FRENCH Railways (SNCF) Mobility has released the details of its plans to more than triple the size of Gare du Nord, Paris’ busiest station, by 2023 in time for the Olympic Games in 2024.

The design of the station, which is expected to accommodate more than 800 000 people per day in 2024, and 900 000 people by 2030, is being led by architect Denis Valode. SNCF and real estate developer Ceetrus, formerly known as Immochan, are in negations, due to be completed by the end of 2018, which will see the creation of a joint venture owned 34% by SNCF Stations & Connections and 66% by Ceetrus to carry out the expansion and operate the station over a period of 35 to 46 years.
The area of the station will triple, expanding from 36,000m2 to 110,000m2 by 2024. A large new departure hall will allow arrival and departure flows to be directed to two different areas, while circulation areas will more than double from 15,000m2 to more than 37,000m2. SNCF says an expansion of the Eurostar terminal will also facilitate customs control to meet the challenges of reinforced border controls due to Brexit.

A new station façade will be built on Rue Faubourg Saint-Denis with direct access to the departures terminal, while the bus station will be redesigned and access to the metro lines will be improved. There will also be 1200 bicycle parking spaces available with direct access from the station square.

SNCF says it will also support new shops and services in and around the station, with cultural activities, 5500m2 of coworking space, a nursery and new restaurants. It will also feature a 1km running track on the station roof, a new sports facility, sports terrains, a basketball court and a golf course.

To meet environmental standards, it will feature 715m2 of green spaces and 3200 photovoltaic solar energy panels, while levels four and five will be made of wood.

The expansion is due to open by June 30, 2023, at the latest.

The latest announcement follows plans presented in June 2015 which included restoration of the existing buildings dating back to the 1860s and significant expansion of the spae available for Eurostar services to London, with new mezzanine waiting areas envisaged above the tracks and a new business class lounge in space formerly used as a hotel. The first phase was due to be completed by 2018 as part of improvements totalling €500m being undertaken by SNCF at other major Paris stations.