Opéra.

First extensions

The project of extension of the line started with the deliberation of the 29 December 1922 which modified the consistency of the principal network. The aim was to transform line 8 into a parabolic axis which connects Auteuil to Porte de Charenton

City gates of Paris

thumb|right|350px|Principal Parisian city gatesWhile Paris is encircled by the boulevard périphérique , the city gates of Paris are the access points to the city for pedestrians and other road users...

while passing by Opera, Place de la Republique

Place de la République

The Place de la République is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. It is named after the French Republic. The Métro station of République lies beneath the square.-History:...

, Place de la Bastille

Place de la Bastille

The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris, where the Bastille prison stood until the 'Storming of the Bastille' and its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 during the French Revolution; no vestige of it remains....

, Avenue Daumesnil in the 12th arrondissement and Porte de Picpus

City gates of Paris

. As part of the framework of the extension, a common path with line 9

Paris Metro Line 9

Paris Métro Line 9 is one of 16 lines of the Paris Métro. The line links Pont de Sèvres in Boulogne in the west with Montreuil in the east. It is the fourth busiest line on the network....

between the stations Richelieu – Drouot

Richelieu - Drouot (Paris Metro)

Richelieu - Drouot is a station of the Paris Métro on lines 8 and 9. It was opened on 30 June 1928 with the extension of line 8 from Opéra and line 9 from Chaussée d'Antin....

and République

République (Paris Metro)

République is a station of the Paris Métro, serving lines 3, 5, 8, 9, and 11.The station opened on 19 October 1904 as part of the first section of line 3 between Père Lachaise and Villiers. The line 5 platforms opened on 15 November 1907 with the extension of the line from Jacques Bonsergent to...

was envisaged in order to limit impact of this problematic section on traffic in the streets. Located right in the axis of former path of the Seine, the ground at this place is particularly soft and the initial plan of building two parallel tunnels caused a long controversy.
The Work started straight away and the first new section opened on the 30 June 1928 extending the line by 643 meters to station Richelieu – Drouot

Richelieu - Drouot (Paris Metro)

Richelieu - Drouot is a station of the Paris Métro on lines 8 and 9. It was opened on 30 June 1928 with the extension of line 8 from Opéra and line 9 from Chaussée d'Antin....

from Opéra

Opéra (Paris Metro)

. Considering the forecasted increase in the traffic considered, the Municipal council of Paris at meeting of the 21 March 1926 decided to increase to 105 meters the length of the new stations of lines 7,8 and 9 in order to be able in the long term to exploit stock trains of seven carriages. Lengthening of the old stations was envisaged later on, but this work will never be completed. The new station Richelieu – Drouot was first opening after this decision: it was thus the first of the network to be 105 meters long while the preceding stations was only 75 meters long, which created an operation issue after the opening of the remaining line, the length of the trains being always limited by the shortest stations.

The organization of the Paris Colonial Exposition of 1931

Paris Colonial Exposition

The Paris Colonial Exhibition was a six-month colonial exhibition held in Paris, France in 1931 that attempted to display the diverse cultures and immense resources of France's colonial possessions.-History :The exposition opened on 6 May 1931 in the Bois de Vincennes on the eastern outskirts of...

in Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....

required the completion of line 8 for its opening. The extension of the line up to Porte de Charenton

City gates of Paris

including the construction of seventeen new stations of 105 meters was then agreed on 25 March 1924. Work was launched in 1928. The particular configuration of lines 8 and 9, located under the Grands Boulevards

Boulevards of Paris

Boulevards of Paris are boulevards which form an important part of the urban landscape of Paris. The boulevards were constructed in several phases by central government initiative as infrastructure improvements, but are very much associated with strolling and leisurely enjoyment in the minds of...

in unstable watery ground, drove the decision to implement the line extensions at the same time on two levels. The stations of line 8 are at the higher level, and are made up of two half-stations separated by a central supporting wall in order to ensure overall stability. The infrastructure works were completed in March 1931. The extension of 7.8 kilometers was opened to the public on 5 May 1931, the new end station being Porte de Charenton

Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)

Porte de Charenton is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot for the Paris Colonial Exposition, held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Charenton -...

for the opening of the Paris Colonial Exposition of 1931

Paris Colonial Exposition

. On this date, the line included thirty-three stations between Auteuil and Porte de Charenton.

Major restructuring of the line

The line undergoes a modification in the south-western part in the 1930s. The principle of circular lines is replaced by axes crossing Paris right through. Thus, line 8 loses its main aim to connect the parks Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Boulogne

The Bois de Boulogne is a park located along the western edge of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, near the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine...

and of Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....

but to connect the only branch towards Balard

Balard (Paris Métro)

with Porte de Charenton

Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)

. The project consists in modifying the station of La Motte-Picquet

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

La Motte-Picquet Grenelle is a station of the Paris Métro, at the interconnection of lines 6, 8 and 10 in the 15th arrondissement, near the 7th arrondissement. The station combines underground and elevated platforms. It is named after the Avenue de la Motte-Picquet and the Boulevard de Grenelle...

so that the trains leave directly towards Balard, although initially the trains were meant to move towards Auteuil or Balard.

