Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), RATP and SNCF Transilien announced on 22 September a major uplift in metro, RER and bus frequencies to handle the 400,000 pilgrims expected for Pope Leo XIV’s Paris programme. RER B and D will run until 02:30, Line 14 will switch to 85-second headways, and 120 articulated buses will be diverted to temporary park-and-ride shuttles linking Stade de France, Invalides and Notre-Dame. The transit agencies have created bilingual way-finding signage and will deploy 900 additional platform staff and 300 volunteer ‘pilgrim guides’. Mobile ticket inspectors will accept pre-loaded Navigo Easy cards presented via NFC wallets to speed boarding. Security coordination is equally tight: the interior ministry has authorised selective luggage scans at 15 inner-city stations under the “grand évènement” decree, while RATP police will operate joint patrols with Vatican gendarmes. Corporate mobility managers should anticipate rolling road closures on Quai de la Tournelle and Boulevard Saint-Germain that could delay airport transfers on 25 September between 13:00 and 18:00. IDFM advises rerouting to the Auber-Roissy CDG Express where possible. IDFM stressed that costs for the extra service, estimated at €4.6 million, will be met from its emergency mobility fund, so regular fares remain unchanged.
Source: Île-de-France Mobilités
