Alstom to Deploy Advanced CBTC Signalling Technology on Paris Metro Line 8 to Improve Reliability and Passenger Service

Alstom I-CBTC system, which meets RATP OCTYS development standards, is already in service on 5 lines of the Île-de-France Mobilités network, including line 11 (Copyright ALSTOM SA 2023. Julien Goldstein | Metropolis™)

(IN BRIEF) Alstom has been selected to provide its I-CBTC automatic train control system and radio communication technology for the modernisation of Paris metro line 8 as part of the OCTYS 2030 programme led by RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités. The upgrade aims to improve reliability, safety and operational performance on the line while preparing it for the introduction of new MF19 metro trains by 2029. The project includes the deployment of an on-board automatic control system operating with a driver and a radio system enabling continuous communication between trains and infrastructure. More than 200 metro trains in Paris already use Alstom’s I-CBTC technology, carrying over 350 million passengers annually. The system for line 8 will be developed and delivered by three Alstom sites in France, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading provider of digital rail signalling and mobility solutions.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, 12-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Alstom has been selected to support the modernisation of Paris metro line 8, providing its on-board automatic control system and I-CBTC radio technology for the line operated by RATP on behalf of Île-de-France Mobilités. The project forms part of the broader OCTYS 2030 programme, an initiative aimed at deploying advanced automatic train control and driving systems across the Paris metro network to improve operational performance and reliability while preparing the network for the arrival of the new MF19 metro trains, scheduled to enter service on line 8 by 2029.

The upgrade will introduce Alstom’s I-CBTC on-board system, enabling more efficient train control and communication between trains and the signalling infrastructure. The modernization work is being implemented in a way that avoids major disruptions to passenger services, while delivering improvements in reliability, operational regularity and safety across the line.

Frédéric Wiscart, President of Alstom France, Belgium & Luxembourg, highlighted that the I-CBTC solution represents a modern automatic control system designed and integrated by Alstom’s engineering teams in France. The company will work alongside RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités to further enhance the performance of the Paris metro network.

The contract includes two key components. The first involves the deployment of an on-board automatic train control system operating with a driver under Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2). The second component consists of a radio communication system that allows continuous data exchange between trains and trackside systems. In addition, Alstom will coordinate the overall automatic train operation architecture for the project.

Alstom’s I-CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) technology is a highly adaptable on-board signalling system designed for metro operations. The system aligns with the OCTYS development framework established by RATP and complies with international standards covering safety, cybersecurity and operational reliability. By allowing trains to run closer together while maintaining strict safety margins and real-time traffic monitoring, the technology improves line capacity, stability and overall passenger service reliability.

The project also reflects the long-standing collaboration between Alstom and RATP in modernising the Paris metro network. Over the past two decades, the two organisations have worked together on multiple upgrades across the system. Several lines—including lines 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11—have already been equipped with Alstom’s OCTYS-compatible on-board control solutions.

Today, more than 200 metro trains in Paris operate with Alstom’s I-CBTC on-board technology, transporting over 350 million passengers annually. The deployment on line 8 will further extend the presence of this technology across the network.

The automatic control system for the project will be developed and delivered through collaboration between three Alstom sites in France. The company will oversee the entire process, including system design, validation, industrialisation, installation, testing and commissioning of both the on-board control and radio communication components.

The Aix-en-Provence site will manage project coordination and system engineering activities, including development and supply of the solution. The Saint-Ouen facility will handle radio deployment studies, on-site installation as well as testing and commissioning activities. Meanwhile, the Villeurbanne site will contribute by supplying electronic equipment and supporting reliability and maintainability engineering.

The new contract further strengthens Alstom’s position as a leading provider of digital mobility and railway signalling technologies in France. The company employs more than 2,000 specialists in digital mobility across the country and continues to play a central role in the development of advanced rail control systems.

Alstom has more than three decades of experience in communication-based train control technology, with its solutions deployed on over 190 metro lines in 32 countries. The company’s CBTC radio systems have also been in operation for more than 20 years, demonstrating a strong track record in improving metro network performance worldwide.

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SOURCE: ALSTOM