View source for Paris Métro Line 8

{{Expand French|date=May 2023|topic=transport}}{{Short description|Subway route in the French capital}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
<!-- Use [[Template:Infobox Paris Metro line]] -->
{{Infobox Paris Metro line
| line_name      = Line 8
| line_color     = #{{rcr|Paris Métro|8}}
| logo           = {{rint|paris|M|size=30px}} {{rint|paris|M|8|size=30px}}
| logo_width     = 
| logo_alt       = 
| image          = File:Station métro Créteil-Pointe-du-Lac - 20130627 171918.jpg
| image_width    = 
| image_alt      = 
| image_caption  = [[MF 77]] train waiting at {{stn|Pointe du Lac}}, the line's southeastern terminus in [[Créteil]]
| number_stations= 38
| locale         = [[Paris]], {{nowrap|[[Charenton-le-Pont]],}} {{nowrap|[[Maisons-Alfort]],}} [[Créteil]]
| network        = [[Paris Métro]]
| passengers_per_year = 105.5 million
| traffic_rank   = 8th/16 <small>(2017)</small>
| year_opened    = {{Start date and age|13 July 1913}}
| close          = 
| dist_between_stations = 614
| terminus       = {{stn|Balard}}<br>{{stn|Pointe du Lac}}
| operator_org   = [[RATP Group|RATP]]
| end            = 
| conducting_system = Conductor
| rolling_stock  = [[MF 77]], 5 cars per train<br><small>(61 trains as of 1 August 2023)</small>
| length         = 23.4
| gauge          = {{RailGauge|1435mm|allk=on}}
| electrification = 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[third rail]]
| speed_km/h     = 
| elevation_m    = 
| website        = 
| connecting_lines = {{br separated entries|{{R-I|paris|m}} {{R-I|paris|m|1}} {{R-I|paris|m|3}} {{R-I|paris|m|4}} {{R-I|paris|m|5}} {{R-I|paris|m|6}} {{R-I|paris|m|7}} {{R-I|paris|m|9}} {{R-I|paris|m|10}} {{R-I|paris|m|11}} {{R-I|paris|m|12}} {{R-I|paris|m|13}} {{R-I|paris|m|14}}|{{R-I|paris|r}} {{R-I|paris|r|A}} {{R-I|paris|r|C}} {{R-I|paris|r|E}} |{{R-I|paris|t}} {{R-I|paris|t|2}} {{R-I|paris|t|3a}} }}
| map            = {{Paris Métro Line 8}}
}}
'''Paris Métro Line 8''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Ligne 8 du métro de Paris'') is one of the sixteen lines of the [[Paris Métro]]. It connects [[Balard (Paris Métro)|Balard]] in the southwestern part of [[Paris]] to [[Pointe du Lac (Paris Métro)|Pointe du Lac]] station in the southeastern suburbs, following a parabolic route on the [[Rive Droite]] of the [[Seine]]. The last line of the original 1898 Paris Métro plan, which opened in July 1913, it was initially intended to link {{stn|Porte d'Auteuil}} and {{stl|Paris Métro|Opéra}}. With 105.5 million travellers in 2017, it is the network's eighth busiest line; at {{Cvt|23.4|km}} in length, it is also the third longest Métro Line after [[Paris Métro Line 13|Line 13]] and [[Paris Métro Line 14|Line 14]], and the second longest fully straight line, as line 13 has two branches. Along with [[Paris Métro Line 7|Line 7]], it serves the most stations of any line on the network, at 38. Line 8 interchanges with all but three other Métro lines ([[Paris Métro Line 2|Line 2]], [[Paris Métro Line 3bis|Line 3bis]] and [[Paris Métro Line 7bis|Line 7bis]]).

The line was substantially modified during the 1930s as [[Paris Métro Line 10|Line 10]] took over the western section. The current route serves the southwestern part of the city, the [[Grands Boulevards]] and [[Bois de Vincennes]], ending in the southeastern inner suburbs through the [[Communes of France|communes]] of [[Charenton-le-Pont]], [[Maisons-Alfort]] and [[Créteil]], which the line reached in 1974 at [[Créteil–Préfecture station]], after several extensions. The underground line was the first to connect the prefecture of one of the new [[Departments of France|departments]] of [[Île-de-France]]. The only Paris underground line to cross the [[Seine]] and its principal tributary, the [[Marne (river)|Marne]], above ground via a bridge between [[Charenton – Écoles (Paris Métro)|Charenton – Écoles]] and [[École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort (Paris Métro)|École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort]], it also crosses the Seine underground between [[Concorde (Paris Métro)|Concorde]] and [[Invalides (Paris Métro and RER)|Invalides]].