These modifications involve consequences on several lines: line 8 has a new terminus with Balard

Balard (Paris Métro)

and the old section of line 8 between La Motte-Picquet

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

and Porte d'Auteuil

Porte d'Auteuil (Paris Metro)

is reassigned to line 10

Paris Metro Line 10

. However this line had as a terminus the station Invalides ; therefore, the section between Duroc

Duroc (Paris Metro)

Duroc is a station on lines 10 and 13 of the Paris Métro on the borders of the 6th, 7th and 15th arrondissement.The line 10 station was opened on 30 December 1923 as part of the first section of the ligne circulaire interieur from Invalides to Croix Rouge...

and Invalides is transferred to old line 14 (now line 13)

Paris Metro Line 13

Line 13 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. The result of the fusion of the now-extinct Line B of the Nord-Sud Company and the old Line 14 of the CMP. Their creation was destined to be replaced by a north-south RER line before the reorganisation of the...

.

The section between La Motte-Picquet

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

and Balard

Balard (Paris Métro)

is open on 27 July 1937, at the same time as the new maintenance workshop of Javel. In 1937, the line includes thirty-and-one stations between Balard and Porte of Charenton.

Second wave of extensions in direction of Creteil

The extension to Charenton-le-Pont

Charenton-le-Pont

Charenton-le-Pont is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe....

is declared of public utility on 24 December 1929. The Work starts in 1936 by an extension of meters brought into service on 5 October 1942. Two new stations were created, Liberté

Liberté (Paris Métro)

Liberté is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont.The station opened on 5 October 1942 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton to the Charenton - Écoles...

and Charenton – Écoles

Charenton - Écoles (Paris Métro)

on the commune of Charenton. In 1942, the line includes thirty-three stations, but following the start of Second world war, the stations Champ de Mars

Champ de Mars (Paris Métro)

thumb|left|LocationChamp de Mars is a ghost station along line 8 of the Paris Métro, between the stations la Motte-Picquet - Grenelle and École Militaire. It is situated in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, to the southwest of the public garden called Champ de Mars.-The station:The station was...

and Saint Martin were closed since on 2 September 1939 and the line actually had only thirty one stations in operation.

After the war, there were no metro extensions except for line 13

Paris Metro Line 13

to Carrefour Pleyel

Carrefour Pleyel (Paris Métro)

Carrefour Pleyel is a station on line 13 of the Paris Métro in the Saint-Denis plain in the commune of Saint-Denis. It was opened in 1952.The station opened on 30 June 1952 when the line was extended from Porte de Saint-Ouen. It was the northern terminus of the northern branch of the line until 26...

in 1952. But finally the investment programmes of 1965 and 1967 envisaged three extensions, one of which was that of line 8 as far as Maisons-Alfort

Maisons-Alfort

, because of the saturation of the pont de Charenton due to the large-scale urbanization of the surrounding communes, which disrupted the service of suburban buses

Bus (RATP)

RATP operates the majority of buses in Paris, and a significant number of lines in its suburbs. Other suburban lines are operated by private operators grouped in a consortium known as Optile ....

towards the terminus of the line in Charenton. The extension required the crossing of the Marne on a viaduct

Viaduct

A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...

because of the topography

Topography

Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...

of the sector, the station Charenton – Écoles

Charenton - Écoles (Paris Métro)

being located at the edge of a cliff

Cliff

In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...

on the North of the Marne.

A concrete structure of 199 meters total range was built in the spring 1968. Designed with an aesthetic research to integrate into the landscape, it is carried by six supports, including one of the three piers

Pier (architecture)

In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...

of the structure in the course of the river. The two central spans are 55.5 meters long; the two side spans only 30 meters long. The structural steel

Structural steel

Structural steel is steel construction material, a profile, formed with a specific shape or cross section and certain standards of chemical composition and mechanical properties...

is made of a continuous metal beam, supported by two vertical beams with heart full. These beams frame the low part of the trains, in order to reduce the noise emitted. The rail tracks are laid on track ballast

Track ballast

Track ballast forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers or railroad ties are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, to distribute the load from the railroad ties, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track...

for the same reason. In the north, the viaduct overhangs the A4 autoroute (motorway)

A4 autoroute

The A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....

and then goes underground after an access ramp of 100 meters. In the south, the line immediately goes underground by a 70 meter long access ramp. The viaduct has a continuous slope of 40 mm/m, which makes it possible for the line to go underground once it passes over the left bank of the Marne. In June 1969, the metal beams were put in place; the structure was completed in November of the same year.

This viaduct was the first to be built since the one of line 6

Paris Metro Line 6

Line 6 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. Following a semi-circular route around the southern half of the city above boulevards formed by ancient city walls , it runs from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile in the west and Nation in the east.Opened between 1900 and 1906...

in 1909. The path is then planned in cut-and-cover up to the terminus with three tracks. The section of Charenton – Écoles to Maisons-Alfort – Stade

Maisons-Alfort - Stade (Paris Métro)

Maisons-Alfort - Stade is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort.The station opened on 19 September 1970 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton - Écoles. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes...

was opened on 19 September 1970.

The extension to Créteil

Créteil

was promoted to a prefecture following the creation of the department of Val-de-Marne

Val-de-Marne

Val-de-Marne is a French department, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France region. The department is situated to the southeast of the city of Paris.- Geography :...

