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Paris, France Tram Lines

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title_world_fr_paris_trams.jpg

Tram T4-Tram-Train Les Coquetiers at Gargan. Photo by David Pirmann, September 2008.

Overview

Paris, like all large cities, had an extensive tram network throughout the "City Of Light". During the 1930s, the system was whittled down until finally, the last trams departed the scene in 1938.

Throughout France, city after city abandoned streetcars until finally, only systems in Lille, Marseille and St.-Etienne remained. But in the 1980s, a new tramway renaissance began, with lines opening first in Nantes, and then Grenoble. Paris transport managers were intrigued, and set about, albeit slowly, the feasibility of returning trams to the French capital. Planning for the first line, which would connect the northern working-class suburbs of Bobigny, Drancy, La Courneuve and St.-Denis, began in 1989. This would be a completely new construction, and operations would be mostly on reservation. The first section of line T1, from Bobigny-Pablo Picasso to La Courneuve, opened for service on July 6, 1992. As in Grenoble, 17 of Alstom's TFS trams, with their revolutionary 75% low floor construction, were purchased for Line T1. By Dec. 13, service to St.-Denis was inaugurated.

The new 9km tramway was an immediate success, and considerably faster and more reliable than the Route 173 bus it replaced. RATP staff then began planning for its second tram route. On the west side of the capital, SNCF was about to abandon its third-rail route beween Puteaux and Issy-Plaine. RATP took over the entirely grade-separated right-of-way and converted it to overhead wire operation. This new 11.3km route, called T2, began operation on June 7, 1997. 16 more TFS trams outfitted this new route; simultaneously, two additional trams were purchased for line T1 to increase service there.

By 2001, RATP was actively planning two extensions of Line T1, further west into St.-Denis, and and eastward extension to the town of Noisy-le-Sec. At the same time, ridership on line T2, which served major employment centers on both ends of the route, overwhelmed the TFS trams beyond their capacity. The plan was then made to move the 16 TFS cars over to line T1, and 26 new Citadis 100% low floor trams, with capability to couple into 2-car trains, were purchased to replace them and increase capacity. The Citadis 302-class cars entered service in 2003. Service to Noisy-le-Sec, over on the T1, began on December 15 of that year.

Meanwhile, the city of Paris wanted to bring trams within the city limits. To that end, planning was begun to build line T3 along the southern part of the Ring road along Blvds Victor, Kellermann and others, running between Pont de Garigliano eastward to Porte d'Ivry. Enroute, connections with five Métro, and one RER, routes would be made, including major traffic-generating stations at Porte de Versailles and Porte d'Orléans. Construction was far enough along between Garigliano and Porte d'Orléans to permit the juice to be turned on by April 3, 2006 and begin LRV testing . New Citadis trams, wider than those on Line T2, have been acquired for Line T3, and service on at least part of the line is expected to begin in late 2006.

At the present, there will be no connection between the Issy end of Line T2 and the west end of T3. This should change by 2009, when T2 is extended up to Garigliano. A further northward extension from La Défense to Bezons is also slated to open in 2009.

Station By Station

Line T1

Line T1, which runs through several working-class suburbs, is not especially scenic, and is downright gritty in some locations. But the service is fast and frequent. La Courneuve 8 Mai 1945, where connection is made to Métro line M7, is an especially busy stop, with open air markets adjacent to the station, and sometimes trams take five minutes to unload and load passengers! Along the way, T1 passes over several SNCF railroad yards. The new extension to Noisy-le-Sec carries the line over a canal, and does street running within the suburb. The carbarn is located at Bobigny, sharing space with Métro M5 trains.