==History==

==={{anchor|Chronology|Particular events}}Timeline===

*''13 July 1913:'' Line 8 opened between Beaugrenelle and Opéra.
*''30 September 1913:'' Line extended from Beaugrenelle to Porte d'Auteuil.
*''30 June 1928:'' Northern extension from Opéra to Richelieu-Drouot
*''5 May 1931:'' Line extended from Richelieu-Drouot to Porte de Charenton.
*''27 July 1937:'' Section between La Motte-Picquet and Porte d'Auteuil transferred to Line 10; Line 8 extended from La Motte-Picquet to Balard.
*''2 September 1939:'' Like many other stations, service to Saint-Martin and Champ de Mars was halted because of [[World War II]]; both stations were eventually closed.
*''5 October 1942:'' Line extended eastbound from Porte de Charenton to Charenton – Écoles.
*''[[Charenton Metro-Viaduct|19 September 1970:]]'' Line extended from Charenton – Écoles to Maisons-Alfort – Stade.
*''27 April 1972:'' Line extended from Maisons-Alfort – Stade to Maisons-Alfort – Les Juillottes.
*''24 September 1973:'' Line extended from Maisons-Alfort – Les Julliottes to Créteil–L'Echat.
*''9 September 1974:'' Line extended from Créteil–L'Echat to Créteil–Préfecture.
*''8 October 2011:'' Line extended from Créteil–Préfecture to Pointe du Lac.

===Birth of the line===
{{See also|Paris Métro Line 10|Paris Métro Line 13}}
Line 8 was the last line created by the [[Concession (territory)|concession]] of 30 March 1898, and the ''[[déclaration d'utilité publique]]'' was approved on 6 April 1903. The project would connect Opéra with Porte d'Auteuil via Grenelle with a shuttle, similar to the network's other lines. In accordance with the plan to operate [[Paris Métro Line 7|Line 7]] with a junction on the outskirts of Paris, a branch towards the Porte de Sèvres (today Balard) starting from the Grenelle station was planned to be built subsequently. The trains would alternately run on the two branches.<ref name="Tricoire238">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=238}}</ref>

[[File:Metro de Paris - Traversee sous-fluviale ligne 8 - Profil en plan.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|alt=Old engineering map of the underground metro crossing the Seine|Plan of the underwater crossing, downstream from [[Pont de la Concorde (Paris)|Pont de la Concorde]]]]
[[File:Metro de Paris - Ligne 8 - Rame vers Charenton - Ecoles.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|Train pulling into the new [[Charenton – Écoles (Paris Métro)|Charenton – Écoles]] station around 1943]]
Construction of the underwater crossing of the [[Seine]] began in April 1908 between the [[Concorde (Paris Métro)|Concorde]] and [[Invalides (Paris Métro and RER)|Invalides]] stations, at the level of [[Pont Mirabeau]].<ref name="Tricoire239">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=239}}</ref> It was finished in January 1911, after a lengthy delay caused by the [[1910 Great Flood of Paris|1910 flood]]. The crossing was routed with a curve 250 metres away.

Although metal [[Deep foundation|caissons]] were originally planned to be sunk vertically (as had been done on [[Paris Métro Line 4|Line 4]]), a tunnel was drilled following a single circular tube with the aid of a shield; authorities opposed the first method because of the risks to boating. However, the crossing near Pont Mirabeau was made with vertical caissons. The Invalides-Javel section was completed in 1910. The Grenelle station was planned as a double station with platforms on two levels, with the aim to later send trains on the two branches. However, only one station with a central platform was built, as the Balard branch was planned to be built later.

Before the completion of work near Pont Mirabeau, the line opened to the public on 13 July 1913 between Beaugrenelle and Opéra; the extension to Porte d'Auteuil followed on 30 September. The Invalides and Concorde stations were still unfinished and opened on 24 December 1913 and 12 March 1914, respectively.<ref name="Tricoire240">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=240}}</ref> In 1914, the line had fifteen stations between Porte d'Auteuil and Opéra.<ref name="Robert95">{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=95}}</ref>

===First extensions===
Extension of the line began on 29 December 1922,<ref name="Tricoire240"/> intending to transform Line 8 into a parabolic axis connecting Auteuil to [[City gates of Paris|Porte de Charenton]] via [[Palais Garnier|Opéra]], [[Place de la République]], [[Place de la Bastille]], [[12th arrondissement of Paris|Avenue Daumesnil in the 12th arrondissement]] and [[City gates of Paris|Porte de Picpus]]. As part of the extension, a common route with [[Paris Métro Line 9|Line 9]] between the [[Richelieu – Drouot (Paris Métro)|Richelieu – Drouot]] and [[République (Paris Métro)|République]] stations was planned in order to limit the impact of this problematic section on street traffic. Located on the former course of the Seine, the ground is soft and the initial plan to build two parallel tunnels generated lengthy controversy.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=112}}</ref>

[[File:Metro - Paris - Ligne 8 - station Grands Boulevards 01.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Curved station wall, with advertisements|Central [[abutment]] of the [[Grands Boulevards (Paris Métro)|Grands Boulevards]] station]]

The first new section opened on 30 June 1928,<ref name="Tricoire240"/> extending the line by {{Convert|643|m}} to [[Richelieu – Drouot (Paris Métro)|Richelieu – Drouot]] from [[Opéra (Paris Métro)|Opéra]]. With an increase in traffic forecast, at its 21 March 1926 meeting the Municipal Council of Paris decided to increase the new Line 7, 8 and 9 station length from {{Convert|75|m}}<ref name="Tricoire241">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=241}}</ref> to {{Convert|105|m}} to use stock seven-car trains. Although lengthening the old stations was planned later, the work was never completed. The new Richelieu – Drouot station was the system's first {{Convert|105|m|adj=on}} station,<ref name="Tricoire240"/> but train length was limited by the shorter stations.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=114}}</ref>

