kids encyclopedia robot

RATP Group facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
RATP Group
EPIC
Industry Public transport
Founded January 1, 1949; 76 years ago (1949-01-01) in Paris
Headquarters
Paris
,
France
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Jean Castex (CEO)
Revenue €5.704 billion (2019)
Owner Government of France
Number of employees
 64,000 (2019)
Subsidiaries
  • RATP Capital Innovation
  • RATP Connect
  • RATP Coopération
  • RATP Dev
  • RATP Habitat
  • RATP Real Estate
  • RATP Smart Systems
  • RATP Travel Retail

The RATP Group is a French company owned by the government. It runs public transport systems, mostly in Paris, France. Its main office is in Paris. The company's original name was Régie autonome des transports parisiens, which means "Parisian Autonomous Transport Administration".

The RATP Group's logo looks like the Seine river flowing through Paris. It also looks like a person's face looking up. The company has said it is one of the biggest public transport operators in the world.

RATP Group started in 1949 to manage Paris's public transport. For many years, it only worked in Paris. It ran the Paris Métro, Paris trams, and the RATP bus network. It also managed parts of the RER train network.

Since 2002, RATP Group has grown beyond Paris. It now competes for contracts to run transport systems worldwide. It also partnered with another company called Transdev. This helped RATP Group get involved in more global transport projects. In 2002, RATP Dev was created. This part of the company focuses on running and maintaining transport systems in other countries. RATP Dev now works in 17 countries across different continents.

Even today, RATP Group's work in Paris is very important. In 2019, it carried about 3.3 billion passengers each year in the Paris area. In 2019, RATP Group earned about €5.7 billion. It had 64,000 employees at that time. In recent years, the company has faced more competition due to new laws.

How RATP Group Started and Grew

The RATP was formed on January 1, 1949. It brought together two main companies. One was the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris (CMP), which ran the Paris Métro. The other was the Société des Transports en Commun de la Région Parisienne (STCRP), which ran the city's buses.

Before this, the CMP had taken over other train lines. The STCRP had been created in 1921. It combined several smaller bus and streetcar companies in Paris. By the time STCRP joined RATP, all its streetcars had been replaced by buses.

New Rules for Public Transport

A big change happened in French law on November 3, 2009. This law allowed other companies to compete for public transport contracts. The European Union wanted all passenger transport to be open to competition. Because of this law, RATP Group no longer had the only right to run new public transport lines.

RATP's special rights for existing lines would also end over time. For example, other companies could bid for the bus network in 2024. The tram network (Lines T1, T2 & T3) opened for bids in 2029. The Metro and RER lines opened for bids in 2039.

RATP knew these changes were coming. So, the company started to change how it worked.

In the early 2000s, RATP partnered with Transdev. RATP bought a small part of Transdev, which had many transport operations around the world. In 2009, Transdev's main owner started talks to combine Transdev with another company called Veolia. As part of this deal, RATP took over some of Transdev's operations instead of getting cash. This gave RATP many new international projects.

In 2009, RATP started working in the United States. It bought a transport company called McDonald Transit Associates. McDonald ran transport systems in places like Fort Worth, Texas. On August 1, 2011, RATP Group also took over the contract to run the Metrolink light rail system in England. In 2013, RATP bought a coach company called Selwyns Travel in England.

Leaders of RATP

The current leader and CEO of RATP is Jean Castex. He started his role on November 28, 2022.

Hiba Farès has been the Chairman of the Board of RATP Dev since January 2022.

Public Transport in Paris

Bastille metro automatique I
Two MP 05 train sets of Paris Métro Line 1 at Bastille station.
Ligne--T3-porte-de-Versaill
RATP tram on tramway line T3a at Porte de Versailles.
MAN Lion's City Hybride RATP 38 Luxembourg
RATP hybrid bus on Paris route 38.

In Paris, RATP runs transport services for Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM). IDFM is the main transport authority for the Paris region. RATP's services create a large public transport system. This system also connects to a bigger network that reaches into the areas around Paris.

RATP's services in the Greater Paris area include:

  • The Paris Métro: This is a system of mostly underground train lines. They run throughout the city and a bit beyond. The Métro has 16 lines with 245.6 km (152.6 mi) of track and 321 stations. Three metro lines are fully automated and driverless. These are Line 1 (since 2012), Line 4 (since 2023), and Line 14 (since it opened in 1998).
  • Orlyval: This is an automated shuttle train that serves Orly Airport.
  • The busiest parts of the RER: This is Paris's regional express train network. It runs mostly underground in central Paris and above ground elsewhere. RATP owns and runs most of lines A and B. Together, these lines are about 115 km (71 mi) long and have 66 stations. The rest of the RER network is run by another company, SNCF.
  • Nine of the fourteen lines of the Paris tram system. These include T1, T2, T3a, T3b, T5, T6, T7, T8, and T10. They total 109.6 km (68.1 mi) and have 197 stops.
  • The large Paris city bus system. It has 351 lines with a total length of 3861 km (2399 mi). This also includes most of the Noctilien night buses.
  • Two BRT lines: the Trans-Val-de-Marne (TVM, 19.7 km or 12.2 mi) and line 393 (11.7 km or 7.3 mi).
  • The Montmartre funicular.

