Opening of the tunnel between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est in Paris

The aim of this project is to provide travelers with a clear and easy-to-follow route between these two stations, benefiting the 800.000 daily passengers who pass through the Magenta interchange. This new structure will connect the two stations in just a few minutes, significantly improving user comfort, safety, and accessibility.

On June 5, the breakthrough of the pedestrian tunnel linking the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, carried out by NGE, was unveiled, in the presence of Delphine Bürkli, mayor of the 9th arrondissement of Paris and administrator of Île-de-France Mobilités, Baptiste Maurand, executive director of Groupe ADP and president of the Infrastructure Manager CDG Express, as well as Alain Resplandy-Bernard, managing director of SNCF Gares & Connexions.

This event marks a decisive milestone in the project: excavating fifty meters of tunnel beneath the Parisian urban fabric, in the heart of one of the capital's densest neighborhoods, is a major technical challenge that has now been met. Led by NGE for SNCF Gares et Connexions, this project linking the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est train stations addresses a key need to improve traffic flow in one of Europe's largest multimodal hubs.

Beyond its technical aspects, the project contributes to strengthening the attractiveness and performance of mobility in the Île-de-France region. It is part of a key regional development plan, with delivery scheduled for March 2027, coinciding with the modernization of the Château-Landon tunnel, for better integration with the metro network.

Its opening to the public will take place on the same day as the Charles de Gaulle Express (CDG Express) rail project, between Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport and Gare de l'Est, in March 2027. This project will be accompanied by the modernization of the Château-Landon tunnel in February 2027.

From a technical standpoint, the project represents a particularly complex underground civil engineering operation in a hyper-urban environment, at a very shallow depth, and under heavy traffic. NGE employs specific excavation methods and possesses extensive expertise in managing interfaces with existing infrastructure.

From an organizational standpoint, the project is being led by a consortium headed by NGE GC (lead contractor), in partnership with NGE FONDATIONS, Colas Génie Civil and SITCF. It draws on complementary expertise in underground works, soil stabilization, civil engineering and systems, with close coordination of teams on a constrained site.

The project includes a 5.100-hour inclusion clause, designed to promote skills development and training for young professionals in the technical trades of underground civil engineering.

According to Pascal Boixière, regional director for Île-de-France, NGE: “This breakthrough marks a symbolic and important milestone in the construction of the link between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est. Carried out in the heart of an extremely constrained urban environment, it illustrates the technical expertise of the work undertaken and the collective mobilization of the NGE teams and its partners. This strategic project will ultimately contribute to tangibly improving the journeys of hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. It is fully aligned with our strategic roadmap, which places low-carbon mobility and regional development at the heart of our growth.”

What funding is available for this project?

Funded by the State, the Île-de-France Region, the City of Paris, SNCF Gares & Connexions and CDG Express, to the tune of approximately 70 million euros excluding VAT, including 30 million euros for the project to bore through the tunnel, this project is managed by Île-de-France Mobilités, which ensures a coordinating role and overall vision of the studies of the hub, and is responsible for ensuring compliance with deadlines, costs and the program.