Europe’s longest urban cable car line has begun operations in the Paris region, marking a significant shift in how thousands of suburban residents commute each day and highlighting a growing European push toward alternative, low-emission public transport.
The 4.5-kilometre C1 cable car line officially opened on December 13, linking the southeastern Paris suburbs of Créteil and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges via Limeil-Brévannes and Valenton. These areas have long suffered from limited transport connections to the capital’s metro and rail networks, leaving residents dependent on slow bus routes or congested roads.
Designed to integrate isolated neighbourhoods into the wider public transport system, the C1 line is expected to carry around 11,000 passengers daily. The full journey takes about 18 minutes, including intermediate stops—less than half the time typically required by bus or car, which can take up to 40 minutes during peak hours.
For many commuters, the change is transformative. “It’s very good because we will save time going to work – some 30 minutes each way, so saving time every day,” said one regular user on the opening week. Another described the launch as “extraordinary”, adding that residents had waited years for a reliable transport link.
Local and regional officials framed the project as a response to widening inequalities between central Paris and its outer suburbs, where public transport coverage has often lagged behind population growth. In recent years, improving suburban connectivity has become a political priority, particularly as housing costs push more workers farther from the city centre.
Construction of the C1 line began in 2022 after several years of feasibility studies, public consultations and design revisions. The project cost approximately €138 million (US$162 million). While substantial, authorities emphasised that cable car systems are generally faster and cheaper to deliver than new metro or tram lines, especially in densely built-up urban areas where underground construction is complex and disruptive.
Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France regional council, said community concerns posed one of the main challenges during planning and construction. “It’s complicated to do this type of public transport project in urban areas because there are already a lot of buildings,” she said. “So you have to convince the residents – and the fire brigade as well because the cable car goes over a major fire station – that it is not dangerous for them.”
Ensuring safety and minimising visual impact were key design considerations. The cables were installed at sufficient height to meet safety regulations and reduce intrusion into residents’ sightlines, while stations were integrated into existing urban infrastructure.
The system is operated by Doppelmayr, an Austrian firm recognised globally for ropeway technology. The C1 line uses 105 gondolas, each with seating for up to 10 passengers, running continuously throughout the day. Bernard Teiller, president of Doppelmayr France, said the company drew on international experience to adapt the system to Paris’s urban environment.
“We have done the cable cars in Singapore. There are projects in China and in several cities in the Philippines that are starting up,” he said, noting that urban cableways are increasingly viewed as viable mass-transit solutions rather than niche tourist attractions.
The C1 line is France’s seventh urban cableway, joining existing systems in cities such as Brest, Saint-Denis de La Réunion and Toulouse. Its launch comes amid a broader European Union push to prioritise greener transport as part of efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Despite its success, expansion in the Paris region may be limited. Authorities have analysed 12 potential follow-up cable car projects, but transport experts caution that high operating costs, complex urban planning constraints and political sensitivity around new infrastructure make it unlikely that a second Paris cable car line will be built in the near future.
