Paris, July 13th, 2026

Gare du Nord train station :
CSNERT calls for immediate consultation on the new access arrangements

New arrangements introduced without consulting chauffeured transportation and limousine operators

Since 13 July 2026, new traffic arrangements have applied to taxis and chauffeur-driven vehicles around Gare du Nord train station in Paris.

Passenger drop-offs must now take place in the station’s underground car park, while traffic on Rue de Dunkerque is restricted to buses, bicycles and taxis accessing their designated rank.

The Paris Police Prefecture states that these arrangements were developed in consultation with the City of Paris, SNCF Gares & Connexions, RATP, Île-de-France Mobilités and taxi representatives.

CSNERT (also known internationally as France Limousine Association or “FLA”) fully supports the objective of reducing congestion and improving traffic flow around one of Europe’s busiest railway stations.

However, it regrets that representatives of executive chauffeured transportation and limousine companies were not included in the consultation process, despite the direct impact of these measures on their operations and on the reception of their passengers.

Access points unsuitable for professional executive vehicles

The difficulties do not affect a small number of unusual vehicles. They concern the main categories of vehicles routinely operated by executive chauffeured transportation and limousine companies:

Mercedes-Benz V-Class and EQV;
Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class;
BMW 7 Series;
Audi A8;
DS7, DS8, DS9;
equivalent models used for business and leisure travellers.

The same vehicle categories are also operated by premium taxi services, including G7 Club Affaires. Self-employed taxi drivers working in this segment are therefore likely to face the same access difficulties as executive chauffeured transportation and limousine companies.

The entrance on Rue de Compiègne presents width and height restrictions that are unsuitable for these vehicles.

The entrance on Rue de Maubeuge, meanwhile, requires a substantial diversion around the surrounding district, potentially adding significant time to each journey.

An arrangement intended to improve traffic flow cannot sustainably rely on unsuitable access points or routes that create additional detours for professional operators.

Reception conditions below the standard expected at an international station

Beyond vehicle access, the current conditions in the underground car park do not provide an appropriate level of service for passengers:

professional areas are insufficiently identified;
the number of parking spaces is not suited to actual traffic volumes;
pedestrian routes are poorly adapted to passengers travelling with luggage;
lighting is inadequate;
recurring cleanliness issues, including persistent urine odours in several parts of the car park;
only four lifts serve the station;
lift cabins are too small for several passengers travelling with luggage;
some lifts are regularly unavailable, with several reportedly out of service for several weeks.

These conditions are difficult to reconcile with the level of service expected by business and international travellers arriving through one of Paris’s main gateways.

CSNERT’s proposals

CSNERT has formally contacted the Paris Police Prefecture and requested that an urgent consultation be organised with all the professional stakeholders concerned.

This consultation should include:

the Paris Police Prefecture;
the City of Paris;
SNCF Gares & Connexions;
representatives of executive chauffeured transportation and limousine companies;
the other professional organisations concerned.

CSNERT proposes that executive chauffeured transportation and limousine companies holding the French government’s “Destination d’Excellence” quality label should be granted regulated access to Rue de Dunkerque for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups.

Such an arrangement would make it possible to identify authorised companies precisely, prevent misuse of public space and preserve the standard of reception expected by passengers.

Should the public authorities intend to make the underground car park the permanent solution for chauffeur-driven vehicles, several improvements are essential:

ensuring that the entrances on Rue de Compiègne and Rue de Maubeuge can accommodate executive sedans and minivans;
creating clearly identified professional areas with a sufficient number of spaces;
substantially improving cleanliness, lighting, safety and passenger comfort;
modernising the lifts, increasing their capacity and ensuring their permanent availability.

Solutions must be developed with the professionals concerned

Services provided by executive chauffeured transportation and limousine companies are arranged in advance, for an identified passenger, at a scheduled time and with a designated vehicle.

This activity cannot be treated in the same way as vehicles waiting on the street or searching for passengers.

CSNERT does not challenge the need to regulate traffic around Gare du Nord. It asks that decisions directly affecting professional operators and the quality of passenger reception be developed with all the relevant sectors.

CSNERT remains available to take part without delay in a working meeting aimed at reaching a balanced, practical solution consistent with Paris’s tourism and economic appeal.

Press contact :

CSNERT  (Chambre Syndicale Nationale des Entreprises de Remise et de Tourisme
FLA (France Limousine Association)