PARIS, April 1, 2026 – Transport for London (TfL) and the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) announce a 5-year exchange program, under which they will mutually manage their public transport networks, in order to encourage the cross-fertilization of ideas and operational practices.
The objective of this exchange is to encourage the sharing and implementation of best practices, as well as to present other working methods. It is hoped that this will help drive innovation in operational practices, improve the efficiency and speed of operations and enable rapid new services.
Concretely, this will allow RATP to demonstrate the benefit of more centralized planning of public transport in London. It is hoped that the lessons learned from this exchange will be applied to the rest of the UK rail network, which clearly needs it badly. In Paris, on the other hand, TfL will bring to the RATP a measured dose of British planning, chaotic and sporadic, in order to bring out new ideas.
Avril de Poisson, RATP executive, will lead the following improvement initiatives on the TfL network:
- Screen doors will be added at low cost to London Underground stations.
- Modernization of the Bakerloo line by replacing the fleet of 73 Stock with Paris Métro trains on tires.
- Replacement of the Oyster payment system, which is reaching its limits, with a brand new French system called “Macaron”.
- Transitioning the colors of the Underground, Overground, and Elizabeth lines to a softer, French-style palette on the subway map, such as brown, dark blue, and other pastel shades.
- Choosing French names for the new Overground lines to pay homage to French political and technical genius, such as Brunel, de Gaulle, etc.
At the same time, TfL director Barry Tête-Carrée will lead his elite team of TfL executives and engineers to support RATP leaders in the following plan to overhaul public transport in Île-de-France:
- The establishment of franchises for bus services.
- The modernization of elevators in metro stations, a very expensive project but with even greater benefits.
- Reopening of the abandoned Petite Ceinture railway line into an “Overground” type circular railway line.
- Change in management focus from centralized planning to a “resourceful” approach.
- Adoption of the British management process consisting of constant and thorough reviews of the cost-effectiveness and benefit-cost ratios of projects being planned and implemented.
- Develop a plan allowing the SNCF to modernize its poorly performing non-TGV transverse lines through pseudo-privatization franchises, but still under government control.
One of TfL’s flagship projects will be to implement the UK’s “self-help” method, hoping to create innovative urban transport lines such as the DLR network, the Jubilee line, the Overground network, and the Elizabeth line. All, of course, at a much higher cost.
De Poisson emphasizes the common linguistic heritage and refinement of court culture that developed in England under Norman rule. However, it recognizes that the two countries remain distinct societies.
There is a possibility of a five-year extension for this exchange period, depending on the success of the initial five-year period.
Fin
The English version follows:
PARIS, 1 April 2026 – Transport for London and RATP of Paris are announcing a 5-year Exchange Program, in which they will run each other’s public transport networks, to foster cross pollination of ideas and operating practices.
The goal of this exchange will be to promote interchange and implementation of best practices, as well as introduce other methods of working. It is hoped that this will give rise to innovations in operating practices, improved efficiency and speed of operations, and implementation of new rapid services.
Specifically, this will allow RATP to demonstrate the value of more centralized public transport planning for London. It is hoped that the lessons learnt from this exchange will be applied to the rest of the UK railway network, which quite obviously desperately needs it. Au contraire, in Paris TfL will bring a controlled dose of British chaotic and sporadic planning to RATP, to shake out new ideas.
Senior RATP executive Avril de Poisson will lead the following improvement efforts on TfL’s system:
- Platform screen doors will be cost-effectively added to London underground stations.
- Modernisation of the Bakerloo by replacement of the 73 Stock fleet with Paris Métro sur pneus trains.
- Replacement of the Oyster fare payment system, which is nearing the limits of its capabilities, with a brand new French system called ‘Macaron’.
- Transition of Underground, Overground, and Elizabeth line colours to a softer, French palette on the Tube Map, for instance marron, tenné, bleu foncé, and other pastel shades.
- Select French names for new Overground lines to acknowledge accomplished French engineering and political persons, such as Brunel, de Gaulle, &c.
Concurrently, TfL Director Barry Tête-Carrée will lead his elite team of TfL managers and engineers to lead RATP executives in the following plan to remake Île-de-France public transport:
- Franchising of bus services.
- Retrofitting of lifts to Métro stations, at great cost but even greater benefit.
- Re-opening of the Petite Ceinture abandoned railway into an Overground type orbital rail line.
- Change in management focus from central planning to ‘muddling through’.
- Adoption of the British management process of constant and excessive reviews of cost-effectiveness and benefit-cost ratios on schemes in planning and in progress.
- Develop a plan for SNCF to upgrade their lacklustre non-TGV cross-country lines with pseudo-privatisation franchises, but still under Government control.
One of TfL’s flagship improvements will be to implement the British art of ‘muddling through’, with the hopes of ending up with some innovative urban railway lines such as the DLR, Jubilee Line, Overground, and the Elizabeth Line. Albeit at much higher costs.
De Poisson points out the common heritage of language and the refinement of court culture that developed in England as a result of Norman rulers. Although she recognises that the two countries are still nevertheless distinct societies.
There is an option for a further five-year exchange term, depending on the success of the initial five-year term.
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