Could a metro station’s name hint at a lost impasse? Perhaps Les Courtilles station holds a secret. Today, we explore the story behind the name. This station serves as the terminus for Line 13. It sits on the border of Asnières-sur-Seine and Gennevilliers.
Les Courtilles station opened on June 14, 2008. This happened after extending Line 13 from Gabriel Péri. Reversing sidings north of the station allow trains to change direction. Tramway Line 1 extended to Les Courtilles in November 2012.
The station’s location is key. It’s at the intersection of Avenue de la Redoute and Avenue Lucien-Lanternier. It also sits at Boulevard Pierre-de-Coubertin and Boulevard Intercommunal. You’ll see both town names above the station name.
During the planning phase, the station had a temporary name. It was called “Asnières – Gennevilliers – Le Luth”. Le Luth is a neighborhood in Gennevilliers. Courtilles is a neighborhood in Asnières.
Les Courtilles saw 2,194,218 passengers in 2020. This ranked it 109th among metro stations. In 2019, the station saw even more traffic with 3,886,523 passengers. That put it in 124th position. By 2021, numbers rose again to 2,802,689 passengers. This placed it 122nd.
The station offers full accessibility. It has two platforms separated by the metro tracks. The T1 tramway also serves the station. Several bus lines connect here too. These include lines 235, 238, 276, 304, and 378. The Noctilien line N51 provides night service. Nearby, you’ll find the Port of Gennevilliers. The Stade Léo-Lagrange is also close in Asnières-sur-Seine.
So, while we may not be standing directly on the Impasse des Courtilles, the station named after it connects us to its spirit. Think of the station as a portal. It links us to the stories of Asnières-sur-Seine and Gennevilliers. The name “Les Courtilles” echoes through the tunnels. It reminds us that even a metro stop can carry the whispers of a hidden street.