The Phantom Metro

Paris's Metropolitan opened in 1900, but its tunnels follow older paths—Roman roads, medieval sewers, revolutionary escape routes. The Metro doesn't just transport living Parisians; it carries cargo from every era of the city's history.

Ghost Stations

Several Metro stations closed over the decades, but closure doesn't mean abandonment:

Saint-Martin: Closed in 1939, this station between Strasbourg-Saint-Denis and République hosts: - A phantom train from the 1940s that never stops - Passengers in period dress visible through windows - Most poignantly, children with yellow stars waving at modern trains

Porte des Lilas - Cinéma: Used for film shoots, this station absorbs fiction: - Extras from various films remain after shooting ends - Scenes play out repeatedly—murders, chases, love declarations - Most confusing, fictional characters interact with real ghosts

Croix-Rouge: Never opened to public, this completed station exists in liminal space: - Workers report seeing passengers waiting on platforms - Ticket collectors checking non-existent passes - Most unnervingly, announcements for destinations not on any map

The Midnight Metro

After regular service ends, maintenance workers know certain rules: - Never board empty trains that arrive unscheduled - Ignore passengers at closed stations - Don't investigate music from sealed tunnels - Most importantly, never follow the rails that glow faintly green

The midnight Metro carries special passengers: - Resistance fighters still planning sabotage - Lovers separated by war seeking reunion - Workers who died building tunnels returning to complete their sections - Most mysteriously, future passengers—people in strange clothes speaking evolved French

Line 6: The Aerial Spirits

Line 6 crosses the Seine on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, offering spectacular views—and exposure to aerial phenomena: - Transparent figures falling/jumping from the bridge - World War II aircraft flying through modern trains - The Eiffel Tower reflecting events from other times - Most spectacularly, the entire city sometimes appears as it was in different eras

Passengers report temporal displacement on Line 6: arriving before they departed, meeting their past/future selves, or most commonly, experiencing déjà vu so intense they can predict every stop's events.