MP 89

MP 89
MP 89 CC departing from Mouton-Duvernet on Paris Métro Line 4.
In service	1997–current
Manufacturer	GEC Alsthom
Number built	312 cars (CC) 126 cars (CA)
Formation	6 per trainset
Capacity	720 passengers, 242 seats (CC) 722 passengers, 210 seats (CA)
Operator(s)	RATP
Line(s) served	CC: CA:
Specifications
Maximum speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Power output	2,800 kW (3,800 hp)
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 89 is a rubber tired variant of electric multiple units used on Paris's Métro system. Designed by Roger Tallon, two types are built by GEC Alsthom (now Alstom) for service on Line 4 and 14. The trains on Line 1 were moved to Line 4 between 2011 and 2013 to replace the older MP 59 trainsets, though only 48 trains are used for revenue service. The remaining four trains are stored either at Montrouge or Saint Ouen as operational spares.

In 1988, the RATP possessed a large number of outdated Sprague-Thomson trains, many of which were rapidly approaching 60 and 70 years old. With the MF 77 trains in place along Lines 8, 9, and 13, most of the Sprague were replaced. However, there were still some trains in service along Line 9, which were approaching 80 years old. Those trains were finally retired in 1983, reducing the average age of rolling stock to 14 years. Anticipating further aging in its rolling stock, the RATP changed its policy regarding replacement of rolling stock to avoid a massive, simultaneous replacement of all rolling stock.

September 28, 1990 marked the approval of the contract to manufacture the MP 89 trains by the RATP for an order of 665 cars, with GEC Alsthom being selected as the manufacturer. In 1994, a prototype MP 89 CA was built for testing at a facility near the Petite Ceinture, the former rail line that encircled Paris. A total of 52 trains for Line 1 and 21 trains for Line 14 were built, totaling 438 cars, fewer than the 665 cars mentioned in the contract. The first MP 89 CC trains went into service on Line 1 on March 27, 1997 and the MP 89 CA trains went into service on Line 14 on October 15, 1998.

The MP 89 class was developed initially when the need to replace the original rubber-tyred MP 55 cars of Line 11 was identified, and rolling stock was required for the new Line 14 as well as the anticipation of the extension of Line 1 into the La Défense business district. This was to be achieved by the construction of this new class of cars for Lines 1 and 14, with the cascading of refurbished MP 59 stock from Line 1 to lines 11 and 4. Two types were designed, the driverless MP 89 CA for the automated Line 14, and MP 89 CC for the manually driven line 1. Both subclasses are visually similar except for the provision of a drivers cab in the outer end of the MP 89 CC cars. (from ).