Paris bus route 341 was RATP's first line to use 100% electric buses. This started in June 2016. By early 2021, RATP had over 150 electric buses. The goal was to have 1,500 by 2025.

RATP will also manage the infrastructure for new automated metro lines (15, 16, 17, and 18) of the Grand Paris Express network. It will also operate Paris Métro Line 15.

RATP's Work Outside Paris

RATP Dev (Dev means "Development" in French) was created in 2002. It is a part of the RATP Group. RATP Dev runs and maintains passenger transport services outside of the main Paris network.

RATP Dev currently works in 17 countries. These include Australia, Belgium, Canada, China (Hong Kong), Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.

Operations in France

RATP Dev runs various transport services across France.

Heavy Rail

  • Future CDG Express: This will be an express train link between Paris Gare de l'Est station and Charles de Gaulle Airport. RATP Dev is part of the Hello Paris joint venture for this project.

Other Transport Modes

  • Agglobus: The bus network in Bourges (since 2011).
  • ALPBUS: Runs school buses, shuttles, and regular bus routes. This includes services in Cluses and cross-border routes to Geneva Airport.
  • The AXO network: Covers the Communauté d'agglomération Creil Sud Oise area (since 2021).
  • The Bibus network: In and around Brest. It includes the Brest tramway and a cable car (since 2019).
  • The IZILO network: In Lorient Agglomération (since 2018).
  • The Impulsyon network: In La Roche-sur-Yon (since 2010).
  • The Irigo network: In and around Angers, including the Angers tramway (since 2019).
  • The Kicéo network: In Vannes (since 2017).
  • L'va: In and around Vienne (since 2011).
  • The Marinéo network: In Boulogne-sur-Mer (since 2013).
  • The Mistral network: In the Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée area.
  • Mouvéo: The network in Épernay (since 2016).
  • Ondéa: The network in Aix-les-Bains (since 2014).
  • TAAM: Special transport for people with disabilities in Amiens (since 2021).
  • Transports annemassiens collectifs (TAC): The network covering the Agglomeration community of Annemasse – Les Voirons.
  • Transports de l'agglomération de Charleville-Mézières (TAC): The network in Charleville-Mézières and Sedan (since 2012).
  • TBK: Bus and coach network in Quimperlé (since 2020).
  • Transports urbains laonnois (TUL): The network in Laon (since 2016).
  • Transports urbains lavallois (TUL): The network in Laval (since 2023).
  • Transports en Commun Lyonnais (TCL): RATP Dev will operate and maintain trains and infrastructure for this network starting January 2025.

Other Activities

In December 2022, RATP Dev opened a training center for hydrogen technology in La Roche-sur-Yon.

In June 2024, RATP worked with Wabtec to add new brake linings to its RER A trains. These new brakes reduce harmful particles by 70-90%. Similar tests are happening on some metro lines. Also in 2024, RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités signed an agreement to make transport easier for blind and partially-sighted people in Paris.

Operations Outside France

Heavy Rail

Gautrain-in-depot-retouched
A Gautrain Bombardier Electrostar unit in South Africa.
  • Gautrain: A regional express train in Gauteng province, South Africa. It connects Johannesburg, Pretoria, and O. R. Tambo International Airport (since 2010).
  • "La Ferroviaria Italiana": Two regional rail lines in Tuscany, Italy (RATP has a small share).
  • Cairo-New Cairo railway: A regional rail service in Egypt (since 2022).

Metro and Tramway

Tram in Casablanca 2013
A Casablanca Tramway Alstom Citadis 302 in Casablanca
Hong Kong Tramways in 2017
A typical Hong Kong tram double-deck car.
  • Tramway networks in Algeria: Algiers (since 2012), Oran (since 2013), Constantine (since 2013), Sidi Bel Abbès (since 2017), Ouargla (since 2018), and Sétif (since 2018).
  • Future Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport, Australia: RATP Dev will operate and maintain this line for 15 years starting 2026.
  • Cairo Metro Line 3, Cairo, Egypt (since 2020).
  • DC Streetcar, Washington, D.C., United States (since 2016).
  • Florence tramway, Florence, Italy (since 2010).
  • Casablanca LRT, Casablanca, Morocco (since 2012).
  • Hong Kong Tramways, Hong Kong (since 2009).
  • Manila Line 1, Manila, Philippines (RATP provides technical help since 2014).
  • MATA Trolley, Memphis, Tennessee, United States (since 2021).
  • Sun Link Streetcar, Tucson, Arizona, United States (since 2013).
  • Doha Metro and Lusail LRT, Qatar (RATP is part of a joint venture for this 20-year contract).
  • Riyadh Metro Lines 1 and 2 (12-year contract).
  • Future Jurong Region MRT line, Singapore.