, which resulted in an important demographic boom. A new extension is thus quickly put in building site, in several stages. The line reached Maisons-Alfort – Juilliottes on 27 April 1972, build as cut-an-cover. Then it goes into Creteil

Créteil

,also on cut-and-cover or in open-air, with a path located in the middle of fast road way on two kilometers. The station Creteil – L' Échat is open air with a central platform. It is open on 24 September 1973. The station of Creteil – Prefecture

Créteil - Préfecture (Paris Métro)

is open on 10 September 1974, being a terminus organized with three tracks and two platforms. In 1974, it is the first time the subway of Paris enable to connect Paris to the prefecture of a bordering department. The final configuration of the line increases its length to 22,057 kilometers and thirty-seven stations.

The length of the extension does not make it possible any more to maintain the single tariff principle: for the first time, a tariff by section is applied to the underground railway network of Paris starting from 19 September 1970 at the time of the opening of the prolongation to Maisons-Alfort – Stade

Maisons-Alfort - Stade (Paris Métro)

. The stations are equipped with an automatic check at the exit with turnstile, travelers having to pay a supplement before this control. However, as of the 1 November 1982, this particular tariff was abandoned to return to the unique tariff.

Particular events

Line 8 is also the spot of the first perfect crime in the history of the metro. This event is extensively discussed in the news. On Sunday 16 May 1937 towards 18:30, passengers at Porte Dorée

Porte Dorée (Paris Métro)

Porte Dorée is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton for the Paris Colonial Exposition, held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes...

station discovered an elegant brunette young woman stabbed in a first class carriage where she was alone. Laetitia Toureaux was twenty-nine years old, of Italian origin and a widow of a Parisian craftsman. The inquiry carried out by police chief Badin quickly revealed that this woman had a tumultuous life, working under a false name in a detective agency, visiting frequently and discreetly the embassy of Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, while looking after the cloakroom of a dance hall. La Cagoule

La Cagoule

La Cagoule , officially called Comité secret d'action révolutionnaire , was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group, active in the 1930s, and designed to attempt the overthrow of the French Third Republic...

is accused, but the war erupts two years later and the case is closed unsolved. This story inspired writer Pierre Siniac

Pierre Siniac

Pierre Siniac received the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere in 1981 for three of his works, including Aime le Maudit. Under the title Ferdinaud Céline, The Collaborators was published in French in 1997 to great acclaim....

for his novel Le Crime du dernier métro, published in 2001.

Path

The overall length of line 8 is 22.057 kilometers, including 2.8 kilometers in open-air in the south-eastern suburbs. It is the second longest line after line 13

Paris Metro Line 13

, but it is the longest distance between two termini because it has no branch.

The line starts in 15th arrondissement of Paris at the level of Porte de Sèvres. The back-station of the station Balard

Balard (Paris Métro)

is located under the grounds of the heliport of Paris, beyond the viaduct of Boulevard périphérique de Paris. This station is made up of three tracks with a central platform used for departures and arrivals. The end of the line is supplemented by four parking tracks.

The line leaves in direction of Hotel des Invalides by following the avenue Félix-Faure, passes under the viaduct of Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture

Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture

The Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture was a Parisian railway that, from 1852, was a circular connection between Paris' main railroad stations within the fortified walls of the city...

and arrives at the station Lourmel

Lourmel (Paris Métro)

Lourmel is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station was opened on 27 July 1937 as part of the extension of line 8 from La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle to Balard...

with three tracks with platforms one of which is used for the connection with the maintenance workshop of Javel. Then, it serves the stations Boucicaut

Boucicaut (Paris Métro)

Boucicaut is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station was opened on 27 July 1937 as part of the extension of line 8 from La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle to Balard. The station is named after Aristide Boucicaut, who opened Le Bon Marché, sometimes considered the world's first department store...

and Félix Faure

Félix Faure (Paris Métro)

Félix Faure is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station was opened on 27 July 1937 as part of the extension of line 8 from La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle to Balard. The station is named after the Avenue Félix-Faure, which is named after Félix Faure, President from 1895 to 1899.-Gallery:...

staying underneath the same avenue.

After this station, the line follows the Rue du Commerce. Because of the narrowness of this street, the station Commerce

Commerce (Paris Metro)

Commerce is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the Rue du Commerce, at the intersection with the Place du Commerce in the 15th arrondissement....

has staggered platforms. Then, at the level of the intersection between rue du Commerce and avenue Emile-Zola, the tunnel of line 8 is located under line 10

Paris Metro Line 10

in a common structure. As the line reaches the station La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

, the eastbound tracks of lines 8 (direction Creteil – Préfecture) and 10 (direction Austerlitz

Gare d'Austerlitz (Paris Metro)

The gare d'Austerlitz is a station on the Paris Métro, serving line 5 and forming the eastern terminus of line 10 in the 5th and the 13th arrondissements. The Line 5 station is open to the exterior though under the roof of the mainline Gare d'Austerlitz...

) serve the same central platform whereas the westbound track of line 8 (direction Balard) is located underneath the westbound track of line 10 for historical reasons.

