• The Villejuif – Institut Gustave-Roussy station, which is to accommodate line 15 South and the extension of line 14 as part of the Grand Paris Express, is nearing completion.

  • Since May 11, the Schindler group has been gradually installing the 32 escalators of the station, which sinks more than 50 meters underground.

  • Manufactured in blocks in Slovakia, the stairs are then transported to the construction site where they are lowered by crane.

The station is all the more impressive in that it is invisible to anyone passing by.

And yet, just next to the Institut Gustave-Roussy (IGR) in Villejuif, a huge hole pierces the earth's crust.

About thirty meters wide, it sinks more than 50 meters into the ground.

Entirely concreted, this pit is the future Villejuif-IGR station which must ensure, by 2025, the connection between line 14 extended to Orly and the southern portion of line 15 as part of the Grand Paris Express.

Now that the platforms have been built, it is the turn of the escalators to be installed.

Schindler, the world number 1, was chosen for 8 stations on the southern section.

And there is work, since escalators are needed (yes, it is said like that too) to ensure the mobility of travelers between the two lines and between the lines and the outside.

In all, 32 stairs will be installed, including two monsters that will provide transport over 19 meters of elevation.

“Since May 11, we have set up 14 staircases and it will be 16 tonight [Tuesday evening]”, indicates Edouard Rayer, project manager at the Swiss manufacturer.

The escalator blocks are manufactured in Slovakia, delivered by truck and lowered into the pit by crane, knowing that a block weighs around 4 tonnes.

“It takes an average of two days to install a staircase, but five weeks including all the finishing touches and adjustments,” explains the Schindler engineer.

Each escalator is controlled from an electrical cabinet, located in a technical room, and which is in theory likely to resist a cyberattack.

The installation of the escalators, divided into two phases, should be completed in March 2023. "With the tests in 2024, we will be on time", predicts Edouard Rayer.

And these escalators are here to stay since they have a lifespan of 30 to 40 years.

Paris

Grand Paris metro: The tunnel of line 15 South is completely dug

Paris

Grand Paris Express: Constrained by deadlines, the site does not forget the excavation of 47 million tonnes of earth

  • Paris

  • Greater Paris

  • Villejuif

  • Subway

  • Ile-de-France