Tramway de Marseille

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Les Tramway de Marseilles is a tramway system in the French city of Marseille. The tramway opened on 21 January 1876 and, unlike most other French cities, has never closed and continues to this day to operate.

The first tram, horse drawn, ran in 1876 on Canebière. The electrification began in 1900 and preceded he delivery of new electric tramcars, all similar as to keep a consistent pool of cars. In 1905, a batch of bogie-tramcars was purchased, these wwere equipped with trailers and were used on suburban lines.

The system comprised of purely urban lines and suburban lines, which stretched to outlying villages. Many tram lines joined in the centre of Marseille on the Canebière and harbour, this meant that trams followed each seconds apart only.

This huge network was modernised by the constant introduction of newer tramcars, to replace the older ones. In (1938, thirty-three trailers were recuperated from Paris, these meant that reversable convoys could be operated. In 1939, the tramay company owned and operated 430 tramcars and 350 trailers and 71 lines.

In 1943 a large project, never realised, was designed. This project planned to built large tunnels in the centre of Marseille. The busiest lines would join into two tunnels. In (1949 a further modernisation occurred. The first articulated tramcars was designed and built (Algiers tramway possessed articulated SATRAMO tramcars). These were created by joining two older tramcars. These tramcars remained unique until 1985 when Nantes' tramway opened.

Marseille city-council did not favour keeping its network of trams. Indeed, unorganised developement of the car meant that modernisation and expansion of the tram network was hindered. The process of replacing tramways by trolleybuses and buses began after World War II in 1945 and accelerated from 1950. The first closures meant that La Canebière was tramway-free from 1955. The last closure occurred on 21 January 1960.

[edit] Line 68

line 68, opened in December 1893, was the only tramway line to remain in service during the later part of the 20^th century. Line 68 stretched from Noailles to Alhambra, serving La Plaine, the Boulevard Chave, the La Blancarde railway station and Saint-Pierre cemetery. The centre terminus is situated in a tunnel. This 1893 built tunnel was a unique case in France and was built to give access to the centre to the tram, avoiding the narrow streets of some boroughs in Marseille. Problems with converting the line to bus use meant that it was decided to keep the line.

This line, long of 3 km, remained in suspense until 1965, year it was decided to modernised line 68. Line 68 was modernised in 1969 with the introduction of twenty-one PCC tramcars whilst the whole rack was relaid. The first of the PCC cars was received on 26 December 1968, the first tramcar went into service on 20 Februrary 1969. The last old tramcars were withdrawn in spring. Modernisation resulted in an increase of passengers; numbers increased from 4 917 000 passengers in 1968 to 5 239 000 in 1973.

Further modernisation was applied to the PCC cars in 1984. Three new cars were dleivered and all cars made into double-cars.

The line closed on Thursday, 8 January 2004, for reconstruction. Line 68 is expected to reopen current 2006 in its new, modern, form.

Map of Line 68 of Marseille.

[edit] References

(French) Histoire des Transports dans le Villes de France, Jean ROBER
(French) Les tramways de Marseille ont cent ans, Jacques Laupiès et Roland Martin. 1st edition: 1975, new edition: ISBN 2903963517.