Nantes new Alstom Citadis enter service

Nantes (population 303 000) was the first French city to re-introduce trams, in December 1985, and the 20 Alstom TFS1 high-floor cars that entered service at that time are still in service, albeit rebuilt from 1992 with a low-floor centre section. 26 more followed. 

 

In 2020 the city ordered 61 low-floor Alstom Citadis to replace them (and provide for extensions) with a total investment of EUR 280M. The new seven-section 46m trams can carry 300 passengers each and are 100% accessible with eight double doors. 

 

The first of the new trams was shown to the press on the Alstom test track in February 2023 and arrived in the city that Spring. However until now none of the cars delivered has appeared in passenger service as extensive commissioning and training of drivers and workshop staff took place. 

 

Finally on 15 April 2024 the first of 14 cars that are due to enter service this year was able to carry regular passengers on line 1. 35 more should appear on the network in 2026, and the remaining 12 in 2027, when new lines 6 and 7 are due to be introduced. 

 

Nantes tramway network totals 44.3km (27.5 miles) with a peak run-out of 81 trams from the 91 in the fleet. Low-floor trams have already been purchased from ADtranz and CAF and the system's annual patronage is about 74M.