Grenoble tramway

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Tramway de Grenoble
Background
Locale Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes
Transit type Tram
Number of lines 4
Number of stations 74
Daily ridership 201,600 passengers per year (2008)
Operation
Began operation 1987
Operator(s) SEMITAG
Technical
System length 35 km (21.7 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
System map

The Grenoble tramway network is 35 km long, and comprises four lines: lines A, B, C and D. Line A was opened in 1987, line B in 1990, line C on 20 May 2006 and line D on October 2007. A previous network of tramways in Grenoble existed between 1894 and 1952. Grenoble became the second French city to reintroduce trams, after Nantes.

Rolling stock

Grenoble tramway is served by a total of 103 trams. Of those, the older 53 are Alsthom TFS trams, whilst the newer 50, which began entering service with the opening of the B line extension and the C line, are Alstom Citadis trams.

Alsthom TFS

Alsthom TFS tram in Grenoble

The Alsthom TFS fleet consists of 53 trams numbered from 2001 to 2053 running on all four lines of the network. They were introduced in successive steps as follows:

  • Series Grenoble 1 (trams 2001 to 2020) introduced in 1986/1987 (making Grenoble the first low floor tramway in the world[citation needed])
  • Series Grenoble 2 (trams 2021 to 2035) introduced in 1989/1990
  • Series Grenoble 3 (trams 2036 to 2038) introduced in 1992
  • Series Grenoble 4 (trams 2039 to 2053) introduced in 1995/1996

Alstom Citadis

Alstom Citadis 402

The Alstom Citadis fleet is composed of 50 trams numbered from 6001 to 6050, and circulates on the A, B and C lines. There are several series:

  • Grenoble 1 (trams numbers 6001 to 6035) entered service in 2005
  • Grenoble 2 (trams 6036 to 6050) entered service 4 May 2009, introducing Citadis trams on Line A
  • Trams 6018-6020 were used for the inauguration of the C Line, on the 20th May 2006. They carried a multicolor floral decoration for a few months, echoing the slogan "A flower for the city" used during the line's construction.

Network

The network comprises 65 stations, 12 of which are shared by two lines:

  • Line A has 29 stations.
  • Line B has 20 stations.
  • Line C has 19 stations.
  • Line D has 6 stations

Future extensions

  • An extension of Line B from Cité Internationale to Polygone Scientifique is under construction and expected to open in late 2013.
  • A new 11.5 km long line, Line E, will run from Louise Michel in the southern part of Grenoble city centre to the north-western suburb of Fontanil-Cornillon via the Esplanade development, Saint-Martin-Le Venoux and Saint-Egreve. The city centre route will run along the wide boulevard of Cours Jean Jaures. It will provide interchange with existing lines A & B at Alsace-Lorraine and with line C at Foch (Vallier-Jaures). It is under construction and is projected to enter service in late 2014.[citation needed]
  • In 2016, Line A will be extended both from Fontaine to Sassenage, and from Échirolles to Pont-de-Claix.
  • Extensions to line D, probably from Saint-Martin-d'Hères to Grand'Place or/and towards Meylan are also planned, but have not been decided.

A tram-train linking Moirans to the centre of Grenoble as well as one linking Crolles and Grenoble have been studied, but the former project has been set aside due to current saturation of that train line by longer distance traffic. A link from Grenoble to Vizille via Pont-de-Claix, Jarrie and Champ-sur-Drac is also projected and could open in 2015.

  • The most likely route of the trams in the future.

  • A different design.

  • A further design.

See also

External links

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