The 1931 [[Paris Colonial Exposition]] in [[Bois de Vincennes]] necessitated the completion of Line 8 for its opening. The extension of the line to [[City gates of Paris|Porte de Charenton]], including the construction of seventeen 105-metre stations, was agreed on 25 March 1924<ref>{{Cite book|title=Hybrid Modernities: Architecture and Representation at the 1931 Colonial Exposition, Paris |first1=Patricia A. |last1=Morton |publisher=The MIT Press |date=1 April 2003 |isbn=978-0-262-63271-3}}</ref> and work began in 1928. The configuration of Lines 8 and 9, under the [[Boulevards of Paris|Grands Boulevards]] in wet, unstable ground, drove the decision to extend the line on two levels. The Line 8 stations are on the upper level: two half-stations, separated by a central supporting wall to ensure stability. The {{Cvt|7.8|km}} extension was completed in March 1931 and opened to the public on 5 May, ending at [[Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)|Porte de Charenton]].<ref name="Tricoire241"/> The line now included thirty-three stations between Auteuil and Porte de Charenton.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=121}}</ref>

==={{anchor|Major restructuring of the line}}Major restructuring===
[[File:Paris Metro Modification des lignes 8, 10 et 14.svg|thumb|alt=Paris Metro maps from January and July, 1937|1937 restructuring of Line 8, Line 10 and Line 14]]
The line's southwestern portion was modified during the 1930s,<ref name="Tricoire241"/> with the system's circular lines replaced by axes crossing the city. Instead of connecting the [[Bois de Boulogne]] and the [[Bois de Vincennes]], Line 8 connected [[Balard (Paris Métro)|Balard]] and [[Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)|Porte de Charenton]]. The [[La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle (Paris Métro)|La Motte-Picquet]] was modified so trains departed only for Balard, instead of alternating between Auteuil and Balard.<ref name="Tricoire239"/>

The changes affected several lines;<ref name="Tricoire241"/> Line 8 had a new terminus at Balard, and the old section the line between La Motte-Picquet and [[Porte d'Auteuil (Paris Métro)|Porte d'Auteuil]] was reassigned to [[Paris Métro Line 10|Line 10]]. With Line 10 ending at [[Invalides (Paris Métro and RER)|Invalides]], the section between [[Duroc (Paris Métro)|Duroc]] and Invalides was transferred to the [[Paris Métro Line 13|old Line 14 (now Line 13)]].

The section between La Motte-Picquet and Balard opened on 27 July 1937,<ref name="Tricoire242-3">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|pp=242–243}}</ref> at the same time as the Javel maintenance workshop. At that time, the line included thirty-one stations between Balard and Porte de Charenton.

==={{anchor|Second wave of extensions in direction of Créteil}}Second wave of extensions toward Créteil===
The extension to [[Charenton-le-Pont]] was approved on 24 December 1929.<ref name="Tricoire253" /> Work began in 1936, and a {{convert|1410|m|adj=on}} opened on 5 October 1942. Two new stations were created: [[Liberté (Paris Métro)|Liberté]] and [[Charenton – Écoles (Paris Métro)|Charenton – Écoles]] in Charenton-le-Pont. Although in 1942 the line had thirty-three stations, [[Champ de Mars (Paris Métro)|Champ de Mars]] and [[Saint-Martin (Paris Métro)|Saint-Martin]] were closed on 2 September 1939.

After the war, the only metro extension was [[Paris Métro Line 13|Line 13]] (to [[Carrefour Pleyel (Paris Métro)|Carrefour Pleyel]]) in 1952. Investment programmes in 1965 and 1967 envisaged three extensions. One was Line 8 to [[Maisons-Alfort]], due to overcrowding at Charenton-le-Pont which disrupted [[Bus (RATP)|bus service]] to Charenton. The extension required crossing the [[Marne (river)|Marne]] on a [[viaduct]], since the Charenton – Écoles station was at the edge of a cliff north of the river.

A concrete, {{Convert|199|m|adj=on}} viaduct was built in spring 1968. Aesthetically designed to integrate with the landscape, it has six supports (including one of its three [[Pier (architecture)|piers]] in the river. The two central spans are {{Convert|55.5|m}} long, and the two side spans {{Convert|30|m}} long. The [[structural steel]] is a continuous metal beam, supported by two vertical beams. These beams frame the bottom of the trains, and the rails are laid on [[track ballast]], for noise reduction. On the north, the viaduct overhangs the [[A4 autoroute]] before going underground on a {{Convert|100|m|adj=on}} access ramp. On the south, the line immediately goes underground on a {{Convert|70|m|adj=on}} ramp. The viaduct has a continuous slope of 40&nbsp;mm/m, enabling it to go underground when it crosses the left bank of the Marne. In June 1969 the metal beams were put in place, and the structure was completed in November.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=216}}</ref>

This viaduct, the first built since the [[Paris Métro Line 6|Line 6 viaduct]] in 1909, leads to a three-track tunnel to the terminus.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=162}}</ref> The section from Charenton – Écoles to [[Maisons-Alfort – Stade (Paris Métro)|Maisons-Alfort – Stade]] opened on 19 September 1970.<ref name="Tricoire242-3"/>