Beyond the station, the line follows Avenue de la Motte-Picquet, the tracks present a profile in slope of 40 ‰ which brings them to a level close to the surface of the ground. The old station Champ de Mars

Champ de Mars (Paris Métro)

, which is located between La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

and École Militaire

École Militaire (Paris Metro)

École Militaire is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro near the École Militaire .The station was opened on 13 July 1913 as part of the original section of Line 8 between Beaugrenelle and Opéra....

, was closed on the 2nd September 1939. A rather unusual (on the network) park track accessible “at a peak” is located between the stations La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

and Champ de Mars

Champ de Mars (Paris Métro)

. On this section, there is also a connection mentioned further.
After the ghost station of Champ de Mars, the line serves École Militaire

École Militaire (Paris Metro)

and La Tour-Maubourg

La Tour-Maubourg (Paris Metro)

La Tour-Maubourg is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro. The station is located next to Les Invalides.The station was opened on 13 July 1913 as part of the original section of Line 8 between Beaugrenelle and Opéra...

, the line curves right then left under the esplanade of the Invalides and starts a descent of 40 ‰ to pass under the park tracks, then under the main tracks of line 13

Paris Metro Line 13

. It reaches the station Invalides located under the rue de Constantine. At the level of the rue Robert-Esnault-Pelterie the line starts its second descent of 40 ‰ after passing under the line C of the RER

RER C

The RER C is one of the five lines in the RER rapid transit system serving :Paris, France. It is operated by SNCF.The line runs from the northwestern terminuses Pontoise , Versailles – Rive Gauche and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to the southeastern terminuses Massy-Palaiseau , Dourdan-la-Forêt , ...

in order to cross the Seine through an underwater crossing, thanks to a metal tunnel drilled under the river. Then, the line goes up on the Right Bank with a slope in curve of 35 ‰ and reaches the station Concorde

Concorde (Paris Metro)

.

The line runs under Rue Royale and passes under the collector of urban waste water of Asnières, then above line 12

Paris Metro Line 12

Paris Métro Line 12 is one of sixteen metro lines in Paris, France. It links Issy-les-Moulineaux in southern Paris to Porte de la Chapelle in the north. With 72 million journeys per year, Line 12 is the eleventh busiest on the Parisian Métropolitan system...

, to reach Madeleine

Madeleine (Paris Metro)

Madeleine is a station on lines 8, 12 and 14 of the Paris Métro in central Paris and the 8th arrondissement.The station was opened on 5 November 1910 as part of the original section of the Nord-Sud Company's line A between Porte de Versailles and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. On 27 March 1931 line A...

. Then, it spans over the line 14

Paris Metro Line 14

Line 14 of the Paris Métro system connects the stations Saint Lazare and Olympiades on a north-west south-east diagonal across the centre of Paris. It is the twelfth busiest of sixteen lines on the network, and as of 2011, the only one to be operated completely automatically; the second such line...

, passes the collector of urban waste water of Clichy and arrives at Opera

Opéra (Paris Metro)

. It skirts the Grands Boulevards and reaches the station Richelieu – Drouot

Richelieu - Drouot (Paris Metro)

Richelieu - Drouot is a station of the Paris Métro on lines 8 and 9. It was opened on 30 June 1928 with the extension of line 8 from Opéra and line 9 from Chaussée d'Antin....

. Starting from this station, lines 8 and 9

Paris Metro Line 9

Paris Métro Line 9 is one of 16 lines of the Paris Métro. The line links Pont de Sèvres in Boulogne in the west with Montreuil in the east. It is the fourth busiest line on the network....

share a common infrastructure where line 8 is located directly above the line 9.

The lines will get to the same level when they reach station République

République (Paris Metro)

. Before that, both lines serve successively Grands Boulevards

Grands Boulevards (Paris Metro)

Grands Boulevards is a station on lines 8 and 9 of the Paris Métro. The section of lines 8 and 9 from just east of Richelieu - Drouot to west of République was built under the Grand Boulevards, which replaced the Louis XIII wall and is in soft ground, which was once the course of the Seine. The...

, Bonne Nouvelle

Bonne Nouvelle (Paris Metro)

Bonne Nouvelle is a station on lines 8 and 9 of the Paris Métro. The section of lines 8 and 9 from just east of Richelieu - Drouot to west of République was built under the Grand Boulevards, which replaced the Louis XIII wall and is in soft ground, which was once the course of the Seine. The lines...

, Strasbourg – Saint-Denis

Strasbourg - Saint-Denis (Paris Metro)

Strasbourg - Saint-Denis is a station of the Paris Métro, serving line 4, line 8, and line 9. The section of lines 8 and 9 from just east of Richelieu - Drouot to west of République was built under the Grand Boulevards, which replaced the Louis XIII wall and is in soft ground, which was once the...

and the closed station Saint Martin

Saint-Martin (Paris Métro)

Saint-Martin is a ghost station of the Paris Métro, located on lines 8 and 9 between the stations of Strasbourg - Saint-Denis and République, on the border of the 3rd and 10th arrondissements of Paris....

. On the east side of Republique

République (Paris Metro)

, the tunnel widens and includes three then four tracks. These garages are used for the trains of line 8 as for those of line 9 which reach it by the connections located on the west side of this station.

