| Box Width: | 350px |
| Text Color: | white |
| Line Name: | Line 2 |
| Network: | Paris Métro |
| Locale: | Paris |
| Terminus: | Porte Dauphine Nation |
| Operator Org: | RATP |
| Conducting System: | Conductor (PA) |
| Rolling Stock: | MF 01 (45 trains as of 22 March 2011) |
| Dist Between Stations: | 513 |
| Number Stations: | 25 |
| Length: | 12.4 |
| Electrification: | 750 V DC third rail |
| Passengers Per Year: | 88 million(2022) |
Paris Métro Line 2 (French: Ligne 2 du métro de Paris) is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro. Situated almost entirely above the former customs barrier around the capital (Boulevards extérieurs), it runs in a semicircle in the north of Paris.
As its name suggests, Line 2 was the second line of the Métro network to open, with the first section put into service on 13 December 1900; it adopted its current configuration on 2 April 1903, running between Porte Dauphine and Nation. There have been no changes in its layout since then.
At 12.4km (07.7miles) in length, it is the ninth-busiest line of the system, with 105.2 million riders in 2017. Slightly over 2km (01miles) of the line is built on an elevated viaduct with four aerial stations. In 1903, it was the location of the worst incident in the history of the Paris Métro, the fire at Couronnes.
On 30 March 1898 a déclaration d'utilité publique was published, recognising the public benefit of the first six planned lines of the Paris Métro. In response, the city began rapidly constructing the first line in hopes of opening it in time for the 1900 World's Fair. During the first stage of development, three lines designated A, B, and C were planned for construction:
However, after a detailed traffic study was conducted, changes were proposed to the tracks lying west of Étoile: the segment from Étoile to Porte Maillot of Line C would be integrated into Line A; Line C would pick up the segment from Étoile to Porte Dauphine. This change allowed trains on Line B to stop at Porte Dauphine. Porte Dauphine was thus designated the terminus and origin of Line B.
Shortly thereafter, Line B was split into two lines in hopes of simplifying its use. The section from Porte Dauphine to Nation was designated as Line 2 North; the remaining section from Nation to Étoile was designated Line 2 South. Line 2 South would eventually become Line 6.
The first 1600m (5,200feet) section of Line 2 was constructed at the same time as Line 1, opening only a little later on 3 December 1900. This section consisted of three stations (Porte Dauphine, Victor Hugo and Étoile) and was circulated by rolling stock consisting of three cars each. At Étoile, trains reversed direction via a track transfer (due to it serving as only a temporary terminus), while at Porte Dauphine and Nation direction was reversed using a turnaround loop.
This line counts 25 stations.
| Date | Old name | New name |
|---|---|---|
| 15 October 1907 | Boulevard Barbès | Barbès – Rochechouart |
| 1 August 1914 | Rue d'Allemagne | Jaurès |
| 6 October 1942 | Aubervilliers | Aubervilliers – Boulevard de la Villette |
| 19 August 1945 | Combat | Colonel Fabien |
| 10 February 1946 | Aubervilliers – Boulevard de la Villette | Stalingrad |
| 1970 | Étoile | Charles de Gaulle – Étoile |
| 13 September 1970 | Bagnolet | Alexandre Dumas |