==={{anchor|The extension to Créteil}}Extension to Créteil===
[[File:Creteil Prefecture.JPG|thumb|alt=At-grade station with several tracks and three green-and-white trains|Open-air tracks at the new {{stn|Créteil–Préfecture}} terminus]]

[[Créteil]] became a prefecture after the creation of the department of [[Val-de-Marne]], resulting in an increase in population, and a new extension was quickly begun in several stages. The line reached [[Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes (Paris Métro)|Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes]] on 27 April 1972 in a tunnel. It enters Créteil on {{Cvt|2|km}}, open-air tracks in the median of a highway. The [[Créteil–L'Échat station]], with a central platform, opened on 24 September 1973; [[Créteil–Préfecture station]], with three tracks and two platforms, opened on 10 September 1974.<ref name="Tricoire244-5">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|pp=244–245}}</ref> This was the first Paris Métro connection with the prefecture of a bordering department, extending the line to over {{cvt|22|km}} and 37 stations.

The extensions triggered a change from a single fare to fares by section on 19 September 1970, when the extension to {{stn|Maisons-Alfort–Stade}} opened. Stations are equipped with an automatic check at the exit with a turnstile, and travellers paid a supplementary fare to exit.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=163}}</ref> The system returned to a single fare on 1 November 1982.<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=500}}</ref>

The extension of line 8 south of Créteil-Préfecture, over {{cvt|1.3|km}} to [[Pointe du Lac station]] was opened on 8 October 2011.<ref name="CPVDM">{{cite press release|url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stif.org%2FIMG%2Fpdf%2FSTIF_-_prolongement_M8_-_TCSP_Pompadour.pdf%2Findex.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405103414/https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.stif.org/IMG/pdf/STIF_-_prolongement_M8_-_TCSP_Pompadour.pdf/index.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&| archive-date=5 April 2023|access-date=22 December 2024|language=fr|title=Du nouveau pour les usagers des transports en commun du Val de Marne | publisher= STIF |date=6 July 2011}}</ref> It was approved by the launch of the preliminary project and the financing agreement by the [[Île-de-France Mobilités|STIF]] council, the transport organising authority in Île-de-France, during its meeting of 20 September 2006.<ref> {{cite press release|url=http://www.stif-idf.fr/IMG/pdf/cp_ca_20sept2006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124020614/http://www.stif-idf.fr/IMG/pdf/cp_ca_20sept2006.pdf |archive-date=24 November 2006 |publisher=STIF |title=Conseil du 20 septembre 2006|date=20 September 2006|access-date=22 December 2024|language=fr}}</ref> Preparatory work began on 5 March  2007.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Marc |last=Carémantrant |title=Île-de-France : le prolongement de la ligne 8 du métro engagé |journal=Villes & Transports Magazine|issue=423 |date=25 April 2007|page=13|language=fr}}</ref> This extension requires a crossing of the RD1 expressway, by means of a flyover. This structure, 80  m long and 8.20 m wide overhangs the line by 4.10 m and rests on 80 mm diameter piles anchored at a depth of 18  m. The total expected cost of the structure was €83 million.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Le Moniteur|title= news item|issue=5462|date=1 August 2008|page=15|language=fr}}</ref>

The aim of this extension was to connect the Pointe du Lac district, the [[US Créteil-Lusitanos]] football stadium and the Europarc business district to the metro network. This project was accompanied by the creation of a dedicated bus line, RATP bus line 393, connecting [[Créteil-Pompadour station]] on [[RER D|RER line D]] (opened on 15 December 2013) and [[Sucy–Bonneuil station]] on [[RER line A]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr/bus-pompadour-sucy/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302103150/http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr/bus-pompadour-sucy/index.html|archive-date=2 March 2009 |title=Projet TCSP Pompadour/Sucy-Bonneuil |access-date=22 December 2024|language=fr}}.</ref> A new additional maintenance workshop is also being put into service with this new extension.

==Route and stations==
[[File:Paris Metro Ligne 8.svg|500px|thumb|center|{{center|Geographically accurate map of Line 8}}]]

===Route===
[[File:Paris Metro Ecole Militaire.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Two-track, two-platform subway station|The [[École Militaire (Paris Métro)|École Militaire]] station before its renovation, which began in 2008]]

Line 8 is {{convert|22.057|km|abbr=on}} long, including {{convert|2.8|km|abbr=on}} of open-air tracks in the southeastern suburbs. It is the second-longest line (after [[Paris Métro Line 13|Line 13]]), with the greatest distance between its terminals.

