RER B

The RER B is one of the five lines in the RER subway system serving Paris, France.

The line runs from Robinson (B2) and Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (B4) to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle (B3) and Mitry-Claye (B5)

First inauguration : December 9, 1977
Length : 80.0 km (49.7 miles)
Number of stops : 47
Traffic (2004) : 165,100,000 journeys per annum (figure only for the RATP section of the line)

Line B was the product of the connection in 1977 of the Ligne de Sceaux terminus, Luxembourg, with the Gare du Nord via Châtelet - Les Halles. In 1988 St-Michel - Nôtre-Dame station between Luxembourg and Châtelet - Les Halles was opened to provide connection with RER C and Métro Line 10 at Cluny - La Sorbonne, a station which had been closed since the beginning of the second world war and was entirely renovated for the occasion.

Chronology

1846 : The Ligne de Sceaux is inaugurated from Massy to Denfert-Rochereau.
From 1889 to 1895 : The line is extended from Denfert-Rochereau to Luxembourg.
1937 : The CMP (the company which was operating Paris subway then) buys from the PO company the "ligne de Sceaux" which was connecting the Luxembourg Garden to Robinson and Massy – Palaiseau.
December 9, 1977 : The "ligne de Sceaux" is extended to Châtelet-les Halles, 2 km, and becomes the RER B.
December 10, 1981 : The line is extended from Châtelet-les Halles to Gare du Nord, 2.5 km (branch B1). RATP trains to Robinson and Massy make end-to-end ("bout à bout") connections with SNCF trains to Aulnay, Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Mitry, 42 km, but without through working due to a difference in electrical system (1500V DC to the south, 25kV AC to the north).
January 1983 : New station, Parc-des-Expositions, opened. Located between Villepinte and Roissy.
June 7, 1983 : Some trains work through between points north and south of Gare du Nord ("Interconnexion Robinson / St-Rémy – Roissy / Mitry"). Service increased in 1984 and 1987.
February 17, 1988 : The station St-Michel - Notre-Dame is inaugurated between Luxembourg and Châtelet in order to offer a quick connection with metro line 10 and the RER C.
October 2, 1994 : OrlyVAL line opens, connecting Antony station with Orly Airport, 8 km.
November 13, 1994 : The line is extended to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 – TGV, 1 km.
January 28, 1998 : "La Plaine" station is renamed "La Plaine - Stade de France"