Line T2

Line T2 is considerably more scenic than T1, as it operates along the left bank of the Seine. In Issy Val de Seine, many office buildings have been constructed, providing the line with large numbers of riders. West of Les Moulineaux, the line skirts the Seine and passes through some bucolic areas. The stops at Parc de St.-Cloud, Les Milons and Les Coteaux run alongside a steep hill with upscale houses and pleasant neighborhoods located there. Beautiful mansion-like station buildings from SNCF days dot the line at stops such as Les Moulineaux, Musée de Sèvres, Les Coteaux and Suresnes-Longchamp, dot the line. At Puteaux, the SNCF comes in from the southwest, and both train and tram continue in tunnel to La Défense, another major employment center and transfer between the SNCF, Métro line M1 and RER line A. The T2 tram depot is just north of Les Moulineaux Station.

Line T3

Line T3, as mentioned, traverses the broad boulevards of the Ring Road in south Paris, passing major trip generators along the way. Of note is the cantilevered style of overhead wire suspension throughout the line. This Ring Road serves long blocks containing apartment houses and condominiums on both sides of the boulevard. The sports and entertainment district around Porte de Versailles has many buildings of note. Line T3's depot is situated just off Place Balard. T3 opened for service on December 16, 2006.

Line T4 Tram-Train Les Coquetiers

Line T4 operates from Bondy (RER E) to Aulnay-sous-Bois (RER B) over a former short SNCF branch line converted for tramway use. Short portions of the tram route runs on shared SNCF trackage at each end. The rolling stock is a fleet of 15 Siemens "Avanto" 100% low floor light rail vehicles, 37.5m in length with five articulated sections. The T4 service is operated by SNCF/Transilien (not RATP which operates Paris's other tramway lines). T4 opened on November 18, 2006.

Photo Gallery

Five Random Images

Image 147808

(264k, 1044x595)
Photo by: Bernard Chatreau
Location: Les Pavillons sous Bois

Image 148514

(319k, 1044x787)
Photo by: Bernard Chatreau
Location: Jacques-Henri Lartigue

Image 148560

(223k, 1044x595)
Photo by: Bernard Chatreau
Location: Port de Versailles-Parc des Expositions

Image 148712

(296k, 1044x788)
Photo by: Bernard Chatreau
Location: Pont du Garigliano

Image 149480

(348k, 1044x787)
Photo by: Bernard Chatreau
Location: Bobigny-Pablo Picasso
     


More Images: 1-50 51-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350 351-400 401-450 451-500 501-550 551-600 601-650 651-700 701-750 751-800 801-850 851-900 901-950 951-1000 1001-1050 1051-1100 1101-1150 1151-1200 1201-1250 1251-1300 1301-1350 1351-1400 1401-1450 1451-1500 1501-1512

Photos By Location

T1

Photo locations: Parc des Chanteraines, Chemin des Reniers, La Noue, Mairie de Villeneuve-la-Garenne, L'Île-Saint-Denis, Gare de Saint-Denis (RER), Théâtre Gérard Philipe, Marché de Saint-Denis, Basilique de Saint-Denis (Hôtel de Ville), Cimetière de Saint-Denis, Hôpital Delafontaine, Cosmonautes, La Courneuve-Six Routes, Hôtel de Ville de la Courneuve, Stade Géo André, Danton, La Courneuve-8 Mai 1945, Maurice Lachâtre, Drancy-Avenir, Hôpital Avicenne, Gaston Rouland, Escadrille Normandie-Niémen, La Ferme, Libération, Hôtel de Ville de Bobigny, Bobigny-Pablo Picasso, Jean Rostand, Auguste Delaune, Pont de Bondy, Rue de Paris, Petit Noisy, Noisy-le-Sec (RER)

