You validate your ticket, go down the first set of stairs, and very quickly, the signs multiply: connections to the left, exit to the right, platform straight ahead. In major metro stations, a single hesitation can lead you to the wrong level or the wrong line; you waste time, get tired, and sometimes even emerge on the opposite side of town from where you wanted to go.
It is precisely to tame this chaos that a Catalan engineer embarked on a fascinating project: mapping the stations in three dimensions and then sharing the result for free. The website stations.albertguillaumes.cat offers detailed 3D metro maps of nearly 80 networks worldwide. Paris, Rennes, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Lille are among the French cities represented, but London is also included. New York or Seoul. You enter, you zoom in, you finally understand how line 4 slips over line 14 at Châtelet without ever crossing it.
A passionate underground cartographer
Behind these diagrams lies Albert Guillaumes, an engineer specializing in mobility and passionate about public transport since childhood. He explains that he started drawing railway tracks at the age of five, sketchbook in hand. Today, he combines open data, location photos, and modeling software to produce a stunning result: more than two thousand published plans, each showing mezzanines, platforms, tunnels, elevators, and exits to the surface.
The process is artisanal but precise. Albert gathers all available documents, whether they be architectural files, technical sections, or simple observations on site. He then assembles the levels like digital Lego pieces. Every staircase, every corridor is positioned with millimeter precision., so that the final cross-section resembles the anatomy of a subterranean organism.
Nearly 80 cities available
Beyond France, the collection covers Barcelona, Berlin, Chicago, Hong Kong, Montreal, Mexico City, Moscow and many others. The most complex networks, like those of Tokyo or London, take on an almost artistic dimension when you see twelve platforms superimposed over several tens of meters below the surface.This diversity gives the site a certain charm. world Tour Geological: we go from an elevated metro built in the 70s to a deep metro that runs alongside an underground river.
This impressive coverage stems primarily from the author's production pace: he publishes as soon as he completes a small survey campaign or obtains an architect's plan. fallen into the public domain. Each addition is announced on its Social Media and users can suggest the station they dream of seeing modeled.
What purpose can these plans serve?
First, because they reduce the stress of correspondenceYou can visualize in advance the exit closest to your favorite restaurant, the exact location of the stroller-friendly elevator, or even the footbridge that bypasses three flights of stairs. In some Parisian train stations, choosing the right carriage can save you five minutes: these cross-sections reveal precisely where each train stops in relation to the entrances.
Secondly, because they serve as a teaching toolUrban planners, architects, geography professors, and the simply curious will find here a wealth of concrete examples to explain accessibility, ventilation, and pedestrian flow management. A 2D plan remains abstract; a 3D model shows ceiling heights, gallery intersections, and the layering of pathways as if it were a mille-feuille pastry.
Access 3D metro maps in just a few clicks
Go to the site stations.albertguillaumes.catSelect your city from the side menu and then choose the station you are interested in.
The 3D model appears instantly. You can rotate the scene, isolate a level, zoom in on a match, or share the link with a friend. No account is required, and no ads interrupt your exploration.
Beyond 3D metro maps, the author offers other in-house tools. These include a database of European metro train frequencies, a directory of historical railway lines, and infographics on signage. Everything is freely accessible and reflects the same goal: to make public transport more understandable for everyone.
And now, it's your turn.
The next time you set foot in an unfamiliar station, remember that a detour via this site can transform your chaotic journey into a well-marked walk. Albert Guillaumes' 3D metro maps help reconcile travelers with the underground.demystifying the labyrinth and revealing the hidden beauty of a world that we too often traverse with our eyes glued to our smartphones.
Take a few minutes, choose your favorite station, explore every nook and cranny, and savor the satisfaction of knowing exactly where to stand to exit on the correct side. Your next line change will no longer be an ordeal.
