Urban rail
of the tasks the consultant is undertaking is to establish the optimum solution for operating services. A particular consideration for the investigation is managing traffic flows at road junctions given the increased tram traffic which will result from reduced headways and additional tracks, along with providing adequate capacity in the power supply for the expanded network.
Petit says the aim is to only operate the longer Citads 402 vehicles on the network and work is taking place to extend
platforms at certain stations to reflect this.
“We only
envision using the
shorter trams during exceptional peak
periods when a lot of people have to be moved very quickly,” Petit says. “Bordeaux’s new football stadium will be served by Line B and this could be one example of when these trams are used.”
Phase 3bis also encompasses the construction of Line D, which will serve Evolve
While completion of Line D will mark the end of construction of this phase, Petit believes that Bordeaux’s tram network will continue to evolve to reflect changes in the city and its population. “We have been working with
Bordeaux’s transport authority which is now led by Mr Vincent Feltesse since the beginning to plan their network
as a 10km extension of Line C to the northwest of Bordeaux and will include 16 stations, running from Quinconces to its terminus at Cantinolle. The contract with Alstom includes an option for another 30 LRVs which will be used on this line, taking the fleet up to 120 vehicles.
Petit says the goal is to issue a contract worth up to É184m for construction of the line. Securing land and relocation is taking up more than 25% of the cost of the project and to make sure it has minimal impact on existing buildings and infrastructure. The project has received a É5-6m grant from the “Grenelle” programme which was launched by the Sarkozy administration and is intended to boost investment in environmentally-friendly infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin in September next year.”
over 25 years,” Petit says. “They have had a long-term vision throughout this process and these extensions were planned from the beginning. Bordeaux is a growing city and we are already looking beyond 2018 in order to integrate new areas into the public transport network. Further extensions could include adding a new line on the new bridge that is being built across La Garonne, but this of course will depend on funding.” Indeed constructing further extensions to the network will not happen unless they are considered to add value to the network. Extending Line A to the airport has been mooted as a potential extension, but Petit says this, like any other proposal, has to be considered with what the city and ultimately its citizens will gain from the project. “We have to decide whether it is feasible to replace a bus with a tram, and whether investment is good in terms of its global cost,” he says. This philosophy of balancing investment with current and projected demand from citizens is holding the city in good stead as it continues to grow. Bordeaux then not only pioneered France’s light rail revival, but it is continuing to set a strong example to others about how to manage their long- term plans for network expansion. IRJ
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