Welding of the first Citadis tramway-line rail in
Reims

This first rail belongs to Line 1, which will cover 11.2
kilometres and serve 22 stations. The Reims tramway will come
into service in April of 2011.



Alstom Transport is providing a comprehensive service that
covers the design and manufacture of all electromechanical
systems, with 18 Citadis tramsets plus rail track, signalling,
the electrical supply and catenaries. Moreover, Alstom
Transport will handle equipment maintenance on a subcontacted
basis with operator Transdev for 30 years.



Innovation plays a key role in the solutions offered.
Alstoms exclusive new AppitrackTM technology, for
example, is an accelerated, automated tramway and metro
track-construction method that makes it possible to reduce
excavation depth and the time required to lay track, thus
lowering the projects overall cost. Alstom will lay two
kilometres of double track on this line, using the APS
underground-power, catenary-free system to preserve the city
centres traditional appearance.



These tramsets will be fitted with the latest Citadis-range
equipment, which enhances passenger comfort via an integral low
floor, air conditioning, closed-circuit video surveillance and
sound and visual information systems. The 32-metre tramsets
will each accommodate over 200 passengers. While they will be
designed and manufactured at the La Rochelle plant, four other
sites will also be involved in the trams construction,
with Sesto providing the traction systems, Ornans the engines,
Le Creusot the bogies and Villeurbanne the onboard electronics.



To date, more than 1,221 Citadis trams have been ordered by 29
cities worldwide, and some 60 other cities plan to launch
tramway projects in the next few years. Tramways have had
unquestionable success, because they help in developing
sustainable mobility, allow modernization and a rethinking of
urban areas, enhance a citys architectural heritage and
boost its urban and suburban services.





*A shareholder in the concession-holding company MARS and
representative of the construction consortium.


1 MARS: Mobilité Agglomération Rémoise (Greater
Reims Area Transport).



About MARS and Alstom Transport


The Reims tramway contract is one of the first such
public-transport concessions in France. The greater Reims area
selected MARS to create its first tramway line and handle urban
planning work, in addition to operating and maintaining the bus
and tramway network for a 30-year period.



The project also marks the first collaboration on this scale
between Alstom and Bouygues, the latter of which holds 31% of
Alstom Group capital. Through Bouygues Construction, Colas and
their respective subsidiaries, Bouygues executes
civil-engineering and public-works projects. As a 17%
shareholder in concession-holder MARS, Alstom also represents
the construction consortium.


About Alstom Transport


With sustainable transport in mind, Alstom Transport develops
and offers the most complete range of systems, equipment and
services on the rail market. Alstom Transport is capable of
managing an entire transport system, from rolling stock to
signalling and infrastructure, as well as offering turnkey
solutions. In 2008-2009, Alstom Transport's turnover was
5.7 billion and its orders increased by 9% over the
previous financial year. Alstom Transport has a presence in
over 60 countries and has 27,000 employees.



Press contacts


Céline Grussenmeyer-Wolf


Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 90 04 40

celine.grussenmeyer-wolf@transport.alstom.com



Pauline Bochot


Tel.: + 33 (0)1 57 06 97 60


pauline.bochot@transport.alstom.com