The path continues under the Grands Boulevards to reach Bastille

Bastille (Paris Metro)

Bastille is a station on lines 1, 5 and 8 of the Paris Métro. It is located near the former location of the Bastille and remains of the Bastille can be seen on line 5. The platforms for line 1 are situated below road level but above the Basin of the Arsenal and Canal Saint Martin in a short-open...

, after serving the stations Filles du Calvaire

Filles du Calvaire (Paris Metro)

Filles du Calvaire is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro, named after the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton. The boulevard was named after the Calvairiennes or Filles du Calvaire who...

, Saint-Sebastien – Froissart

Saint-Sébastien - Froissart (Paris Metro)

Saint-Sébastien - Froissart is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro, named after the nearby streets of Rue de Saint-Sébastien and the Rue Froissart....

and Chemin Vert

Chemin Vert (Paris Metro)

Chemin Vert is a station of the Paris Métro, named after the Rue de Chemin Vert.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton. The Rue de Chemin Vert follows the route of an old foot path through the middle of market gardens...

. The line then passes under the collector of the Center, and, before arriving at Bastille, plunges under line 5

Paris Metro Line 5

Paris Métro Line 5 is one of the 16 metro lines built in Paris, France. It crosses the east of Paris from Bobigny to Place d'Italie. It is the eighth busiest line on the network....

and under Canal Saint-Martin

Canal Saint-Martin

Canal Saint-Martin is a 4.5 km long canal in Paris. It connects the Canal de l'Ourcq to the river Seine.-Geography:The entrance of the canal is a double lock near Place de Stalingrad. Then, towards the river Seine, the canal is bordered by the quai de Valmy on one side and the quai de Jemmapes on...

by a slope of 40 ‰. Then the line follows the Rue du Fauborg-Saint-Antoine and serves the stations Ledru-Rollin

Ledru-Rollin (Paris Metro)

Ledru-Rollin is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro, named after the Avenue Ledru-Rollin.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton...

and Faidherbe – Chaligny

Faidherbe - Chaligny (Paris Metro)

Faidherbe - Chaligny is a station of the Paris Métro, named after the streets of Rue Faidherbe and Rue Chaligny.-History:The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton. Rue Faidherbe is named after General Louis Faidherbe , who was...

. After this station, the path forms a curve to follow the Rue de Reuilly in order to reach the station Reuilly – Diderot

Reuilly - Diderot (Paris Metro)

Reuilly – Diderot is a station on Paris Métro Line 1 and 8.The station was opened on 13 August 1900, a month after trains began running on the original section of line 1 between Porte de Vincennes and Porte Maillot on 19 July 1900. The line 8 platforms opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the...

.
The line reaches Montgallet

Montgallet (Paris Metro)

Montgallet is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro, named after the Rue Montgallet. The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton....

with a slope of 40 ‰, then, before reaching the Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....

, it serves successively the stations Daumesnil

Daumesnil (Paris Metro)

Daumesnil is a station on lines 6 and 8 of the Paris Métro in the 12th arrondissement.The station opened on 1 March 1909 with the opening of the original section of line 6 from Place d'Italie to Nation...

, Michel Bizot

Michel Bizot (Paris Métro)

Michel Bizot is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro, named after the Avenue du Général Michel Bizot.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton...

and Porte Dorée

Porte Dorée (Paris Métro)

. It then takes a south-western direction in order to serve the station Porte of Charenton

Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)

. After this station, the line changes again of orientation and moves towards south-east; it leaves Paris to cross the commune of Charenton-le-Pont

Charenton-le-Pont

Charenton-le-Pont is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe....

following the street of Paris via the stations Liberté

Liberté (Paris Métro)

and Charenton – Écoles

Charenton - Écoles (Paris Métro)

. This station has two tracks with platforms and two sidings because it was the terminus of the line for a long time.

The path continues in the open-air on 353 meters before it spans over autoroute A4 (motorway)

A4 autoroute

The A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....

and the Marne. The line borrows two metal structures coupled together, each one mode of four spans, long of 199 m and with a slope of 40,14 ‰. The lines goes underground again in order to pass through Maisons-Alfort

Maisons-Alfort

following the avenue of the Général-Leclerc, serving the stations École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort

École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort (Paris Métro)

, Maisons-Alfort – Stade

Maisons-Alfort - Stade (Paris Métro)

and Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes. This station, which was used as terminus, has three tracks with platform and a depot.

The line has three tracks until the terminus. Before arriving at Créteil – L'Échat

Créteil - L'Échat (Paris Métro)

Créteil - L'Échat is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It is on the surface.The station opened on 24 September 1973 with the extension of the line from Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Créteil -...

, it crosses the highway exchange RN19 (highway)

Route nationale 19

The Route nationale 19 is a trunk road in north east France. The road forms part of European route E54.-Reclassification:The RN19 has been subsequently downgraded in several sections to the RD319 and RD619.-Route:...

/autoroute A86 (motorway)

A86 autoroute

A86 is the second ring road around Paris. A86 follows an irregular path around Paris with the distance from the city centre varying from...

then continues in the open air. The tracks lies between the ways of the road CD 1 and serves the stations Créteil – Université

Créteil - Université (Paris Métro)

Créteil - Université is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It is on the surface.The station opened on 10 September 1974 with the extension of the line from Créteil - L'Échat to Créteil - Préfecture. Its name refers to the nearby Paris 12 Val de Marne University....

and Créteil – Préfecture

Créteil - Préfecture (Paris Métro)

.

