CCI Paris: mobility in figures, the promises of the Grand Paris Express

This is the question that regularly stirs up the political and media spheres when we talk about Paris and theIle-de-France How do residents, tourists and business travellers get around the capital, and for what level of comfort? satisfactionand with what margin of progress ? As the Paris 2024 Olympic GamesWith the influx of international tourists generated by the event, the issue is more sensitive than ever. " For tourists, accessibility to a region and mobility within it are major factors in its appeal. As one of the world's most prestigious tourist destinations, Paris Ile-de-France has a duty to offer its visitors first-class mobility solutions. "The people in charge of the CCI Paris Ile-de-France as a preamble to a new study published in conjunction with the attractiveness agency Choose Paris Region.

This report, published on 6 December could prove reassuring for some observers, with figures to back it up. Indeed, the satisfaction rate of visitors to the Ile-de-France region 84,6% for mobility conditions between 2014 and 2022. The figure falls to 79,8 % for the only public transport.

Another finding of the study is that all routes lead to the capital, in roughly equivalent proportions. In fact, while in 2022 air travel would be the main means of transport to Paris Ile-de-France (34.61%), road (33.6%) and rail (31.8%) would reach comparable levels.

Despite the continuing growth of rail, the leadership of air transport means that the connectivity of Paris airports a central issue. " For tourists who have chosen to travel by air, transport from the airport is a key factor in assessing the quality of their mobility during their stay. "admit the authors of the report. They therefore looked at the solutions offered in other business hubs for getting to the city centre from the airport. Starting with the Piccadilly line, which links Heathrow to London in 45 minutes, supplemented by the Heathrow Express (15 minutes to Paddington station) and the new Elizabeth line. The authors of the study also point to examples of Rome (30-35 minutes between Fiumicino and Termini station) or Stockholm (20-minute journey with the Arlanda Express from the central station). For destinations further afield, the city centre of Tokyo is linked to Narita airport by the Narita Express (53 minutes) and the Skyliner (36 minutes to Nippori station).

How, then, are we to judge the connectivity of Paris Region airports, limited solely to the RER line B ? In the light of travellers' choices, Paris can do better. In 2017, fewerone passenger in four (23 %) took the RER between Roissy and Pariscompared with 32 % for taxis and VTCs. Nevertheless, things are set to change considerably in the near future.

The authors of the report obviously point out Paris 2024 as " an opportunity to launch innovative solutions "In June, line 14 (14 km) will be extended to serve seven new stations, linking Olympiades to the Paris-Charles de Gaulle railway station.Orly airport in 16 minutes. But it is also and above all the CDG Express which is preparing to overhaul the mobility offer between the capital and its main airport. The airport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle from the beginning of 2027 in 20 minutes via this direct link between Paris-Est station and terminal 2 of the Paris hub. The latter will then be served by 2030 by the new line 17 of the Grand Paris Express. Paris-CDG could also be linked to La Défense, with Valérie Pécresse advocating a line 19 of the Grand Paris Express between Nanterre and Gonesse...

Accommodation also affected

The impact of the Grand Paris Express will go beyond the simple framework of connectivity between CDG and Orly. The study by the Paris Ile-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry points to a probable - and indeed already initiated - change in theaccommodation in the Paris Region. " The reduction in journey times could reinforce the trend for tourist accommodation to be relocated to the outskirts. "warn the authors of the report. " There is a growing hotel offer in the inner and outer suburbs, but it is the boom in private rental accommodation that is increasingly attracting these areas. These rentals are no longer the preserve of the city centre; the inner and outer suburbs now account for more than a third of the supply in this segment. "it says.