Metro line 7 : a line and its history

Metro line 7 connects northeastern station La Courneuve–8 Mai 1945, located in the Seine-Saint-Denis region, to southeastern stations Mairie d'Ivry and Villejuif–Louis Aragon, both in the Val-de-Marne region, while passing through central Paris. Built fully underground, metro line 7 stretches over 20.8 km. Serving 38 stations, metro line 7 is in a tie with metro line 8 as the line with the most stations across the network. Along with metro line 13, it is one of only two metro lines with branches.

Similarly to other lines across the Paris metro network, the planned trajectory of metro line 7 was modified several times before construction works began.
 

The line opened in two stages :

• Segment between Opéra and Porte de la Villette stations in 1910 ;
• Segment between Louis Blanc and Pré-Saint-Gervais stations in 1911, which was operated as a branch. It was only in 1967 that this branch started being used independently, and renamed metro line 7bis. 

For more on the history of metro line 7bis’s construction, visit its dedicated A line and its history page.

Construction works leading to Porte de la Villette and Pré-Saint-Gervais stations encountered different sets of challenges that varied by sector. The section that operates today as metro line 7bis beneath the Buttes-Chaumont hill was built on unstable terrain that required lengthy, comprehensive ground consolidation works in areas where the foundation was scarred by abandoned gypsum quarries. Ironically, despite having been granted a concession after the Pré-Saint-Gervais branch, the segment leading to Porte de la Villette station was completed and opened first.

In the segment of the line that serves both branches, the first exceptional feature was installed at Opéra station, making it possible to accommodate the intersection of metro lines 3, 7 and 8 beneath Place de l’Opéra with a unique, multilevel structure. Likewise, shared structures were simultaneously built along the sides of Gare de l’Est station during the construction of metro lines 4 and 5.

But what makes metro line 7 stand out in particular is, without any doubt, the underground grade-separated junction where both branches meet at Faubourg-Saint-Martin/La Fayette. This structure holds four separate tunnels, three of which are single-tracked. Louis Blanc station in the south is also one of a kind, as it comprises two double-tracked half-stations surrounding a central platform, and a lateral platform, each of which are located under different streets.

In 1910, metro line 7 was inaugurated, with its first segment between Opéra and Porte de la Villette stations. In 1911, the branch towards Pré-Saint-Gervais was opened.

While World War I was raging on, and the Battle of Verdun was being fought, the line was extended in 1916, connecting Opéra station to Palais-Royal station.

Ten years later, in 1926, metro line 7 was extended up to Pont-Marie station. In 1930, it advanced to Sully–Morland station, and in 1931, it crossed the Seine River to reach Porte d’Ivry station.

In 1946, following a 15-year hiatus, metro line 7 made its first steps into the southern suburbs, terminating at Mairie d’Ivry station.

Extension into Seine-Saint-Denis

In the 1970s, two new extensions were added to Paris metro lines. The metro line 7 extension was confirmed in 1975. Three years of construction works later, the line terminus was moved northward from Porte de la Villette to Fort d’Aubervilliers in the Seine-Saint-Denis region.

The new segment was commissioned in 1979 with the opening of Aubervilliers–Pantin–Quatre Chemins and Fort d’Aubervilliers stations.

The current northern terminus was inaugurated in 1987 at La Courneuve–8 Mai 1945 station.

Branch towards Villejuif–Louis Aragon station

In the 1980s, a new branch was built from Maison Blanche station, providing access to the municipality of Villejuif in the Val-de-Marne region.

This extension consisted of two stages : the first in 1982 with Kremlin-Bicêtre station, followed by the commissioning of Villejuif–Léo Lagrange, Villejuif–Paul Vaillant-Couturier and Villejuif–Louis Aragon stations in 1985.

The Villejuif–Louis Aragon terminus has been connected to tram line T7 since 2013.

In 1971, metro line 7 became the second line, after metro line 3, to operate MF67 trains. In 1979, these trains were phased out in favour of MF77 trains, ushering in a new generation of innovative rolling stock.

By 2032, the future MF19 trains will require the construction of an adapted maintenance centre. For this reason, a new maintenance centre will be built in La Courneuve, eventually discontinuing operations at the Choisy premises.

Metro line 7 was the first line in the network to have been equipped with a PCC (Poste de contrôle et de commande centralisé, central command post) in 1969.

During that same year, scheduled train departures were trialled on the line. The aim was to reduce the shortest interval between trains, from 115 to 95 seconds, while running 58 trains simultaneously, instead of the previous 50. Upon completion of the trials, scheduled departures were implemented across the network.

In 1977, metro line 7 was fitted with an automated driving system, with which metro trains could run without the driver’s intervention. The driver’s action was required only when trains had to leave their stations.

From the day it was inaugurated, metro line 7 stood out as being the first line to provide passengers with the comfort of escalators. This innovation was installed at Château-Landon, Louis Blanc and Bolivar stations.

The numerous anecdotes relating to metro line 7 stations reflect their rich history. Here are a few examples :

For many years at Palais-Royal station, passengers commuted through a raw, minimalist interior, which was tiled over in faience only in 1919, after the end of World War I.

The names of several metro line 7 stations were changed over the course of their existence. Stalingrad station is an iconic example. Initially inaugurated under the name of Boulevard de la Villette in 1910, it was renamed Aubervilliers - Boulevard de la Villette in 1942, before becoming Stalingrad in 1946, in homage to the famous World War II battle.

Other stations that have been renamed over time : Pont Notre-Dame, which became Pont Notre-Dame - Pont au Change in 1926, and eventually Châtelet in 1934. The name "Pont au Change” still appears on the tiled walls of its platforms.

After World War II, many metro stations were renamed in honour of French Resistance fighters. They include Pont de Flandre, which adopted the name Corentin Cariou in 1946.

Palais-Royal station was renamed Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre in 1989.

Metro line 7 is a treasure trove of surprises ! Find out about the various artistic, historic, and quirky secrets that await you on the interactive metro line 7 Ça vaut le détour (It’s worth the trip) map.

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