The French Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Christophe Béchu, the President of Angers Loire Métropole, Jean-Marc Verchère, and the Vice-President of Angers Loire Métropole in charge of Ecological Transition and Mobility, Corinne Bouchoux, have inaugurated two tram lines in Angers.
Two opening ceremonies of lines B and C were held at the Centre de Congrès and on both sides of the new Arts et Métiers bridge on July 7, 2023.
The 10 km Line B with 18 stations runs from Belle-Beille and its university campus via Patton, Le Quai, la Doutre, and Molière crossing through Montaigne and Deux-Croix towards Monplaisir. The Line C follows the same route as line B until the station Molière and then the same as line A between the stations of Foch-Maison Bleue and Angers-Roseraie, providing a direct route from the west side of the city to the train station. Tram Line A entered passenger services in 2011.
The Line A is designed on north-south axis from Avrillé-Ardennes to Angers-Roseraie running through the city centre. It is connected with Line B through two stations and its south section doubles the Line C.
The two new light rail lines serve 100,000 inhabitants representing 35% of the population of Angers Loire Métropole.
Durand, Colas, Alstom, Ratp Dev are the partners who were involved in implementing the project of the tramway lines. Part of the Travaux Publics des Pays de Loire (TPPL) consortium, Colas was awarded one of the three urban development work packages.
In December 2019, Alstom was awarded a EUR 55 million contract to deliver 20 Citadis trams for the new tram lines B and C. These trams are in addition to the 17 Citadis LRVs ordered for Line A. The trams are 33 metres long, with 6 double doors per side, and are able to carry more than 210 passengers.
“The deadlines for the completion of the two new tram lines in Angers were respected, despite the many crises – the pandemic and the shortage of materials in particular. This success is collective. Of course, I associate the patience of the Angers citizens during the works, and that, of course, of the traders,” Jean-Marc Verchère said.
The city’s tramway system together with the metropolitan bus network and the park and ride facilities, as well as the alternative transport services such as carpooling and the active mobility are creating a modern and sustainable public transport system in the city and its metropolitan area. The new tram lines play an essential role in connecting the districts of Belle-Beille and Monplaisir both of which are undergoing urban renewal.
The opening of the two new lines will allow a 25% increase in the number of bus and tram users by 2027.
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