Saint-Denis–Pleyel station

Saint-Denis–Pleyel station is a Paris Métro station located in Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. Built as part of the Grand Paris Express project, the station was opened on 24 June 2024 as the terminus of Line 14. In the future, the station will serve the orbital Line 15 and be the terminus of lines 16 and 17. The station is operated by Keolis, which will also operate lines 16 and 17.

Location

Located in Saint-Denis, the station lies west of the Paris–Lille railway, at the corner of Rue Pleyel and Francisque-Poulbot. The station Carrefour Pleyel of Line 13 is within walking distance of the station. A new bridge over the Paris-Lille railway lines connects the station to Stade de France–Saint-Denis on RER D, as well as to the nearby Stade de France. The station serves the Stade de France and other venues for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Design

Built over 9 levels, the station will be able to accommodate 250,000 passengers a day – comparable to Châtelet–Les Halles. Its platforms are located 27m below ground. The six tracks of Lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 will be on the same level, with a cross-platform interchange between lines 14 and 15, and between Line 15 and the shared track of lines 16/17. The station has 56 escalators and 17 elevators.

The station was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who was selected following an international architectural competition. Over 100 sculptures of "prehistoric Venus" by French artist Prune Nourry will be installed in the station atrium by 2026. Murals by Spanish illustrator Sergio Garcia Sanchez are installed on the Line 14 platforms and murals by French artist Genevieve Gauckler will be installed on the platforms of lines 16 and 17.

The initial proposal for an artwork designed by Belgian singer, songwriter and rapper Stromae was abandoned after he withdrew for health reasons.

History

Construction

The construction of the shared trunk of lines 16 and 17, which includes this station, was declared to be of public utility on 28 December 2015. Construction of the station began in March 2017 with preparatory work. Civil engineering began in April 2018 with the construction of the underground walls of the station. The €100 million contract for the station building itself was awarded to Besix in 2020. During construction, two workers died in separate incidents in 2020 and 2022.

The official name of the station was confirmed as Saint-Denis Pleyel following a public consultation in 2022. Other names considered included Carrefour Pleyel (after the nearby Line 13 station) and Ignace Pleyel (after composer and piano builder Ignace Pleyel). The station name was later written as Saint-Denis–Pleyel.

Opening

The station was opened on 24 June 2024 by French President Emmanuel Macron. The station opened in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The station is operated by Keolis, which will also operate lines 16 and 17. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, over 40,000 passengers are expected to use the station.

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