The line begins in [[15th arrondissement of Paris]] at the level of the Porte de Sèvres. The rear station at [[Balard (Paris Métro)|Balard]] is under the Paris heliport, beyond the [[Boulevard Périphérique]] viaduct. The station has three tracks and a central platform, with the end of the line supplemented by four parking tracks.<ref name="Tricoire246">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=246}}</ref>

It then runs toward [[Hôtel des Invalides]] along Avenue Félix-Faure, passing under the [[Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture]]viaduct and arriving at the [[Lourmel (Paris Métro)|Lourmel]] station (three tracks with platforms, one of which runs to the Javel maintenance workshop. It then serves the [[Boucicaut (Paris Métro)|Boucicaut]] and [[Félix Faure (Paris Métro)|Félix Faure]] stations.<ref name="Tricoire247">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=247}}</ref>

After these stations, Line 8 follows the Rue du Commerce. Because of the narrowness of the street, the [[Commerce (Paris Métro)|Commerce]] station has staggered platforms. At the intersection of Rue du Commerce and Avenue Emile-Zola, the Line 8 tunnel is under [[Paris Métro Line 10|Line 10]] in a common structure. As the line reaches the [[La Motte-Picquet–Grenelle station]], the eastbound Lines 8 (toward Créteil–Préfecture) and 10 (toward [[Gare d'Austerlitz (Paris Métro)|Gare d'Austerlitz]]) use the same central platform; the westbound Line 8 (toward Balard) is under the westbound Line 10 for historical reasons.<ref name="Tricoire247"/>

The line then follows Avenue de la Motte-Picquet at a .04-percent grade, bringing it near the surface. The [[Champ de Mars (Paris Métro)|Champ de Mars station]], between La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle and {{stn|École Militaire}}, was closed on 2 September 1939. A rush-hour track, unusual in the system, and a connection are between the La Motte-Picquet–Grenelle and Champ de Mars stations.<ref name="Tricoire247"/>

[[File:Metro - Paris - Ligne 8 - station Madeleine 01.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Two-track, two-platform subway station|The [[Madeleine station]]]]

After the Champ de Mars [[ghost station]] the line serves École Militaire and [[La Tour-Maubourg (Paris Métro)|La Tour-Maubourg]], curving right and left under the Invalides [[esplanade]] and beginning a .04-percent descent under the park tracks and the main tracks of [[Paris Métro Line 13|Line 13]] to the [[Invalides (Paris Métro)|Invalides]] station under the Rue de Constantine. At Rue Robert-Esnault-Pelterie, it begins a second .04-percent descent under [[RER C|RER Line C]] to cross the Seine through a metal tunnel. The line then goes up the Right Bank on a curved, .035-percent grade to the [[Concorde (Paris Métro)|Concorde]] station.<ref name="Tricoire248">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=248}}</ref>

Line 8 then runs under Rue Royale, under the Asnières sewage-treatment plant and then above [[Paris Métro Line 12|Line 12]], to reach [[Madeleine (Paris Métro)|Madeleine]]. It crosses [[Paris Métro Line 14|Line 14]], passing the Clichy sewage-treatment plant to [[Opéra (Paris Métro)|Opera]] before skirting the Grands Boulevards to [[Richelieu – Drouot (Paris Métro)|Richelieu – Drouot]]. At this station Lines 8 and [[Paris Métro Line 9|9]] begin a common infrastructure, with Line 8 above Line 9.<ref name="Tricoire248"/>

Both lines reach the same level at [[République (Paris Métro)|République]], via [[Grands Boulevards (Paris Métro)|Grands Boulevards]], [[Bonne Nouvelle (Paris Métro)|Bonne Nouvelle]], [[Strasbourg – Saint-Denis (Paris Métro)|Strasbourg – Saint-Denis]] and the closed [[Saint-Martin (Paris Métro)|Saint Martin]] station. On the east side of République the tunnel widens to three and then four tracks, used by both lines for connections on the west side of the station.<ref name="Tricoire251">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=251}}</ref>

The line continues under the Grands Boulevards to [[Bastille (Paris Métro)|Bastille]], via [[Filles du Calvaire (Paris Métro)|Filles du Calvaire]], [[Saint-Sébastien – Froissart (Paris Métro)|Saint-Sébastien – Froissart]] and [[Chemin Vert (Paris Métro)|Chemin Vert]]. Before arriving at Bastille, it descends under [[Paris Métro Line 5|Line 5]] and [[Canal Saint-Martin]] at a .40-percent grade. The line then follows the Rue du Fauborg-Saint-Antoine to the [[Ledru-Rollin (Paris Métro)|Ledru-Rollin]] and [[Faidherbe – Chaligny (Paris Métro)|Faidherbe – Chaligny]] stations, curving to follow the Rue de Reuilly to the [[Reuilly – Diderot (Paris Métro)|Reuilly – Diderot]] station.<ref name="Tricoire253">{{Harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=253}}</ref>

Line 8 reaches [[Montgallet (Paris Métro)|Montgallet]] on a .04-percent grade before the [[Bois de Vincennes]], via the [[Daumesnil (Paris Métro)|Daumesnil]], [[Michel Bizot (Paris Métro)|Michel Bizot]] and [[Porte Dorée (Paris Métro)|Porte Dorée]] stations. It then turns southwest to the [[Porte de Charenton (Paris Métro)|Porte of Charenton]] station. The line then turns southeast, leaving Paris to cross the commune of [[Charenton-le-Pont]] via the [[Liberté (Paris Métro)|Liberté]] and [[Charenton – Écoles (Paris Métro)|Charenton – Écoles]] stations. This station has two tracks with platforms and two sidings, since it was a longtime terminus.<ref name="Tricoire254">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=254}}</ref>

