Montpellier Agglomeration inaugurates 2 new tramway lines and its new Citadis fleet delivered by Alstom
Montpellier Agglomeration inaugurates 2 new tramway lines and its new Citadis fleet delivered by Alstom
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On 6 April 2012, Jean-Pierre Mourre, president of the Montpellier urban area, simultaneously inaugurated lines 3 and 4 of the town's tramway network in the presence of designer Christian Lacroix and Alstom Transport France CEO Jérôme Wallut.
Line 3, at 19.8 km long, runs from the north of the Montpellier urban area to the south, passing through Juvignac, Montpellier itself, Lattes and, now that major development work on the Route de la Mer is complete, Pérols and the main towns on the way to the beaches. At more than 8 km, line 4 circumnavigates the town centre via the network of the town's three existing tramway lines.
In total, 26 Citadis tramsets are being added to Montpelliers urban transport network, 19 of which will run on line 3. Following on from previous orders for lines 1 and 2, this contract is evidence of the Montpellier urban areas long-term confidence in Alstom Transports ability to support its urban transport development policy.
The Citadis tramsets used in Montpellier are built using standard technological components, which make up 80% of the final product. The remaining 20% can be customized, so Citadis offers each local authority the option of adapting its tramsets exterior style and interior fittings. Working closely with Christian Lacroix's teams, Alstom Transports design department is responsible for managing and planning the implementation of Lacroixs design on these tramsets. The tram's nose has been customized, drawing inspiration from a diving mask.
Similarly, the colour gradients and all of the interior fittings have been specially adapted. With designers, engineers and suppliers working very closely together right from the start of the project, Alstom has been able to ensure that the aesthetics of Montpellier's Citadis tramsets are in keeping with their technological excellence, and that they integrate harmoniously into the landscape through which they run.
The tramsets in the Montpellier urban area are fitted with the latest Citadis-range equipment, all designed to ensure passenger comfort, including closed-circuit video surveillance, sound and visual information systems and integral low floors. Each tramset is 42-m long and can carry more than 300 passengers. The Citadis also enhances the quality of city life: four times quieter than road traffic, it generates about five decibels less noise. The Montpellier Citadis, like the rest of the range, has also been designed to be environmentally friendly: 98% of the materials used in making it can be recycled.
The Citadis tramsets for the Montpellier urban area were designed and are currently being built at Alstoms La Rochelle plant. Five other sites will also be involved in their manufacture: Ornans for the engines, Le Creusot for the bogies, Tarbes for the electrical and electronic equipment used in the traction systems, and Villeurbanne and Saint Ouen for the on-board electronics.
To date, more than 1,600 tramsets have been sold to nearly 40 towns and cities throughout the world, including more than 800 tramsets for 20 towns in France in three different versions (22-, 32- and 42-m long). They have carried more than 4 billion passengers and have demonstrated their reliability over more than 250 million km. Alstom is therefore in a position to confirm the success of this model, which is much appreciated for its modular design and style.
Alstom Transport: generating sustainable mobility
Alstom Transport develops and sells the most comprehensive range of products and services in the rail sector, including rolling stock, signalling equipment, infrastructure and turnkey services and solutions. With a presence in over 60 countries and 25,500 employees, Alstom Transport posted sales of 5.6 billion in 2010-2011.With 8,500 people working at nine sites throughout France, Alstom Transport is the leading manufacturing company in the French rail sector and helps boost local economies, with one job at Alstom creating about three jobs for its suppliers. Alstom Transports teams provide expertise to clients both in France and abroad.
Press contacts
Christine Rahard, Isabelle Tourancheau
Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 49 32 95/+33 (0)1 41 49 39 95
christine.rahard@chq.alstom.com, isabelle.tourancheau@chq.alstom.com
Stéphanie Berna
Tel.: +33 (0)6 89 06 26 07