PARIS: France has marked a significant milestone in public transportation with the launch of its first urban cable car system on the southeastern outskirts of Paris, signalling a shift toward more sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions.
Known as Câble 1 (C1), the 4.5-kilometre route connects Créteil – Pointe du Lac, the terminus of Metro Line 8, with Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, passing through Limeil-Brévannes and Valenton. The project was designed to serve densely populated suburban areas that have long suffered from limited access to efficient public transport.
The cable car system is expected to carry around 11,000 passengers daily, operating 105 gondolas, each capable of accommodating 10 seated passengers. One of its key advantages is efficiency, reducing end-to-end travel time to just 18 minutes, compared to nearly 40 minutes by bus or car.
The official launch was attended by Île-de-France regional president Valérie Pécresse, who described the project as a symbol of future-ready mobility. She emphasised that C1 is not a tourist attraction, but a practical response to congestion, geographical constraints and social inequality in access to transport.
Operating every 30 seconds during peak hours, the cable car offers one of the highest service frequencies in the region. It is fully accessible to people with disabilities and integrated into the existing ticketing system, allowing seamless transfers across the public transport network.
The €132 million project forms part of Île-de-France Mobilités’ long-term strategy to extend public transport coverage beyond central Paris, reduce reliance on private vehicles and lower carbon emissions.
Urban planners see the project as a model for future transport innovation, particularly in cities facing similar topographical and density challenges.