The line continues in open air for {{Convert|353|m}} before crossing the [[A4 autoroute]] and the Marne. The viaduct is two metal, {{Convert|199|m|adj=on}} structures, with a slope of .04014 percent. Line 8 goes underground again through [[Maisons-Alfort]] along Avenue Général-Leclerc, via the [[École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort (Paris Métro)|École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort]], [[Maisons-Alfort – Stade (Paris Métro)|Maisons-Alfort – Stade]] and [[Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes (Paris Métro)|Maisons-Alfort – Les Juilliottes]] stations. The latter, a former terminus, has three tracks with a platform and a depot.<ref name="Tricoire254"/>

Line 8 then has three tracks to its terminus. Before arriving at {{stn|Créteil–L'Échat}}, it crosses the [[Route nationale 19]]-[[A86 autoroute]] interchange and continues in open air. The tracks, along CD 1, serve the {{stn|Créteil–Université}} and {{stn|Créteil–Préfecture}} stations.<ref name="Tricoire255">{{harvnb|Tricoire|1999|p=255}}</ref>

Line 8 continues south past the intersection of CD 1 and CD 60 to {{stn|Pointe du Lac}}and behind the [[Stade Dominique Duvauchelle]] at Créteil, where a new maintenance shop has been built.<ref>{{Cite web |language=French |url=http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr/m8/index.html |title=Prolongement M8 Créteil-Préfecture / Pointe du lac |trans-title=Prolongation of the line 8 Créteil-Préfecture / Pointe du lac |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324154827/http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr/m8/index.html |archive-date=24 March 2010}}</ref>

===List of stations===

Line 8 has 38 stations, including 13 which connect to 12 other Métro and two [[Réseau Express Régional|RER]] lines.

{{Panorama|image=File:Metro Paris M8-plan.svg|height=180|caption={{center|List of stations}}}}

{|class=wikitable
!bgcolor="#b88bc2"| Station
!style="bgcolor:#b88bc2;"| Arrondissement<br>or commune
! Connections
! Notes
|-
| {{stn|Balard}}
| align="center" | [[15th arrondissement of Paris|15th]]
| {{rint|paris|t|}} {{rint|paris|t|2}} {{rint|paris|t|3a}}
| Named after French chemist [[Antoine Jérôme Balard]]
|-
| {{stn|Lourmel}}
| align="center" | 15th
|
| 
|-
| {{stn|Boucicaut}}
| align="center" | 15th
|
| 
|-
| {{stn|Félix Faure}}
| align="center" | 15th
|
| Named after [[Félix Faure]], seventh President of the French Republic
|-
| {{stl|Paris Métro|Commerce}}
| align="center" | 15th
|
| 
|-
| {{stn|La Motte-Picquet–Grenelle}}
| align="center" | 15th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|6}}{{rint|paris|m|10}}
| Named after French admiral [[Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte]] and the neighbourhood of [[Grenelle]]
|-
| {{stn|École Militaire}}
| align="center" | [[7th arrondissement of Paris|7th]]
|
| Near [[École Militaire]]
|-
| [[La Tour-Maubourg (Paris Métro)|La Tour-Maubourg]]
| align="center" | 7th
|
| 
|-
| {{stn|Invalides}}
| align="center" | 7th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|13}} {{rint|paris|r|}}{{rint|paris|r|C}}
| Near [[Les Invalides]]
|-
| {{stn|Concorde}}
| align="center" | [[1st arrondissement of Paris|1st]], [[8th arrondissement of Paris|8th]]
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|1}}{{rint|paris|m|12}}
| Near the [[Place de la Concorde]]
|-
| {{stn|Madeleine}}
| align="center" | 8th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|12}}{{rint|paris|m|14}}
| Near the [[Église de la Madeleine]]
|-
| {{stl|Paris Métro|Opéra}}
| align="center" | [[2nd arrondissement of Paris|2nd]], [[9th arrondissement of Paris|9th]]
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|3}}{{rint|paris|m|7}} {{rint|paris|r|}}{{rint|paris|r|A}}{{rint|paris|r|E}}
| Located near the [[Opéra Garnier]]
|-
| {{stn|Richelieu–Drouot}}
| align="center" | 2nd, 9th
|  {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|9}}
| Named after [[Louis XIII of France|Louis XIII's]] first minister [[Cardinal Richelieu]] and Napoleon's general, [[Antoine Drouot]]
|-
| {{stn|Grands Boulevards}}
| align="center" | 2nd, 9th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|9}}
| Originally Rue Montmartre, but renamed to avoid confusion with [[Montmartre]]
|-
| {{stn|Bonne Nouvelle}}
| align="center" | 2nd, 9th, [[10th arrondissement of Paris|10th]]
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|9}}
| Named after nearby church [[Notre-Dame de Bonne-Nouvelle]] (Our Lady of the Good News)
|-
| {{stn|Strasbourg–Saint-Denis}}
| align="center" | 2nd, [[3rd arrondissement of Paris|3rd]], 10th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|4}}{{rint|paris|m|9}}
| Named for areas named after the [[Strasbourg|French city]] and the first bishop of Paris [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]
|-
| {{stn|République}}
| align="center" | 3rd, 10th, [[11th arrondissement of Paris|11th]]
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|3}}{{rint|paris|m|5}}{{rint|paris|m|9|9}}{{rint|paris|m|11}}
| Located under [[Place de la République]]
|-
| {{stn|Filles du Calvaire}}
| align="center" | 3rd, 11th
|
| "Daughters of Calvary", named after the old convent of this order
|-
| {{stn|Saint-Sébastien–Froissart}}
| align="center" | 3rd, 11th
| 
| Named after the streets referring to [[Saint Sebastian]] and 14th-century poet and writer [[Jean Froissart]]
|-
| {{stn|Chemin Vert}}
| align="center" | 3rd, 11th
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Bastille}}
| align="center" | [[4th arrondissement of Paris|4th]], 11th, [[12th arrondissement of Paris|12th]]
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|1|1}}{{rint|paris|m|5}}
| Under the [[Place de la Bastille]], near the former [[Bastille]]
|-
| {{stn|Ledru-Rollin}}
| align="center" | 4th, 11th, 12th
| 
| Named after the avenue of 19th century lawyer [[Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin]]
|-
| {{stn|Faidherbe–Chaligny}}
| align="center" | 11th, 12th
| 
| Streets named after 19th-century General [[Louis Faidherbe]] and the [[Chaligny]] family of [[Metalworking|metalworkers]]
|-
| {{stn|Reuilly–Diderot}}
| align="center" | 12th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|1}}
| Named after 18th-century philosopher [[Denis Diderot]]
|-
| {{stn|Montgallet}}
| align="center" | 12th
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Daumesnil}}
| align="center" | 12th
| {{rint|paris|m|}}{{rint|paris|m|6}}
| Named after general [[Pierre Yrieix Daumesnil]]
|-
| {{stn|Michel Bizot}}
| align="center" | 12th
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Porte Dorée}}
| align="center" | 12th
| {{rint|paris|t|}}{{rint|paris|t|3a}}
| 
|-
| {{stn|Porte de Charenton}}
| align="center" | 12th
| {{rint|paris|t|}}{{rint|paris|t|3a}}
| 
|-
| {{stn|Liberté}}
| align="center" | [[Charenton-le-Pont]]
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Charenton–Écoles}}
| align="center" |Charenton-le-Pont
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|École Vétérinaire de Maisons–Alfort}}
| align="center" | [[Maisons-Alfort]]
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Maisons-Alfort–Stade}}
|  align="center" | Maisons-Alfort
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes}}
| align="center" |  Maisons-Alfort
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Créteil–L'Échat}}
|  align="center" | [[Créteil]]
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Créteil–Université}}
|  align="center" |Créteil
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Créteil–Préfecture}}
|  align="center" |Créteil
| 
| 
|-
| {{stn|Pointe du Lac}}
|  align="center" |Créteil
| 
| 
|}

