Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The train station in Paris-Est, originally called "Strasbourg pier", was built between 1847 and 1849 by architect François-Alexandre Duquesney and engineer Pierre Cabanel de Sermet. Inaugurated in 1850 by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, it became a symbol of French railway development. Its location, chosen to bypass the east-parisian reliefs, was controversial, with some proposing the station of Austerlitz or Lyon as an alternative terminus.

In 1854, after an expansion linked to the Mulhouse line, it took the name "Eastern Station". The station underwent major changes in 1885 and 1900, from 4 to 16 lanes. On October 4, 1883, it became the mythical starting point of the Orient Express towards Constantinople. During World War I, it was hit by a German shell in 1918 and played a key role in military mobilizations.

Between 1926 and 1931, a symmetrical redevelopment under the direction of Jules Bernaut gave him his current physiognomy, with 30 lanes and a neo-classical facade embellished with allegorical sculptures (Strasbourg by Henri Lemaire, Verdun by Henri Varenne). The station was listed as a historic monument in 1984 for its facades, roofs and halls. In 2007, his renovation for the arrival of the TGV Est (€60M) modernized his infrastructure and earned him a Brunel Award.

Culturally significant, the station has been home since 1926 to Le Départ des haires (1914), a fresco by Albert Herter restored in 2008. It was also the setting for iconic films such as La Grande Vadrouille (1966) and Amélie Poulain (2001). Today, it combines mainline traffic (TGV, ICE, Nightjet), suburban (Transilien P) and future projects like the CDG Express (planned for 2027).

Architecturally, the building combines neo-classicism (cut stone facade, roses, statues) and Art Deco (cross-sectional hall, glass roof). Its two symmetrical wings, connected by a central body, frame a glazed inner courtyard. The side façades, although not perfectly symmetrical, incorporate pavilions and underground accesses for vehicles, which are evidence of its urban evolution.

Economically, the station is a major multimodal hub, connected to the metro (lines 4, 5, 7), the RER E (via Magenta) and the Gare du Nord. Its Alsatian buffet, installed in the old Art Deco set, and its Salon Grand Voyageur reflect its status as a gateway to Europe. Future projects include liaison with the North Station and integration of the CDG Express, strengthening its strategic role.

Future

With more than thirty million passengers a year, it is the fifth station in Paris. Its activity has increased since the commissioning of the TGV East, with a surplus of 22% of passengers on the main lines.

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