On 28 June, Jean-Pierre Mourre, President of the Communauté d’Agglomération de Montpellier unveiled the first Citadis tramset for Line 3 of the Montpellier tramway in the presence of designer Christian Lacroix and François Dhulst, Alstom Transport’s Local Authorities Key Accounts Director.
The tramset left the Alstom site in La Rochelle on Tuesday 21 June.
In 2009, Montpellier entrusted the contract for the supply of 24 tramsets to Alstom Transport: 19 for Line 3 and five more to increase the existing fleets on Lines 1 and 2.
Following previous orders for Lines 1 and 2, the contract underlines the confidence of Montpellier in Alstom Transport’s ability to help develop its urban transport development policy.
The colourful and original design of the new tramway is based on a water theme. It also complements the swallows of Line 1 and the flowers of Line 2, which have an ‘Earth’ theme.
The management and planning of the design for Line 3 were supervised by Alstom Transport’s Design & Styling division.
The goal was to provide detailed solutions fully reflecting the wishes of Montpellier, and to stay in keeping with the general architecture of the Citadis tramway, based on expertise in design, digital modelling, materials and lighting.
Trams in Montpellier are fitted with the latest range of Citadis equipment to enhance passenger comfort, including closed-circuit video surveillance, sound and visual information systems, and integral low floors.
Each tramset is 42 metres long and can accommodate over 300 passengers. The Citadis also enhances the quality of city life: four times quieter than motor traffic, it generates about five decibels less noise.
The tramsets for Montpellier are currently designed and assembled at Alstom’s plant in La Rochelle. Five other sites will also be involved in manufacturing the trams.
Tarbes will provide electrical and electronic equipment for the traction systems, Ornans the engines, Le Creusot the bogies, and Villeurbanne and Saint Ouen the onboard electronics.
Almost 20 kilometres long, Line 3 of the tramway has 23 stations from the west of the urban area to the south, crossing the urban districts of Juvignac, Montpellier, Lattes and Pérols.
Startup is scheduled for spring 2012.
