MA 51

Matériel Articulé (MA) was a type of rolling stock on the Paris Métro and was in service between 1951 and 1994.

Conception

The MA 51 rolling stock was a result of research conducted by the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris (CMP) and the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) during the 1940 in response to the then-used Sprague-Thomson rolling stock being considered heavy and outdated. The company envisioned a rolling stock that was lighter and equipped with a Jeumon-Heidmann (JH) system that had been used on the Sceaux Line since 1938. In addition, the company hoped to improve braking. The most-used solution at the time was a rolling stock with a common chassis and two cars.

At the same time, the company also desired to have circulating modular trains so that they may have been expanded during peak hours. Lines equipped with stations of at least 75 metres (82 yd) supported trains with two trainsets and those with stations of at least 105 metres (115 yd) supported trains with three trainsets. An extension of stations to 105 metres (115 yd) that began in 1931 was never completed.