Bus and Coach

Italy
  • Tuscany regional bus network: RATP Dev runs this large network with 4,800 employees and 2,700 vehicles (since November 2021).
  • Cilia Italia: In Lazio.
United Kingdom
20200916 RATP London BCE47005 (cropped)
A London United Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV battery electric bus on route 94.

RATP Dev mainly runs bus services in London for Transport for London. It does this through its companies London United and London Sovereign. As of 2020, RATP Dev managed 1129 buses on 96 routes from 10 garages. It had 3387 employees. In early 2021, RATP Dev ordered 195 electric buses for its London operations. This was the largest order for electric buses in the UK at that time.

In September 2021, RATP Dev and SeaLink Travel Group combined their West London bus operations. They formed a new company called RATP Dev Transit London. RATP Dev owns most of this new company.

Outside London, RATP Dev has run the Air Decker bus service since 2011. This service connects Bristol Airport with Bath.

United States
CTfastrak route 101 bus arriving at Flatbush Avenue, June 2017
RATP Dev USA operates across the country, including CT Fastrak, a bus rapid transit system in Connecticut.

RATP runs many transport systems in the United States under the name RATP Dev USA. Some examples include:

Saudi Arabia
  • All of Riyadh's urban bus network. This network will grow to about 100 lines and 1,000 vehicles. RATP Dev and its partner SAPTCO started this network in 2014. Services began in March 2023.
  • Autonomous shuttles in Al-'Ula (since 2022).
Switzerland
  • HelveCié: Runs school buses, shuttles, and coaches in several Swiss areas.
  • Various bus and coach services: As a subcontractor for Geneva's transport operator TPG.
  • Cross-border services: Between Switzerland and France, connecting places like Annecy and Geneva Airport.
Basque Country
  • RATP Dev runs the coastal zone transport.

Tootbus Tours

RATP Dev operates hop-on hop-off tours using double-decker buses. These tours are under the Tootbus brand in several cities:

  • Tootbus Paris (formerly "Paris L'OpenTour").
  • Tootbus London (formerly The Original Tour, acquired in 2014).
  • Tootbus Bath, operated by Bath Bus Company in Bath.
  • Tootbus Brussels (since November 2021, with electric vehicles).

Other Projects

Since 2013, RATP Dev has managed the Salève cable car in the French Alps. The number of people using the cable car has increased by 50% since 2013. RATP Dev's contract for the cable car was renewed in 2019 until 2031.

In 2018, RATP Dev opened an office in Singapore for the Asia-Pacific region. In December 2020, RATP Dev and SBS Transit announced a partnership. They plan to work together on future rail projects in Singapore. In November 2024, RATP Dev and SBS Transit won the bid for the Jurong Region MRT Line.

In September 2020, RATP Dev partnered with Getlink. They plan to bid together for regional rail services in France.

In February 2023, Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners chose RATP Dev as its partner. This is for the future Sepulveda Transit Corridor project in Los Angeles.

In October 2024, RATP Dev and the East Japan Railway Company announced they would work together. They plan to bid for operations and maintenance of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) in the Philippines.

Past Operations

RATP Dev has also managed other transport systems in the past, including:

  • Algiers Metro (from 2011 to 2020).
  • São Paulo Metro Line 4 (technical help from 2010 to 2015).
  • Rio de Janeiro Light Rail (technical help in 2016).
  • Line 9 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway (from 2009 to 2019).
  • Line 1 of the Mumbai Metro (from 2014 to 2019).
  • Manchester Metrolink (from 2011 to 2017).
  • Selwyns Travel: A coach company in England (owned from 2013 to 2020).
  • "Slide": An on-demand transport service in Bristol, England (from 2016 to 2018).
  • Yellow Buses: A bus company in Bournemouth, England (from 2011 to 2019).
  • Open Loop New York: A hop-on hop-off tour company in New York City (from 2014 to 2017).
  • Capital MetroBus in Austin, Texas (from 2012 to 2020).
  • Votran in Volusia County, Florida (until 2020).
  • Mountain Metropolitan Transit, Colorado Springs, Colorado (until early 2023).

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Administración Autónoma de Transportes Parisinos para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
RATP Group Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.