T2

Photo locations: Pont de Bezons, Between Pont de Bezons and Parc Pierre Lagravère, Parc Pierre Lagravère, Between Parc Pierre Lagravère and Victor Basch, Victor Basch, Between Victor Basch and Jacqueline Auriol, Jacqueline Auriol, Between Jacqueline Auriol and Charlebourg, Charlebourg, Between Charlebourg and Les Fauvelles, Les Fauvelles, Between Les Fauvelles and Faubourg de l'Arche, Faubourg de l'Arche, Between Faubourg de l'Arche and La Défense-Grande Arche, La Défense-Grande Arche, Between La Défense-Grande Arche and Puteaux, Puteaux, Between Puteaux and Belvédère, Belvédère, Between Belvédère and Suresnes-Longchamp, Suresnes-Longchamp, Between Suresnes-Longchamp and Les Coteaux, Les Coteaux, Between Les Coteaux and Les Milons, Les Milons, Between Les Milons and Parc de Saint-Cloud, Parc de Saint-Cloud, Between Parc de Saint-Cloud and Musée de Sèvres, Musée de Sèvres, Between Musée de Sèvres and Brimborion, Brimborion, Between Brimborion and Meudon-sur-Seine, Meudon-sur-Seine, Between Meudon-sur-Seine and Les Moulineaux, Les Moulineaux, Between Les Moulineaux and Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Between Jacques-Henri Lartigue and Issy-Val de Seine, Issy-Val de Seine, Between Issy-Val de Seine and Henri Farman-Port de Seine, Henri Farman-Port de Seine, Between H. Farman & S. Lenglen, Suzanne Lenglen, Between Suzanne Lenglen and Port d'Issy - Eliane Jeannin-Gareau, Port d'Issy - Eliane Jeannin-Gareau, Rue d'Oradour-sur-Giane/Avenue Ernest Renan, Between Port d'Issy and Port de Versailles, Port de Versailles-Parc des Expositions

T3A

Photo locations: Porte de Vincennes, Between Porte de Vincennes and Porte de Saint-Mandé / Alexandra David-Néel, Porte de Saint-Mandé / Alexandra David-Néel, Between Porte de Saint-Mandé / Alexandra David-Néel and Porte de Montempoivre, Porte de Montempoivre, Between Porte de Montempoivre and Porte Dorée, Porte Dorée, Between Porte Dorée and Porte de Charenton, Porte de Charenton, Between Porte de Charenton and Baron Le Roy, Baron Le Roy, Between Baron Le Roy and Avenue de France – Bibliothèque François Mitterand, Avenue de France – Bibliothèque François Mitterand, Between Avenue de France and Porte de Vitry / Maryse Bastié, Porte de Vitry / Maryse Bastié, Between Porte de Vitry / Maryse Bastié and Porte d'Ivry, Porte d'Ivry, Between Porte d'Ivry and Damesme, Damesme, Between Damesme and Porte d'Italie, Porte d'Italie, Between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Choisy, Porte de Choisy, Between Porte de Choisy and Poterne des Peupliers, Poterne des Peupliers, Between Poterne des Peupliers and Stade Charléty/Porte de Gentilly, Stade Charléty/Porte de Gentilly, Between Stade Charléty/Porte de Gentilly and Cité Universitaire, Cité Universitaire, Between Cité Universitaire and Montsouris, Montsouris, Between Montsouris and Porte d'Orléans, Porte d'Orléans, Between Porte d'Orléans and Jean Moulin, Jean Moulin, Between Jean Moulin and Didot, Didot, Between Didot and Porte de Vanves, Porte de Vanves, Between Porte de Vanves and Brancion, Brancion, Between Brancion and Georges Brassens, Georges Brassens, Between G. Brassens & P.de Versailles, Porte de Versailles, Between Porte de Versailles and Desnouettes, Desnouettes, Between Desnouettes and Balard, Place Balard, Avenue de la Porte de Sèvres (Lucotte Depot Access), Pont du Garigliano, Lucotte Depot, (Misc/Unknown)

