SNCF and Paris will review the copy

Controversial, the project of renovation of the Gare du Nord will return to the study, decided Friday, October 18 the SNCF and the City of Paris, affirmed to the AFP Jean-Louis Missika, assistant to the mayor of Paris in charge of urban planning.

SNCF and the City of Paris have agreed at a morning meeting between Guillaume Pepy, president of the SNCF, Jean-Louis Missika and Alexandra Cordebard, mayor of the 10th arrondissement of Paris, where is located the Gare du Nord , at the initiative of the regional prefect Michel Cadot.

"Today, we reconnected, we agreed that we had to find a solution," says Jean-Louis Missika, confirming information from the daily Le Monde. "We had to try to find a way and that's what we tried to do this morning," he adds.

Three architects appointed conciliators

It is now a matter for the town hall and the railway undertaking to agree on certain points. "We have to work with experts and that's what we're discussing: what experts, how many experts, what missions and when", says Missika.

"The City and the SNCF have agreed to discuss a number of points to change the project.There will be three architects conciliators city planners who will be appointed," said Emmanuel Gregoire, first deputy Anne Hidalgo , in the program Le Talk du Figaro. "It is obviously to lower the program, to dedensify it," he added.

"SNCF suspects it is not easy to instruct a project against the mayor and against the local population", he said, rejoicing in the"positive signssent by Guillaume Pepy.

Opponents of the project to renovate the first station in Europe (700,000 passengers per day) denounce its commercial component validated by the National Commission for Commercial Development (CNAC) on October 11, which consists of "an extension of 16,321 m²", according to the opinion given by the latter.

Read also: Gare du Nord: the renovation project back on track

The City of Paris, which had initially supported the project, then opposed it, judging it "Too commercial, dense, not enough for travelers".

A "necessary" project for the government

The government defends him this project judged "necessary"in anticipation of the JO-2024 in Paris, and denounce the"backpedaling of the City of Paris"A few months before the municipal elections." On the side of the SNCF, one feared three to four years of delay in case of return to the point of departure.

Read also: Left by Paris on the transformation of the Gare du Nord, the SNCF fears years of delay

The gigantic construction site provides for a real facelift of the 155-year-old railway station where suburban trains meet wagons bound for the North of France, high-speed trains Thalys and Eurostar, as well as three subway lines.

For 600 million euros, the project provides a green roof terrace of one hectare with a trail trail, parking for 2.000 bikes and a large transverse nave.

With an additional 88,000 m², the Gare du Nord should reach a total area of ​​124,000 m², of which 46,000 m² devoted to cultural facilities, a gym or shops and offices.