MF 77


The MF 77 is a steel-wheeled subway train used on the Paris Métro. First used in 1978, it now runs on Lines 7, 8, and 13.
Unlike previous models, the MF 77 was designed for travel into the suburbs of Paris, and as a result has a maximum speed of which - apart for suburban sections in le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Clichy and Saint Denis - wasn't fully utilized. In addition, it sports a new, curved silhouette with a wider midsection. Its original exterior colors, white and blue, led passengers to refer to it as le métro blanc, or white metro, as opposed to the mainly blue trains of the other rolling stock liveries.
Brand new MF 19 trains are set to replace the MF 77 between 2027-2036: first on Line 13 in 2027, then on Line 8 in 2029, and lastly on Line 7 in 2033. Once the MF 77 is retired, the entire Parisian subway network will be composed of trains with open gangways, automated announcements and asynchronous motors.

History

Replacing the Sprague

In the early 1970s, upon the completion of the MF 67 delivery – at the time the newest steel-wheeled trains on the Paris Métro – many technological advances in braking and traction caused the RATP to examine the possibilities for new steel-wheeled trains to replace the aging Sprague-Thomson fleet. The RATP thus commissioned a consortium of companies including Alstom, CEM, Creusot-Loire, and Jeumont Schneider, to design a new addition to the Métro's rolling stock, the MF 77.
The RATP's goal at the time of commission was for 1,000 cars, 600 of which to contain engines for 200 five-car sets : Order then reduced to 187 sets for a total for 935 cars. The first trains were delivered in the summer of 1978 and entered passenger service on 26 September that year on Line 13, whose MF 67 trains were transferred to Line 8. A second order of ten sets was contracted on 4 February 1983, released in 1985 and 1986.

Mid-life refurbishment

The trains on Line 13 recently underwent their mid-life refurbishment, which included a new interior configuration, updated destination signage, lighting and mechanical improvements. However, the RATP was largely dissatisfied with the refurbishment of the Line 13 trains, citing problems with the contractor that handled the work, as well as workmanship defects. Though it is expected that the trains on Line 8 will be refurbished next, followed by the trains on Line 7, the RATP has explored other avenues to carry out the work, on a lesser scale.
While seating on board the trains are extremely similar, noticeable differences between the two projects include:
  • Keeping the 2X2 configuration in the middle of each car, instead of going to the 2X1 configuration seen on the 13. The ends of each car have been fitted with longitudinal seating as their counterparts on the 13 were.
  • Retaining the ceiling lighting panels, grates, and other components as opposed to replacing them completely.
  • Retaining elements such as handlebars and static strip maps. Some new handlebars were added to each car however.
  • Not installing automated announcements, unlike their counterparts on the 13 that are equipped with such announcements, as well as electronic strip maps and door warning lights.
Additionally, renovated trains on the 7 and 8 will sport the new joint RATP/Île-de-France Mobilités blue/white livery reminiscent of the original one.

Formations

In date of 27 December 2024:
  • 195 MF77 trainsets were in service and were formed as shown below, with three motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars or 3M2T.
  • 68 trainsets on Line 7 based in Choisy dépot
  • 62 trainsets on Line 8 based in Lourmel and Créteil dépot
  • 65 trainsets on Line 13 based in Châtillon and Pleyel dépot
  • Five cars was converted to "BOA" experimental train and it was scrapped in 1980.
  • Set G009 was scrapped in 2020 following a derailment at Châtillon-Montrouge station.
  • CH: Choppers
  • CP: Air compressor
  • SIV: Static inverter
  • Car 3 was formerly a 1st class car

    Fleet

The total number of MF77 trainsets is 195: 68 trains on Line 7, 62 on Line 8, and 65 on Line 13.
  • Listing Fleet MF77
On the Line 7 trainsets, at each carrriage's end, a pair of lights indicate which southern branch the train is headed to : a yellow one indicates the train heads to Ivry, a blue one for Villejuif. The Line 13 trainsets do not have this feature despite the line's two northern branches.

Technical specifications

  • Train-sets delivered: 197
  • Configuration: M+T+M+T+M
  • Overall length:
  • Maximum width:
  • Weight: — for the motor coaches, for the trailers
  • Material: Aluminium alloy
  • Power:
  • Acceleration: under normal load
  • Braking: Dynamic brakes with regeneration down to, railway air brake with one disc brake on all axles and one brake shoe on the rims of trailer wheels
  • Bogies: Cast solid wheel
  • Maximum speed:
  • Authorized speed:
  • Doors: 3 plug doors per side, per car, with manual operation and an opening width of
  • Air conditioning: None
  • Seats: 128 + 118
  • Capacity: 574 people

    Other networks

  • Lisbon Metro had a forked variant called ML79