MP 73


The MP 73 is a rubber tired variant of electric multiple units used on the Paris Métro. The cars were delivered in 1974, when RATP decided to convert Line 6 to rubber tyred pneumatic operation. The existing stock on Line 6 needed replacing at this time, and the line was converted to rubber tyred operation due to the lengthy open air viaduct sections of track, which generated much noise and vibration with older steel-wheeled rolling stock. The body design was based on the successful MF 67 stock. A total of 252 cars were built, six of which have subsequently been scrapped, leaving 246 cars. They were refurbished in 2000. Trains are formed into 5-car sets, and they continue to serve on Line 6.
One MP 73 currently runs on Line 11 in a four-car formation. A single MP 73 has intermittently operated on Line 11 since 1976. A six-car MP 73 previously operated on Line 4 on an intermittent basis until 1999, when it was moved back to Line 6. In some cases, trailers of an MP 73 would be paired with trailers of an MP 59, creating a hybrid formation. This practice ended in 1999 when the MP 55 and many MP 59 stock were retired following the arrival of the MP 89.
The future of the MP 73 is currently unknown, but there is much speculation that they will be replaced with the MP 89 stock from Line 4, as the latter is being prepped for automation.
Santiago Metro has a forked version named NS 74. Also, the Mexico City Metro has another forked version named MP 82.