Within the framework of the future extension, the line will continue full south to arrive at the crossroads CD 1/CD 60. A new station will be created after this crossing. The line will continue to arrive behind the Stade Dominique Duvauchelle

Stade Dominique Duvauchelle

Stade Dominique Duvauchelle is a multi-use stadium in Créteil, France. It takes its name from a local sports journalist who died shortly before the stadium's inauguration. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of US Créteil-Lusitanos Football. The stadium was...

at Créteil where a new workshop of maintenance will be located.

Stations renamed

Five stations belonging to line 8 have changed name: :

15 May 1921: Wilhelm renamed Eglise d'Auteuil.
12 January 1932: Saint-Sébastien renamed Saint-Sébastien – Froissart.
1996: Maisons-Alfort – Ecole Vétérinaire renamed Ecole Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort.
September 1998: Rue Montmartre renamed Grands Boulevards.

List of stations with a theme or specificity

La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle

La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)

presents corridors of correspondence decorated with several blazons of the family of Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte

Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte

Count Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte was a French admiral.Aged fifteen, he joined the navy as a midshipman and served in Morocco, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean Islands and in India. Noted for his strategic skills, he was called to Paris in 1775 to help the Secretary of State prepare the...

. A fresco represents the toll barrier of the Cunette, one of the doors of Wall of the Farmers

Wall of the Farmers-General

The Wall of the Farmers-General was built between 1784 and 1791 by the Ferme générale, the corporation of tax farmers. It was one of the several city walls of Paris built between the early Middle Ages to the mid 19th century. It was 24 kilometers long and roughly followed the route now occupied by...

formerly located at this place.
Richelieu – Drouot

Richelieu - Drouot (Paris Metro)

Richelieu - Drouot is a station of the Paris Métro on lines 8 and 9. It was opened on 30 June 1928 with the extension of line 8 from Opéra and line 9 from Chaussée d'Antin....

has a war memorial

War memorial

A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...

dedicated to the agents of the metropolitan railway who died in service for France

Mort pour la France

Mort pour la France is a term used in the French legal system for people who died during a conflict, usually in service of the country.- Definition :...

. It was carved out black marble

Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...

by sculptor Carlo Sarrabezolles in 1931. The central sculpture is decorated with a caryatid

Caryatid

A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term karyatides literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient town of Peloponnese...

who supports with its raised arms the surrounding stone twist. The statue separates into two parts the half-circle where the names of the agents of the subway who disappeared during First World War are registered. The base of the monument bears the names of the battle fields of the Great War. The word “Release” was added in the bottom right after Second World War, in order to mark the participation of the agents of the network in Résistance

French Resistance

The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...

.

Bonne Nouvelle

Bonne Nouvelle (Paris Metro)

was redecorated on the topic of cinema for the celebrations of the centenary of the Métro. The way the name of the station is written is a reference to the famous Hollywood Sign

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is a landmark and American cultural icon in the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee, Santa Monica Mountains, in Los Angeles, California. The sign spells out the name of the area in and white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923, but garnered increasing recognition...

(the monumental Hollywood letters on the hill of the district de Hollywood, with Los Angeles).
Some stations still show signs of difficulties of construction or of integration in the urban space:

Commerce
Commerce (Paris Metro)
Commerce is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the Rue du Commerce, at the intersection with the Place du Commerce in the 15th arrondissement....

is a station with quays shifted because of the narrowness of rue du Commerce;
The platforms of La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle
La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle (Paris Metro)
La Motte-Picquet Grenelle is a station of the Paris Métro, at the interconnection of lines 6, 8 and 10 in the 15th arrondissement, near the 7th arrondissement. The station combines underground and elevated platforms. It is named after the Avenue de la Motte-Picquet and the Boulevard de Grenelle...

are not facing each other because of the original role of the station to serve at the same time the branch d'Auteuil and the branch of Balard. The platform in direction of Balard is located below, and slightly shifted, with respect to the platform in direction of Créteil;
Champ de Mars
Champ de Mars (Paris Métro)
thumb|left|LocationChamp de Mars is a ghost station along line 8 of the Paris Métro, between the stations la Motte-Picquet - Grenelle and École Militaire. It is situated in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, to the southwest of the public garden called Champ de Mars.-The station:The station was...

and Saint-Martin
Saint-Martin (Paris Métro)
Saint-Martin is a ghost station of the Paris Métro, located on lines 8 and 9 between the stations of Strasbourg - Saint-Denis and République, on the border of the 3rd and 10th arrondissements of Paris....

are two phantom stations of the line: they were definitively closed the 2 September 1939;
République
République (Paris Metro)
République is a station of the Paris Métro, serving lines 3, 5, 8, 9, and 11.The station opened on 19 October 1904 as part of the first section of line 3 between Père Lachaise and Villiers. The line 5 platforms opened on 15 November 1907 with the extension of the line from Jacques Bonsergent to...

is used as terminus at the time of certain missions because the length of the line;
Porte de Charenton
Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)
Porte de Charenton is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot for the Paris Colonial Exposition, held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Charenton -...

