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The 'Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris' (Paris Metropolitan Railway Company), or CMP, is the ancestor of the RATP, company managing the Parisian subway.

Contents

The beginnings

The first lines

Fusions

The beginnings

In order not to depend on the Company of the state railways for the urban service road, the town of Paris decides in 1883 the construction of a network of subway. In spite of the tensions between the State and the City for the control of the operation, the proximity of the expiry of the World Fair of 1900 brings the persons in charge to acccélérer the steps. In 1895, Louis Barthou, public Minister for Labour, recognize a local interest with the lines with construire.Les work of structures (tunnels, viaducts and stations) are entrusted to the City. Those of the access, the ways and the exploitation with a dealer. The town council chooses in 1897 the general Company of traction, propriétré of the baron Édouard Louis Joseph Empain. The law of March 30, 1898 declares utility public "the construction of a metropolitan railway to electric traction, intended for the transport of the travellers and their hand luggage". The general Company of traction creates the Company of the metropolitan railway of Paris (CMP) in April 1899.

The first lines

construction starts under the responsibility for engineer Fulgence Bienvenüe. Line 1 is open in 1900 after twenty month of work. The following line, Porte Dauphine-Nation opens in April 1903

Fusions

In 1929, the company amalgamates by keeping its label of origin, with the Company of the North-South underground electric railroad of Paris.En 1938, the CMP takes again the line of Seals, which formed part until there of the Company of the railroad from Paris in Orleans (PO).En 1942, the company amalgamates with the Company of public transport of the Paris area which was limited to the surface transports. The files of the company are destroyed with the Release by the very young RATP which takes the continuation in 1949.