Pierre Graff, CEO & Chairman of Aeroports de Paris inaugurates
today CDGVAL, the new automated metro of Paris-Charles de Gaulle
airport. Following the tradition, a private visit is then planned for
staff. As from tomorrow, the new metro will be accessible to
passengers.
CDGVAL is a free driverless train meant to facilitate
inter-terminal transfers for passengers and the 85 000 employees of
Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. It links the 3 terminals of the
airport, RER-TGV stations and long-term car parks. CDGVAL covers a
total distance of 3.5 kilometres in 8 minutes (against 25 by bus).
The line has 5 stops: Terminal 1 -PR car park - Terminal 3
Roissypole -PX car park- Terminal 2 train station.
" With CDGVAL, Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport offers now a real
link between terminal 1 and terminal 2. Faster, it will hence
facilitate inter-terminal transfers for our passengers while
respecting the environment ", states Pierre Graff.
Unique in Europe: CDGVAL benefits from a two-way automated pilot
This new automated people-mover is unique in Europe as it is the
only one to benefit from a two-way automated pilot. CDGVAL can run on
the same track from one end to the other of the line (which can be
handy for maintenance).
CDGVAL: at the service of passengers
Besides its fastness, CDGVAL offers a regularity without
equivalent as a train is available every 4 minutes. It is also very
reliable as it runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. For optimum
safety, the platforms in each station are equipped with automatic
doors which open only after the train stops. It is hence impossible to
go down on the tracks.
To make the journey more pleasant, a flower trail has been created
along the train line. Rare species of flowers have been planted.
Passengers can hence, at blooming season, gaze at Japanese azaleas,
magnolias, white wisterias...
Environmental assets
Beyond its technical characteristics, CDGVAL is also a 100%
electric means of transport. The replacement of twenty shuttles will
avoid the emission of nearly 15 tonnes of nitrogen oxide and a little
less than 2 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. It will also allow
a substantial saving of nearly 750 tonnes of diesel oil.
Internationally renown partners
Siemens (builder of Lille, Rennes or Chicago metros) built CDGVAL.
Aerosat, common subsidiary of Siemens Transportation Systems and
Keolis (leading operator of automatic metros in France) will be in
charge of operating CDGVAL.
www.aeroportsdeparis.fr
Aeroports de Paris (Paris:ADP) builds, develops and manages
airports including Paris-Orly, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Le
Bourget. Aeroports de Paris is the 2nd European airport group in terms
of airport turnover and the 1st European airport group in terms of
cargo and mail. Aeroports de Paris accommodates nearly 460 airlines,
mainly the major actors of air transport.
Benefiting from an exceptional geographical location and a major
trading area, the group's strategy is to modernize its terminal
facilities and to upgrade its quality of service. It also intends to
develop its retail and real estate business. In 2006, Aeroports de
Paris Group had a turnover of 2,076.8 million euros, its net income
amounted to 152.1 million euros and it handled 82.5 million
passengers.