MF 77

MF 77
A refurbished MF 77 at Maison Blanche on Line 7, en route to Porte de la Villette
Interior of a refurbished MF 77
In service26 September 1978–present
ManufacturerAlstom, CEM-Oerlikon, Creusot-Loire, ANF-Industry, Jeumont-Schneider
ReplacedSprague-Thomson
Constructed1976–1986
Refurbished
  • 2007 (Line 13)
  • 2019 (Line 7)
  • 2023 (Line 8)
Number built985 cars (197 trainsets)
SuccessorMF 19
Formation5 cars per trainset
Capacity574 per trainset
OperatorsRATP
Lines servedParis MétroParis Métro Line 7Paris Métro Line 8Paris Métro Line 13
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium alloy
Train length77.5 m (254 ft 3 in)
Car lengthMotor car: 15.48 m (50 ft 9 in)
Width2.46 m (8 ft 1 in)
Height3.46 m (11 ft 4 in)
Doors3 pairs per side, per car
Maximum speed
  • Design: 100 km/h (62 mph)
  • Service: 70 km/h (43 mph)
Weight
  • Trainset: 131 t (289,000 lb)
  • Motor car: 29.5 t (65,000 lb)
  • Trailer car: 21.5 t (47,000 lb)
Traction system
  • Jeumont-Schneider thyristor chopper
  • Cars 1–187: analog control
  • Cars 188–197: microprocessor control
Traction motorsMF5/TAO 679/4ELH 3054
Power output1,590 kW (2,130 hp)
TransmissionCardan shaft and axle mounted gear wheel, 1:4.445 ratio
Acceleration3.2 km/(h⋅s) (2.0 mph/s)
Deceleration3.6 km/(h⋅s) (2.2 mph/s)
Electric system(s)Third rail750 V DC
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
BogiesMTE Cast steel, H shape[1]
Braking system(s)Dynamic, disc
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The MF 77 (French: Métro Fer appel d'offres de 1977; English: Steel-wheeled metro ordered in 1977) is a steel-wheeled variant of the rolling stock used on the Paris Métro. First used in 1978, it now runs on Lines 7, 8, and 13.

Unlike previous models, the MF 77 was designed for travel into the immediate suburbs of Paris, and as a result has a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) which has yet to be fully utilized. In addition, it sports a new, curved silhouette with a wider midsection. Its original exterior colors, blue and white, led passengers to refer to it as le métro blanc, or white metro.

History

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Replacing the Sprague

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In the early 1970s, upon the completion of the MF 67 delivery, at the time the newest steel-wheeled trains on the Métro, many technological advances in braking and traction caused the RATP, which oversees operations of the Parisian public transport network, to examine the possibilities for new steel, rather than rubber, wheeled trains to replace the aging Sprague-Thomson fleet. Thus, the RATP commissioned a consortium of companies including Alstom, CEM, Creusot-Loire, and Jeumont Schneider, to design a new addition to the Métro's rolling stock, the MF 77.

The RATP's goal at the time of commission was for 1,000 cars, 600 of which to contain engines for 200 five-car sets. Later, the order was reduced to 187 sets for a total for 935 cars. The first trains were delivered in the summer of 1978 and entered passenger service on 26 September that year on Line 13, whose MF 67 trains were transferred to Line 8. A second order of ten sets was contracted on 4 February 1983, released in 1985 and 1986.

