Transilien is a franchise of the SNCF which operates trains into the suburbs of Paris. These trains depart from the main train stations in central Paris and in the business district of La Défense, and reach stations in the suburbs not served by the RER. They exclusively operate within Île-de-France. Transilien services transported 615 million passengers in 2004.

History

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The first line to the suburbs of Paris was opened on the 26th August 1837 route went from Paris-Saint-Lazare to Le Pecq. The railway link was thought of as key to the western suburbs. On 1st October 1972, the line was handed over to the RER, and the commenced service as the RER's ligne A.

SNCF took over control of the line again on 1st September 1999, and with this, 1st class was withdrawn.

During the Paris riots of 2005, Transilien withdrew its services to the suburbs, for fear of the safety of their staff.

The Transilien today

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The transilien is divided into six key lines, which are divided according to SNCF guidelines and are in no way related to the departmental boundaries. The lines are then divided into branches which, similarly to the RER, are given letters, although these letters are unknown from the public.

The six Transilien lines are:

• Transilien Paris – Est
• Transilien Paris – Nord
• Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare
• Transilien Paris – La Défense
• Transilien Paris – Montparnasse
• Transilien Paris – Lyon

The system is slightly complicated, in that for each different line, structures are very different. Key complications include:

• The power supplies
• The numbers of branches
• The lack of onward transportation beyond the termini
• Density of trains on the network
• The mix of traffic on the railway including express trains, freight trains, long distance trains, Transilien trains and RER traffic.

The importance of these glitches in the network are visible at times when SNCF staff go on strike or when serious technical problems occur on the network. Thousands of travellers arrive late for work, or when there are serious problems, decide not to go into work causing a huge financial burden for companies.

The extent of the lines means that concentric zoning is used. Trains bound for the outer zones are normally operated as express trains, this means the trains serve Paris city centre and then operate non-stop to the outer zones, meaning less commuting time.

The lines

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Transilien Paris – Est

The trains on this line operate from Gare de l'Est along the following routes:

• Transilien P North
  • Paris Est - Meaux
  • Paris Est - Crouy-sur-Ourcq - La Ferté-Milon
  • Paris Est - Nanteuil-Saâcy - Château-Thierry
  • Paris Est - Esbly - Crécy-la-Chapelle

• Transilien P South
  • Paris Est - Longueville - Provins
  • Paris Est - Coulommiers
  • Paris Est - La Ferté-Gaucher

Transilien Paris – Nord

The trains on this line operate from Gare du Nord along the following routes:

• Transilien K
  • Gare du Nord - Mitry-Claye
  • Gare du Nord - Dammartin Juilly Saint-Mard - Crépy-en-Valois

• Transilien H
  • Gare du Nord - Luzarches
  • Gare du Nord - Persan-Beaumont via Montsoult-Maffliers (Eastern branch) or via Ermont-Eaubonne (Western Branch) - Beauvais
  • Gare du Nord - Pontoise - Persan-Beaumont - Bruyères-sur-Oise - Creil

Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare

The trains on this line operate from Gare Saint-Lazare along the following routes:

• Transilien J North
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Cormeilles-en-Parisis
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Pontoise
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Chars - Gisors
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Mantes-la-Jolie par Conflans

• Transilien J South
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Poissy - Mantes-la-Jolie
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Port-Villez - Vernon
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Bréval - Évreux (via Mantes-la Jolie)

Transilien L North Paris Saint-Lazare - Cergy-le-Haut

• Transilien L South
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Saint-Cloud
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Versailles-rive-droite
  • Paris Saint-Lazare - Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche
  • Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Grande ceinture - Noisy-le-Roi

Transilien Paris – La Défense

The trains on this line operate from La Défense station along the following route:

• Transilien U
  • La Défense - La Verrière

Transilien Paris – Montparnasse

The trains on this line operate from Gare Montparnasse along the following routes:

• Transilien N
  • Paris Montparnasse - Mantes-la-Jolie via Plaisir-Grignon
  • Paris Montparnasse - Houdan - Dreux
  • Paris Montparnasse - Rambouillet - Gazeran - Chartres

Transilien Paris – Lyon

The trains on this line operate from Gare de Lyon along the following routes :

• Transilien R
  • Paris Lyon - Melun
  • Paris Lyon - Montereau via Moret-Veneux-les-Sablons
  • Paris Lyon - Souppes-Château-Landon - Montargis
  • Melun - Montereau via Héricy

Transport in Paris | Transilien

External links

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• Transilien - Journey planner and time table of the RER

Transilien