Orleans Tram

First system

The first tram system began operating in Orleans on May 6, 1877 in the form of a horse tram . On June 28, 1899, the city began operating an electric tram, which operated until March 31, 1938 . After that, for 62 years, the only mode of public transport in Orleans was buses .

The emergence of a new tram system

In the second half of the 1990s, the question of the revival of a tram was raised in Orleans. By that time, in France, the tram had already been revived in Nantes , Grenoble , Paris , Strasbourg and Rouen , and these new systems showed themselves on the good side.

The need for improved urban transport arose after the construction of the new La Source district in the sixties, ten kilometers south of the city center. Thus, the population of Orleans increased by twenty-five thousand inhabitants. In addition, a university and a hospital were located in the new district. At the same time, the city station was in the north. This situation has led to an increase in traffic flowing through the city center. To create transport links along the axis La Source - center - station, it was decided to build a tram.

The construction of the first tram line began on July 15, 1998 . For the new system, 22 Citadis-301 trams were ordered, the first of which arrived in the city in early 2000. However, even before the arrival of the first tram, the townspeople could familiarize themselves with the future transport using the example of a full-size model, demonstrated in 1998.

The opening of the tram took place on November 20, 2000 in the presence of French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin . After three months of operation, the tram transported a millionth passenger. The tram immediately became an important part of the city’s public transport: already in 2001, the first tram line began to carry almost as many passengers as 23 bus routes. In absolute numbers, the tram daily carried approximately thirty-five thousand passengers.

Tram line two

Even during the construction of the first tram line, the design of the second (line B) began. However, after the change of city power after the municipal elections in 2001, the design of the line was frozen, while the consideration of cheaper alternatives began. As alternatives, “trams on buses” of the TVR system (as in Nancy and Caen ) and Translohr (as in Clermont-Ferrand ) and guided buses of the Phileas system (followed by magnetic marks in asphalt) and Civis (followed along special markings on asphalt at help onboard cameras). In the end, it was decided to use the Phileas or Civis bus, as this option was the cheapest. Nevertheless, after the next change of power, in March 2005, it was decided to build the second line B in the form of a "classic" tram line. However, the length of the future line was cut from 21 to 12.3 km.

An order for the construction of line B was transferred to Alstom in September 2006. The same company should supply 21 Citadis trams with the option of re-ordering another six trams. The opening of a new line is scheduled for 2012 . At the same time, in the historic city center, in the area of ​​the famous cathedral, the lower current collection will be used on the line. Such a system is already being used on the Bordeaux tram . Its advantage is that the wires do not spoil the view of the sights. A site without a contact network will be approximately one kilometer long.

As of early 2007, the Orleans tram system consists of one line (line A) with a length of 18 km. There are 24 stops on the line. The tram canvas is mostly isolated, and in many sections - its own.

Stops (from south to north):

1. Orléans-La Source-Hôpital de la Source
2. Bolière
3. Chèques postaux
4. Université-L'Indien
5. Université-Parc Floral
6. Université-Château
7. Lorette
8. Les aulnaies
9. Victor hugo
10. Zénith-parc des expositions
11. Mouillère
12. Croix saint-marceau
13. Tourelle-dauphine
14. Royale-châtelet
15. De gaulle
16. Republique
17. Gares d'Orléans
18. Antigna
19. Coligny
20. Libération
21. Gare des aubrais
22. Bustière
23. Lamballe
24. Fleury-les-aubrais jules verne

Depot and tram workshops are located next to the Hôpital de la Source terminus.

Since the end of 2006, the construction of line 12 km, which was put into operation on June 30, 2012, is underway.

At stops with limited visibility (where the approaching tram cannot be seen from afar due to the peculiarities of the building), an unusual system is used to ensure the safe boarding of passengers on the tram. When the tram approaches, a warning light starts to work at a stop. So that passengers can safely cross the road for boarding the tram, or after getting off it, the carriageway is blocked by automatic barriers while the tram stops.

At the beginning of 2007, 22 low-floor articulated two-way Citadis-301 trams were used in Orleans, which entered the city by the opening of the system in 2000. Orean Citadis-301 differ from their counterparts, working in other cities, in a narrower body (2.32 m). This is due to the fact that in the city center the tram route runs through several narrow streets.

Thanks to engines with a total power of 280 kW, trams can accelerate to 80 km / h.

Each tram has 44 seats and 130 standing places. On trams you can transport bicycles (no more than four bicycles), but not during peak hours.

Board numbers of Orleans trams are 39-60. The unusual beginning of numbering (not from 1, but from 39) is explained by the fact that these numbers continue a number of board numbers of the old tram system of the city, closed in 1938. Such a numbering system emphasizes historical continuity between the two systems. In addition to numbers, trams also have their own names. They are named after the communes of the Orleans agglomeration.

From Monday to Friday, the tram runs from about four in the morning until half past night with an interval of 5 to 7 minutes. On Saturday and during school holidays on the same hours with an interval of seven minutes. On Sunday, the tram operates from about half past six in the morning to twenty minutes after midnight with an interval of 25 to 30 minutes ^[1] . The average speed is 23 km / h ^[2] .

A single ticket costs 1.30 euros, a ticket for 10 trips - 11.6 euros, for 30 trips - 30.6 euros. There are also monthly and yearly tickets, as well as special tickets for schoolchildren, students and the elderly.

The same tickets are used on the tram and city bus, as both modes of transport are operated by the same organization.

• Official site of the Orleans public transport operator SEMTAO
• Description and photos of the system on nycsubway.org
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2000. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-596-2
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2002. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-419-2
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2003. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-428-1
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2004. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-436-2
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2005. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-446-X
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2006. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-456-7
• BA Schenk, MR Van den Toorn, Trams 2007. Uitgeverij Alk bv (Netherlands). ISBN 90-6013-466-4
• van Hattum, C. (2003) Het trambedrijf van Orléans. Article from the journal Op de Rails (Netherlands), No. 4, 2003. ISSN 0030-3321