The trains on Line 13 recently underwent their mid-life refurbishment, which included a new interior configuration, updated destination signage, lighting and mechanical improvements. However, the RATP was largely dissatisfied with the refurbishment of the Line 13 trains, citing problems with the contractor that handled the work, as well as defects in the workmanship. Though it is expected that the trains on Line 8 will be refurbished next, followed by the trains on Line 7, the RATP will explore other avenues to carry out the work, even if it means that the refurbishment is done on a lesser scale (similar to that of the refurbishment of the MF 67 on Lines 10 and 12).[2]

As of January 2019, trains on the 7 and 8 are undergoing renovation, but on a lesser scale to that of trains on the 13.[3] While seating on board the trains are extremely similar, noticeable differences between the two projects include:

  • Keeping the 2X2 (2 forward-facing seats per side) configuration in the middle of each car, instead of going to the 2X1 (alternating 2 forward-facing seats on one side and 1 forward facing seat on the opposing side) configuration seen on the 13. The ends of each car have been fitted with longitudinal seating as their counterparts on the 13 were.
  • Retaining the ceiling lighting panels, grates, and other components as opposed to replacing them completely.
  • Retaining elements such as handlebars and static strip maps. Some new handlebars were added to each car however.
  • Not installing automated announcements, unlike their counterparts on the 13 that are equipped with such announcements, as well as electronic strip maps and door warning lights.

Additionally, renovated trains on the 7 and 8 will sport the new joint RATP/Île-de-France Mobilités (formerly known as STIF) blue/white livery.

Formations

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In date of 25 December 2021:

  • 197 MF77 trainsets were in service and were formed as shown below, with three motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars or 3M2T.
  • 72 trainsets on Line 7 based in Choisy (Paris) dépot
  • 58 trainsets on Line 8 based in Lourmel (Paris) and Créteil dépot
  • 65 trainsets on Line 13 based in Châtillon and Pleyel (Saint-Denis) dépot
  • Five cars (M.30138 - B.32138 - NA.31069 - B.32154 - M.30154)[note 1]was converted to "BOA" experimental train and it was scrapped in 1980.
 
<- La Courneuve
Ivry/Villejuif ->
 
 
<- Balard
Créteil ->
 
 
<- Châtillon
Asnières-Gennevilliers/Saint-Denis ->
 
Car n° 1 2 3 4 5
Designation M T M T M
Numbering M 30xxx B 32xxx NA 31xxx B 32xxx M 30xxx
equipement CH CP, SIV CH CP, SIV CH
  • CH: Choppers (Kesar system)
  • CP: Air compressor
  • SIV: Static inverter
  • Car 3 was formerly a 1st class car

Fleet

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The number of Mf77 trainsets is 195 :72 for M7 Line, 58 for M8 Line, and 65 for M13 Line

Technical specifications

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  • Train-sets delivered: 197
  • Configuration: M+T+M+T+M (Formation I)
  • Overall length: 77.40 metres (253 ft 11 in)
  • Maximum width: 2.45 metres (8 ft 0 in)
  • Weight: 131 tonnes (289,000 lb) — 29.5 tonnes (65,000 lb) for the motor coaches, 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb) for the trailers
  • Material: Aluminium alloy
  • Power: 1,590 kilowatts (2,130 hp)
  • Acceleration: 0.90 metres per second squared (3.0 ft/s2) under normal load
  • Braking: Dynamic brakes (rheostatic) with regeneration down to 7 km/h (4.3 mph), railway air brake with one disc brake on all axles and one brake shoe on the rims of trailer (unpowered) wheels
  • Bogies: Cast solid wheel
  • Maximum speed: 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph)
  • Authorized speed: 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph)
  • Doors: 3 plug doors per side, per car, with manual operation and an opening width of 1,575 millimetres (62.0 in)
  • Air conditioning: None (forced ventilation)
  • Seats: 128 + 118 (folding seats)
  • Capacity: 574 people
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Other networks

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References

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  1. ^ http://fbrisou.free.fr/RAIL21/FicheMF77.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "Métro parisien : AnsaldoBreda et RATP, fin de partie". 8 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Premier MF77 rénové sur la ligne 7". transportparis. 12 December 2018.
  1. ^ cars in bold were came from original trainset 069, while cars in italics were came from original trainset 077. The remaining two cars from original trainset 069 after reformation (B.32137 - M.30137) were paired with the remaining three cars (M.30153 - B.32153 - NA.31077) from original trainset 077 to form the current trainset 077
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