The launch of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) named Marine on October 13, 2025, marks a significant milestone in the development of Line 15 East of the Grand Paris Express (GPE), a major underground metro project encircling Paris. Marine, the 32nd TBM deployed for the GPE, began its excavation from the Agnès shaft in Aubervilliers, at a depth of 25 meters, tasked with digging a 5-km tunnel to connect Bobigny and the Normandie-Niemen structure by the end of 2027. This section is the first of Line 15 East to be excavated, following a 2.4-km tunnel previously dug by the TBM Sarah in 2022. Custom-designed to navigate the complex geology of the region, Marine incorporates recycled components from earlier TBMs, aligning with a circular economy approach to reduce costs and extend equipment life.

SYSTRA, a key player in the GPE, is leading the Technical Project Management Assistance (ATMO) for Lines 15 East and West, the largest urban project undertaken by SYSTRA France. This design-build contract, awarded in 2019, supports the completion of the fully underground Line 15, connecting Pont-de-Sèvres to Champigny-Centre via Saint-Denis – Pleyel, with a target completion date of 2031. The project underscores SYSTRA’s expertise in managing complex infrastructure and advancing sustainable urban mobility in the greater Paris region.