The first chunk of a 300 million euro loan to upgrade Lille’s metro system has been signed off.
A ceremony was held in the city on August 29, with the president of Lille Métropole, Martine Aubry, and European Investment Bank (EIB) vice-president Philippe de Fontaine Vive Curtaz in attendance.
The funding will help finance an order for 27 new metro trainsets from Alstom, which are due to be delivered by 2015.
The contract with Alstom also includes the installation of a new automated system.
Lille Métropole is aiming to increase capacity across the city’s two automated lines by doubling the rolling stock in operation on Line 1.
As well as new trains, 26 units already in use will be coupled and several moved over to increase services on Line 2.