, which is an old terminus of the line, has four tracks with platforms, the configuration consists of two sidings framed by the two main roads;
Charenton – Écoles
Charenton - Écoles (Paris Métro)
Charenton - Écoles is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont.The station opened on 5 October 1942 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton. It was the eastern terminus of the line until 19 September 1970, when the line was extended to Maisons-Alfort...

, which it also is an old terminus, includes/understands two tracks with platform and two sidings;
Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes
Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes (Paris Métro)
Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort.The station opened on 27 April 1972 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton - Écoles. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Créteil - L'Échat on 24...

, in the same way that the two preceding stations, has three tracks with platform, the middle one being used for departures and the arrivals of certain missions for which the station is a terminus;
Créteil – L'Échat
Créteil - L'Échat (Paris Métro)
Créteil - L'Échat is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It is on the surface.The station opened on 24 September 1973 with the extension of the line from Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Créteil -...

and Créteil – Université
Créteil - Université (Paris Métro)
Créteil - Université is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It is on the surface.The station opened on 10 September 1974 with the extension of the line from Créteil - L'Échat to Créteil - Préfecture. Its name refers to the nearby Paris 12 Val de Marne University....

are two-track stations framing a central platform.

Connections

The lines has eight technical interconnections with the other lines of the network :

with the ligne 10
Paris Metro Line 10
Paris Métro Line 10 is one of 16 metro lines in Paris, France. The line links the Boulogne – Pont de Saint Cloud metro station in Boulogne in the west with the Gare d'Austerlitz, travelling under the neighborhoods situated on the Rive Gauche in the southern half of Paris and the commune of...

between stations École Militaire and La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle on the track direction Balard, facing the exit of the closed station Champ de Mars,
with the line 13
Paris Metro Line 13
Line 13 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. The result of the fusion of the now-extinct Line B of the Nord-Sud Company and the old Line 14 of the CMP. Their creation was destined to be replaced by a north-south RER line before the reorganisation of the...

: two points of connections within the Invalides complex, one trailing between atations Invalides and Concordeon the track direction Créteil – Préfecture, but actually not usable since it was transformed into a reception area, the other facing the entrance of station La Tour-Maubourg, on the track direction Balard
with the line 1
Paris Metro Line 1
Paris Métro Line 1 is one of the sixteen lines composing the Paris Métro . It connects the La Défense – Grande Arche and Château de Vincennes stations. With a 16.5 km length, it constitutes an "East-West" route transportation important for the City of Paris...

facing at the exit of station Concorde on the track direction Balard
with the line 5
Paris Metro Line 5
Paris Métro Line 5 is one of the 16 metro lines built in Paris, France. It crosses the east of Paris from Bobigny to Place d'Italie. It is the eighth busiest line on the network....

between stations République and Strasbourg – Saint-Denis, trailing, at the entrance of the closed station Saint-Martin, on the track direction Balard
with the line 9
Paris Metro Line 9
Paris Métro Line 9 is one of 16 lines of the Paris Métro. The line links Pont de Sèvres in Boulogne in the west with Montreuil in the east. It is the fourth busiest line on the network....

: two points of connection between stations Strasbourg – Saint-Denis and République on both tracks, crossover connected at République for the line 9, at Strasbourg – Saint-Denis for the line 8
with the line 6
Paris Metro Line 6
Line 6 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. Following a semi-circular route around the southern half of the city above boulevards formed by ancient city walls , it runs from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile in the west and Nation in the east.Opened between 1900 and 1906...

between stations Daumesnil and Montgallet on the track direction Balard, trailing.

Extension towards south-east

Line 8 is being extended 1.3 km east from Créteil – Préfecture to Créteil – Parc des Sports, with opening scheduled for 2011.

Tourism

Metro line 8 passes near several places of interest in Paris:

École militaire
École Militaire
The École Militaire is a vast complex of buildings housing various military training facilities located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, southeast of the Champ de Mars....

, the Champ de Mars
Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is a large public greenspace in Paris, France, located in the seventh arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast. The park is named after the Campus Martius in Rome, a tribute to the Roman god of war...

and the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...

(station École Militaire
École Militaire (Paris Metro)
École Militaire is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro near the École Militaire .The station was opened on 13 July 1913 as part of the original section of Line 8 between Beaugrenelle and Opéra....

).
Invalides
Les Invalides
Les Invalides , officially known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides , is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's...

, including the tomb of Napoléon Bonaparte (station Invalides).
Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...

, dominated by the Obelisk
Luxor Obelisk
The Luxor Obelisk is a 23 metres high Egyptian obelisk standing at the center of the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France...

and the Tuileries garden (station Concorde
Concorde (Paris Metro)
Concorde is a station on lines 1, 8 and 12 of the Paris Métro in the Place de la Concorde in central Paris and the 1st arrondissement.The station was opened on 13 August 1900, almost a month after trains began running on the original section of line 1 between Porte de Vincennes and Porte Maillot on...

) .
church of the Madeleine
Église de la Madeleine
L'église de la Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army...

(station Madeleine
Madeleine (Paris Metro)
Madeleine is a station on lines 8, 12 and 14 of the Paris Métro in central Paris and the 8th arrondissement.The station was opened on 5 November 1910 as part of the original section of the Nord-Sud Company's line A between Porte de Versailles and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. On 27 March 1931 line A...

