32 kilometres: this is the length of the little ring railway-la Petite Ceinture-, the railway line created at the end of the 19th century that circles Paris, inside the Boulevard des Maréchaux, connecting the stations of the city. It was opened in stages between 1852 and 1869, but was subsequently overtaken by the metro and closed to passengers in 1934. Since 1993, freight traffic has also been abandoned, with the exception of limited use on certain sections.
In 2010, the City of Paris and the RFF (France Rail Network) asked Apur to carry out first of all a complete diagnostic study of the whole line and the sites it crosses. All issues concerning landscape, transport, nature and urban transformation were investigated and described and the unique character of the Little Ring Railway was revealed. A second phase of the study was then launched which, section by section, outlined the different possibilities, landscaping and methods which would contribute to drawing up future projects for this territory. The little ring railway- la Petite Ceinture- forms part of the heritage of Paris, it is a reserve of biodiversity in the heart of the metropolis and is also a living environment which can accommodate numerous uses and projects. The transformational scenarios being considered must take into account the infrastructure's different features.
To continue the debate, the City of Paris and the Réseau Ferré of France (French Rail Network), are inviting Parisians, the inhabitants of adjacent communes and all the key players to express their views via the participatory site lapetiteceinture.jenparle.net, where everyone can find all the necessary information about the little ring railway- la Petite Ceinture and its issues. Themed workshop-meetings will be organised in January 2013 in the districts that so wish, and visits to the Little Ring Railway will also be organised by the RFF in the 12th, 19th and 20th districts (booking via the consultation site).
Finally, a seminar for exchange and the summarising of previous debates will be organised at the Town Hall in the 4th districts on February 14th 2013 at 16h30.
