MP 59

MP 59
MP 59 operating on Paris Métro Line 4.
In service	1963–
Manufacturer	CIMT-Lorraine (Cie Industrielle de Matériel de Transport) Alstom CEM (Cie Électro-Mécanique) Jeumont-Schneider
Refurbishment	1989–1994
Scrapped	1994–
Operator(s)	RATP
Line(s) served
Specifications
Electric system(s)	750 V DC Current taken from the guide bars on either side of the track
Current collection method	Horizontal contact shoe A vertical contact shoe sliding on the rails provides grounding.
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, with running pads for the rubber tired wheels outside of the steel rails

The MP 59 is a rubber tired variant of electric multiple units used on Paris's Métro system, and is the oldest type still in regular passenger service. Manufactured by a consortium between CIMT-Lorraine (body), Jeumont-Schneider (control circuits), Alsthom and CEM (motors), they were first introduced in 1963 when the busiest routes of Lines 1 and 4 were converted to rubber tired pneumatic operation. The trains circulated on Line 1 between 1963 and 2000, and Line 4 between 1967 and 2012. Today, 24 trains (originally from Line 1) operate on Line 11.

Following the success of the MP 55 rolling stock on Line 11, which saw a 5.5% increase in transport capacity, the RATP decided to study the expansion of rubber tyred rolling stock on other metro lines. The decision was made to first convert Line 1, due to it being the busiest line in the system. The decision to also equip Line 4 with rubber tyred stock soon followed. Fifty-two trains were ordered for Line 1 and roughly the same for Line 4.

Although the MP 59 is very much identical to the MP 55 stock, there are several key differences; the first being more powerful motors (140 hp or 100 kW compared to the 90 hp or 67 kW engines of the MP 55) and the second being a wide, one-piece windshield to allow operators an unblocked view of the tracks ahead. Various other mechanical improvements were made.

Initially, the trains on Line 1 had only five cars because the stations had not been able to accommodate six-car trains at first. This changed in 1962/63 when the stations were lengthened, which after this time, a sixth car was added. All of the Line 4 platforms were already expanded prior to the arrival of the MP 59 stock and thus were able to accommodate six-car trains when cascading began in 1967.

Each train was composed of four second-class cars, one first-class car, and one mixed. The first-class trains were painted in yellow, while the second-class segments were painted in a light-blue livery. Yellow bands could be found across the first-class cars and darker blue bands along the second-class cars. In 1980, the mixed cars were converted into second-class cars, which was achieved by removing the central partition.