SNCF Voyageurs will continue to operate the L line in the Paris region
On 20 May 2025, Île-de-France Mobilités confirmed its confidence in Transilien SNCF Voyageurs by awarding it the contract to operate the L Line—the region’s first open to competitive bids. The line will be managed by our new subsidiary SNCF Voyageurs Cœur Ouest IDF from 2027 to 2035.
Recognition of our unique expertise in mass transit
This is a symbolic victory for Transilien SNCF Voyageurs. We’ve been selected to operate the first regional rail line in the Paris region to be opened to competitive bidding. Awarding us the L Line was a strong vote of confidence from the Board of Directors of Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), the mobility authority for the Paris region. The public service contract was awarded on 20 May 2025 and will run from the first day of the 2027 service year (mid-December 2026) to 12 October 2035. Île-de-France Mobilités will also have the option to extend this contract for two additional one-year periods.
Winning the open bidding process that began in February 2023 highlights our strong positioning in the mass transit sector. It also underscores the value of our employees’ deep operational experience in the Paris region —an essential asset as the transport network continues to liberalize.
297,000
daily trips, or 8.7% of the network operated by Transilien SNCF Voyageurs
560
trains a day
36
stations served
Settling employees into our new subsidiary
At IDFM’s request, we’re creating a new subsidiary—SNCF Voyageurs Cœur Ouest IDF—to execute the new contract. It will be responsible for:
- Line operation
- Rolling stock management and maintenance
- Management of the Clichy-Levallois maintenance centre
Our teams are now focused on getting SNCF Voyageurs Cœur Ouest IDF up and running, with particular attention given to assisting the 800 SNCF Voyageurs employees who will soon be moving to the new company.
Île-de-France Mobilités has set the bar extremely high for punctuality and on-time service. To meet those targets, we’ve designed our operations to deliver the best possible performance at the best cost—without adopting a low-cost mindset.
Managing Director, Transilien SNCF Voyageurs
A timeline suited to the Paris region
After introducing competitive bidding for all bus lines in the Paris region—and awarding contracts for all of tram-train operations—IDFM has now adjusted the timeline for future rail line tenders. This revised schedule reflects the scale of infrastructure work and the technical constraints that come with operating the world’s second busiest transport network in terms of daily traffic.
The mobility authority’s Board of Directors approved the new timeline on 17 October 2025. Under this framework, the start dates for new rail operating contracts will be staggered from December 2026 through late 2039.
A history lesson
The L Line got its new name in 2004, but the route connecting Paris to Nanterre Université has been in operation since 1837. It formed part of the Paris region’s very first railway line, serving Saint-Germain-en-Laye and departing from Paris Saint-Lazare, the city’s first railway station, also built in 1837. The historic line was later extended to link Paris Saint-Lazare with Versailles Rive-Droite in 1839, followed by another extension carrying passengers to Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche in 1884.
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