===Renamed stations===
Five stations on the line have been renamed:<ref>{{harvnb|Robert|1983|p=49}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
! Date !! Old name !! New name
|-
| 15 May 1921 || Wilhelm || Eglise d'Auteuil
|-
| 12 January 1932 || Saint-Sébastien || Saint-Sébastien – Froissart
|-
| 1996 || Maisons-Alfort – Ecole Vétérinaire || Ecole Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort
|-
| September 1998 || Rue Montmartre || Grands Boulevards
|}

==={{anchor|List of stations with a theme or specificity}}Themed and unique stations===
[[La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle (Paris Métro)|La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle]]'s connecting passageways are decorated with [[coat of arms|coats of arms]] of the [[Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte]] family. A [[fresco]] depicting the toll barrier of the Cunette, one of the entrances of the [[Wall of the Farmers-General|Wall of the Farmers]], was previously located here.

[[File:Metro de Paris - Richelieu - Drouot - Monument aux morts.jpg|thumb|alt=Memorial with names of those killed|War memorial at Richelieu – Drouot]]

{{stn|Richelieu–Drouot}} has a black [[marble]] [[war memorial]] dedicated to metropolitan railway employees ''[[mort pour la France]]'', sculpted by [[Carlo Sarrabezolles]] in 1931. The central pillar is a [[caryatid]], who supports the surrounding stone with her raised arms. The caryatid divides the names of subway employees killed during [[World War I]] into two half-circles. The monument's base contains the names of the Great War battlefields, and the word "Release" was added to the bottom right after [[World War II]] to commemorate employee participation in the [[French Resistance]].<ref>{{harvnb|Zuber|1996|p=241}}</ref>

{{stn|Bonne Nouvelle}} was redecorated in a cinematic theme for the Métro's centennial. The station's name is written in the style of the [[Hollywood Sign]] in [[Los Angeles]].

[[File:Commerce - Quai décalé.JPG|thumb|alt=Subway station, seen from the tunnel|Repositioned platforms at the Commerce station]]

Some stations still show signs of difficulty in construction or integration into urban space:<ref name="Tricoire255"/>
* {{stl|Paris Métro|Commerce}} has offset platforms because of the narrowness of the Rue du Commerce.
* The platforms at {{stn|La Motte-Picquet–Grenelle}} do not face each other because of the original role of the station, serving the d'Auteuil and {{stn|Balard}} branches. The platform to Balard is below and shifted slightly with respect to the Créteil platform.
* Champ de Mars and Saint-Martin are two ghost stations, closed on 2 September 1939.
* {{stn|République}} is a part-time terminus.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}
* {{stn|Porte de Charenton}}, an old terminus, has four tracks with platforms: two sidings framed by the two main tracks.
* {{stn|Charenton–Écoles}}, another old terminus, includes two tracks with a platform and two sidings.
* {{stn|Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes}}, like the two preceding stations, has three tracks with a platform; the middle one is a part-time terminus.
* {{stn|Créteil–L'Échat}} and {{stn|Créteil–Université}} are two-track stations framing a central platform.