).
The Opera Garnier
Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier, , is an elegant 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera. It was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier...

(station Opéra
Opéra (Paris Metro)
Opéra is a station of the Paris Métro, named after the nearby Opera Garnier, built by the architect Charles Garnier. It is located at the end of the Avenue de l'Opera, one of the accesses being opposite the Opera, and serves the district of the Boulevard Haussmann...

).
The Grands Boulevards
Boulevards of Paris
Boulevards of Paris are boulevards which form an important part of the urban landscape of Paris. The boulevards were constructed in several phases by central government initiative as infrastructure improvements, but are very much associated with strolling and leisurely enjoyment in the minds of...

(between stations Madeleine
Madeleine (Paris Metro)
Madeleine is a station on lines 8, 12 and 14 of the Paris Métro in central Paris and the 8th arrondissement.The station was opened on 5 November 1910 as part of the original section of the Nord-Sud Company's line A between Porte de Versailles and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. On 27 March 1931 line A...

et République
République (Paris Metro)
République is a station of the Paris Métro, serving lines 3, 5, 8, 9, and 11.The station opened on 19 October 1904 as part of the first section of line 3 between Père Lachaise and Villiers. The line 5 platforms opened on 15 November 1907 with the extension of the line from Jacques Bonsergent to...

)
Place de la République
Place de la République
The Place de la République is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. It is named after the French Republic. The Métro station of République lies beneath the square.-History:...

(station République
République (Paris Metro)
République is a station of the Paris Métro, serving lines 3, 5, 8, 9, and 11.The station opened on 19 October 1904 as part of the first section of line 3 between Père Lachaise and Villiers. The line 5 platforms opened on 15 November 1907 with the extension of the line from Jacques Bonsergent to...

).
The Bastille
Place de la Bastille
The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris, where the Bastille prison stood until the 'Storming of the Bastille' and its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 during the French Revolution; no vestige of it remains....

and the adjacent modern opera house, the Opéra Bastille
Opéra Bastille
L'Opéra Bastille ' is a modern opera house in Paris, France. It is the home base of the Opéra national de Paris and was designed to replace the Palais Garnier, which is nowadays mainly used for ballet performances....

(station Bastille
Bastille (Paris Metro)
Bastille is a station on lines 1, 5 and 8 of the Paris Métro. It is located near the former location of the Bastille and remains of the Bastille can be seen on line 5. The platforms for line 1 are situated below road level but above the Basin of the Arsenal and Canal Saint Martin in a short-open...

) ;
le Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration
Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration
The Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration is a museum of immigration history located in the XIIe arrondissement at 293, avenue Daumesnil, Paris, France. The nearest métro station is Porte Dorée...

and the Aquarium of the Palais de la Porte Dorée
Palais de la Porte Dorée
The Palais de la Porte Dorée is an exhibit hall located on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes at 293, avenue Daumesnil, XIIe arrondissement of Paris, France...

(station Porte Dorée
Porte Dorée (Paris Métro)
Porte Dorée is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton for the Paris Colonial Exposition, held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes...

) ;
The Bois de Vincennes
Bois de Vincennes
The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....

(Vincennes Wood) and Vincennes Zoo (four stations between Porte Dorée
Porte Dorée (Paris Métro)
Porte Dorée is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro.The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton for the Paris Colonial Exposition, held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes...

and Charenton – Écoles
Charenton - Écoles (Paris Métro)
Charenton - Écoles is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont.The station opened on 5 October 1942 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton. It was the eastern terminus of the line until 19 September 1970, when the line was extended to Maisons-Alfort...

).

Further east, the line reaches place of interest in Val-de-Marne

Val-de-Marne

Val-de-Marne is a French department, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France region. The department is situated to the southeast of the city of Paris.- Geography :...

The museum of the École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort
École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort
The École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort is a school of veterinary medicine located at 7, avenue du Général de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort, Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France, France...

(school of veterinary medicine) (station École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort
École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort (Paris Métro)
École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort, named after the nearby École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, the national veterinary school founded in 1765....

) ;
The museum of Maisons-Alfort (station Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes
Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes (Paris Métro)
Maisons-Alfort - Les Juilliottes is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort.The station opened on 27 April 1972 with the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton - Écoles. It was the eastern terminus of the line until its extension to Créteil - L'Échat on 24...

) ;
The mall Créteil Soleil (station Créteil – Préfecture
Créteil - Préfecture (Paris Métro)
Créteil - Préfecture is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It was the southern terminus of the line as is on the surface.The station opened on 10 September 1974 with the extension of the line from Créteil - L'Échat...

).

External links

RATP official website RATP english speaking website Interactive Map of the RER (from RATP's website) Interactive Map of the Paris métro (from RATP's website) Mobidf website, dedicated to the RER (unofficial) Metro-Pole website, dedicated to Paris public transports (unofficial)

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Chronology

Birth of the line

First extensions

Major restructuring of the line

Second wave of extensions in direction of Creteil

The extension to Créteil

Particular events

Path

Stations renamed

List of stations with a theme or specificity

Connections

Extension towards south-east

Tourism

See also

External links