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FRANCE | Urban Transport Compilation

159K views 371 replies 91 participants last post by  Somebody from Somewhere 
#1 ·
French Law Guarantees Some Service During Transit Strikes

French parliament passes bill to ensure some public transport during strikes
2 August 2007

PARIS (AP) - France's parliament passed a law Thursday that aimed to guarantee at least some buses and trains would run during transit strikes, partially fulfilling a key campaign promise by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The law was hotly opposed by union leaders, who insisted it threatens French labor's coveted right to strike and pledged to hold retaliatory walkouts in the fall.

The law requires transit providers to inform users which buses and trains are to run during a strike and requires them to reimburse riders if they fail to adhere to the promised schedule.

It also makes it obligatory for individuals to say whether they plan to strike 48 hours before doing so. The measure -- one of the law's most hotly contested -- aims to end spontaneous strikes that regularly hit public transport, notably following attacks on bus or subway drivers.

In the past, walkouts by transportation workers have brought the country to a near standstill, leaving people without any way to get to or from work -- sometimes for weeks at a time.

During his campaign, Sarkozy, a conservative who took office in May, pledged to guarantee at least three hours of public transportation in the morning and evening rush hours during walkouts.

But despite attempts by conservative lawmakers, the law passed Thursday does not immediately guarantee minimum service on France's public transit.

It requires local authorities and transit providers to define the exact meaning of "minimum service." Negotiations are to be completed by next January -- meaning French commuters could again find themselves stranded if unions make good on promises to strike in the coming months.
 
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#173 ·
^^ What about the... funding???
Notice that the cost is 500 millions € (new cars + renovation of stations)
All will be ready for Euro 2016 then :cheers: to enable europeans to go to a modern stadium with a modern metro ;)

@minato: the 208 rolling stock will be used on the line 2.

And they start the refurbishment of tramway. I will try to take pics the next spring if it runs.
 
#176 ·
I hate those painted windows on the buses. You kinda can see something through them, but still its very uncomfortable for the eyes.
 
#181 ·
Today:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/valenciennes-inaugurates-second-tram-line.html

Valenciennes inaugurates second tram line

13 Dec 2013

FRANCE: The second tram line in Valenciennes opened on December 13. The 15·5 km line with 22 stops links Valenciennes with Vieux Condé and will commence passenger service on February 24.

Nine Alstom Citadis trams, ordered in 2010, will augment the existing fleet of 21 trams. Each 33 m long tram has a capacity of 295 passengers and is 100% low-floor. The vehicles were manufactured in Alstom’s La Rochelle plant, with motors supplied from Ornans and bogies from Le Creusot.
 
#182 · (Edited)
The funicular of Tignes is a very bright and elegant people mover for the French Alps .The design of its frame is very modern and modular in the sense that the overall platform is covered by aluminum arches that integrate modular fiberglass paneling finishing the exterior and in the interior. The constructive method allowed the prefabrication of all elements and fast assembly without having to consider any finishing touches. Designers are famous Belgium architects Johan and Philippe Neerman.


 
#184 ·
Today:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...-tram-train-services-launches-this-month.html

Nantes - Châteaubriant tram-train launches this month
17 Feb 2014

Nantes tram-trains (foreground) will not share tracks with the city's urban tram network (rear)


Tramway signalling has been installed


Near Haluchère-Batignolles station the Semitan line crosses the tram-train route on a flat crossing

All photos: Jean-Paul Masse

FRANCE: Tram-train services on a 64 km route linking Nantes and Châteaubriant are to be launched by SNCF on February 28.

The tram-train service will use part of a former Nantes - Rennes railway route which originally opened in 1877. The Nantes - Châteaubriant section closed to passenger traffic in 1980 and to freight in 2008. This section has now been completely modernised in preparation for the tram-train services, with the track replaced and the 11 stations gaining new platforms, shelters, ticket machines and car parking.

Tramway signalling has been fitted, except at Nantes station, and automatic half-barriers have been installed at 30 level crossings, with 11 crossings closed.

The modernised line is designed to be suitable for use by conventional SNCF trains, including works trains, but no freight operations are planned. In contrast to the shared running on the Mulhouse tram-train service, the Nantes tram-trains will not use the city's urban tram network, which is operated independently by Semitan.

Two dedicated platforms electrified at 25 kV AC have been built at Nantes station. After leaving the station, tram-trains will run through the suburbs on a 15 km double-track alignment with 750 V DC tramway electrification. This parallels a Semitan tram line, and shares five level crossings which follow tramway practice in having warning lights but no barriers. Near Haluchère-Batignolles station the Semitan line crosses the tram-train route on a flat crossing.

From Babinière the line will operate as a railway, with 25 kV 50 Hz electrification and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. At the terminus a buffer stop separates tram-trains from the 62 km Châteaubriant - Rennes section of the former through route. This lies within Bretagne and has been unaffected by the project, with SNCF X2100 diesel multiple-units operating seven return trips a day.

Alstom has supplied 24 Citadis Dualis vehicles for the tram-train route, equipped with a toilet and more comfortable seats than conventional trams as the end-to-end journey takes 1 h 07 min. There will be seven return trips a day over the full length of the route, with higher frequencies between Sucé-sur-Erdre and Nantes where there will be services every half hour in the peaks and hourly at other times. Haluchère-Batignolles will be served by 46 tram-trains a day. Ridership is predicted at 11 200 passengers/day

Project funding, €m
  • Pays de Loire region - 62,5 (31,5%)
  • Loire Atlantique department - 54,0 (27,3%)
  • National government - 35,3 (17,8%)
  • EU sources - 21,0 (10,6%)
  • Nantes - 20,3 (10,3%)
  • SNCF - 5,2 (2,53%)
Total cost - 198,3
 
#186 ·
From Global Rail News:

http://www.globalrailnews.com/2014/03/19/testing-to-begin-on-electrified-grenoble-tramway/

Testing to begin on electrified Grenoble Line E tramway
19 MAR, 2014


Photo: Alstom

Testing is set to begin on Grenoble’s new Line E tramway after a southern portion of the line was electrified earlier this month.

The €290 million line, which is due to go into operation in June next year, will become Grenoble’s fifth tram line, connecting the north and west of the city between Fontanil and Cornillon.

Alstom has supplied and installed seven substations along the route and will continue installing electrification equipment until September.
 
#191 ·
BORDEAUX | Tramway.

I´ve "caught" this picture lost in another thread, and I just couldn´t resist it. :D

A tramway at Place de la Bourse, in Bordeaux. :drool:

^^
It´s line C, the one that runs between the Sncf main station (Bordeaux-Saint Jean) and the Esplanade des Quinconces.
On the picture it doesn´t seem so, but that is actually a tram stop (Place de la Bourse). ;)
 
#195 ·
From Global Rail News:

http://www.globalrailnews.com/2014/08/29/second-le-mans-light-rail-line-to-open/

Second Le Mans light rail line to open
29 AUG, 2014



Le Mans’ mayor is set to open the city’s second tram line this weekend.

Line 2 will increase the length of Le Mans’ light rail network to 19 kilometres and boost its fleet from 26 to 34 Citadis trams.

The city ordered the eight new units in 2012. To coincide with the introduction of the new trams, SETRAM1 has completed an overhaul of the existing fleet. The upgrade focussed particularly on improving accessibility for disabled passengers
 
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