===Connections===
[[File:Metro Paris - Ligne 8 - Richelieu - Drouot 02.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Subway station with two tracks and two platforms|Richelieu – Drouot, eastbound terminus from 1928 to 1931]]

The lines has eight connections with other lines in the system:<ref>{{Cite web|language=French |url=http://cartometro.com/cartes/metro-paris/ |title=Carte détaillée du Métropolitain de Paris |trans-title=Detailed map of Paris Métro}}</ref>
* [[Paris Métro Line 10|Line 10]] between École Militaire and La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle toward Balard, facing the exit of the closed Champ de Mars station
* [[Paris Métro Line 13|Line 13]] – Two connections in the Invalides complex: one (made into a reception area) between Invalides and Concorde toward Créteil – Préfecture, and the other facing the La Tour-Maubourg entrance toward Balard
* [[Paris Métro Line 1|Line 1]], facing the exit of Concorde toward Balard
* [[Paris Métro Line 5|Line 5]] between République and Strasbourg – Saint-Denis, at the entrance of the closed Saint-Martin station toward Balard
* [[Paris Métro Line 9|Line 9]] – Two connections: between Strasbourg – Saint-Denis and République (both tracks) and a crossover at République (Line 9) and Strasbourg – Saint-Denis (Line 8)
* [[Paris Métro Line 6|Line 6]] between Daumesnil and Montgallet toward Balard, trailing

==Tourism==
[[File:Paris Dôme des Invalides.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=White, domed building|Les Invalides]]
Line 8 runs near several points of interest in Paris:
* [[École militaire]], the [[Champ de Mars]] and the [[Eiffel Tower]] ({{stn|École Militaire}})
* [[Les Invalides|Invalides]], including the tomb of [[Napoléon Bonaparte]] ({{stn|Invalides}})
* [[Place de la Concorde]], including the [[Luxor Obelisk|Obelisk]] and the [[Tuileries]] ({{stn|Concorde}})
* [[Église de la Madeleine|Church of the Madeleine]] ({{stl|Paris Métro|Madeleine}})
* The [[Palais Garnier|Opera Garnier]] ({{stl|Paris Métro|Opéra}})
* The [[Boulevards of Paris|Grands Boulevards]] (between Madeleine and {{stn|République}})
* [[Place de la République]] (République)
* The [[place de la Bastille|Bastille]] and its adjacent modern opera house, the [[Opéra Bastille]] ({{stn|Bastille}})
* [[Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration]] and the Aquarium of the [[Palais de la Porte Dorée]] ({{stn|Porte Dorée}})
* The [[Bois de Vincennes]] and [[Paris Zoological Park]] (four stations between Porte Dorée and {{stn|Charenton–Écoles}})

Further east, the line passes points of interest in [[Val-de-Marne]]:
* The museum of the [[École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort]] ({{stn|École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort}})
* The museum of Maisons-Alfort ({{stn|Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes}})
* Créteil Soleil Mall ({{stn|Créteil–Préfecture}})

==See also==
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Paris]]
* [[Place de la Concorde]]
* [[Transport in Paris]]
* [[List of stations of the Paris Métro#Line 8|List of stations of the Paris Métro]]
* [[List of stations of the Paris RER]]
* [[List of metro systems]]
* [[Rail transport in France]]
}}
{{Clear}}
{{Portal bar|France|Trains|Transport|Engineering}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{Cite book |title=Notre Métro|trans-title=Our metro|last=Robert |first=Jean |year=1983 |pages=512 |language=French |oclc=461957199 }}
* {{Cite book |title=Un siècle de métro en 14 lignes. De Bienvenüe à Météor |trans-title=A century of metro in 14 lines. From Bienvenüe to Météor |last=Tricoire |first=Jean|publisher=Éditions La Vie du Rail |location=Paris|isbn=2-915034-32-X |language=French |year=1999}}
* {{Cite book |first=Henri |last=Zuber|title=Le patrimoine de la RATP |trans-title=The Patrimony of the RATP|publisher=éditions Flohic |year=1996 |pages=400 |isbn=2-84234-007-8 |language=French }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Paris}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20081225184032/http://www.ratp.fr/ RATP official website]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20101216073740/http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php RATP english speaking website]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20091218101446/http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carterer.php Interactive Map of the RER (from RATP's website)]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090704015810/http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteparis.php Interactive Map of the Paris métro (from RATP's website)]
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20051208073801/http://www.metro-pole.net/ Metro-Pole website, dedicated to Paris public transports (unofficial)]

{{Paris Transport Network}}{{Paris Metro/line 8}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paris Metro Line 8}}
[[Category:1913 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Paris Métro line 8| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1913]]
[[Category:Railway lines in highway medians]]
[[Category:750 V DC railway electrification]]