T3B

Photo locations: Porte d'Asnières, Between Porte d'Asnières and Porte de Clichy, Porte de Clichy, Between Porte de Clichy and Porte Pouchet, Porte Pouchet, Between Porte Pouchet and Porte de Saint-Ouen, Porte de Saint-Ouen, Between Porte de Saint-Ouen and Porte Montmartre, Porte Montmartre, Between Porte Montmartre and Porte de Clignancourt, Porte de Clignancourt, Between Porte de Clignancourt and Porte des Poissonniers, Porte des Poissonniers, Between Porte des Poissonniers and Porte de la Chapelle, Porte de la Chapelle, Between Porte de la Chapelle and Fillettes / Colette Besson, Fillettes / Colette Besson, Between Fillettes / Colette Besson and Porte d'Aubervilliers, Porte d'Aubervilliers, Between Porte d'Aubervilliers and Rosa Parks, Rosa Parks, Between Rosa Parks and Canal Saint-Denis, Canal Saint-Denis, Canal Saint-Denis (pont), Porte de la Villette, Between Porte de la Villette and Ella Fitzgerald / Grands Moulins – Gare de Pantin, Ella Fitzgerald / Grands Moulins – Gare de Pantin, Between Ella Fitzgerald / Grands Moulins – Gare de Pantin and Canal de l'Ourcq, Canal de l'Ourcq, Canal de l'Ourcq (pont), Delphine Seyrig / Pantin Ladoumègue, Between Delphine Seyrig / Pantin Ladoumègue and Porte de Pantin, Shops/Yard, Porte de Pantin, Between Porte de Pantin and Butte du Chapeau Rouge / Porte Brunet – Porte Chaumont, Butte du Chapeau Rouge / Porte Brunet – Porte Chaumont, Between Butte du Chapeau Rouge and Porte de Pré-Saint-Gervais/Hôpital Robert Debré, Porte de Pré-Saint-Gervais / Hôpital Robert Debré, Between Porte de Pré-Saint-Gervais / Hôpital Robert Debré and Porte des Lilas, Porte des Lilas, Between Porte des Lilas and Saint-Fargeau / Adrienne Bolland, Saint-Fargeau / Adrienne Bolland, Between Saint-Fargeau / Adrienne Bolland and Séverine / Capitaine Ferber, Séverine / Capitaine Ferber, Between Séverine / Capitaine Ferber and Porte de Bagnolet, Porte de Bagnolet, Between Porte de Bagnolet and Saint-Blaise / Marie de Miribel, Saint-Blaise / Marie de Miribel, Between Saint-Blaise / Marie de Miribel and Porte de Montreuil, Porte de Montreuil, Between Porte de Montreuil and Porte de Vincennes, Porte de Vincennes

T4

Photo locations: Aulnay-sous-Bois, Rougemont-Chanteloup, Freinville Sevran, L'Abbaye, Lycée Henri Sellier, Gargan, Les Pavillons sous Bois, Allée de la Tour Rendez vous, Les Coquetiers, Remise à Jorelle, Bondy

T5

Photo locations: Marché de Saint-Denis, Between Marché de Saint-Denis and Baudelaire, Baudelaire, Between Baudelaire and Roger Sémat, Roger Sémat, Between Roger Sémat and Guynemer - Stade Auguste Delaune, Guynemer - Stade Auguste Delaune, Between Guynemer - Stade Auguste Delaune and Petit Pierrefitte, Petit Pierrefitte, Between Petit Pierrefitte and Joncherolles, Joncherolles, Between Joncherolles and Suzanne Valadon, Suzanne Valadon, Between Suzanne Valadon and Mairie de Pierrefitte, Mairie de Pierrefitte, Between Mairie de Pierrefitte and Alcide d'Orbigny, Alcide d'Orbigny, Between Alcide d'Orbigny and Jacques Prévert, Jacques Prévert, Between Jacques Prévert and Butte Pinson - Parc Régional, Butte Pinson - Parc Régional, Between Butte Pinson - Parc Régional and Les Cholettes, Les Cholettes, Between Les Cholettes and Les Flanades, Les Flanades, Between Les Flanades and Paul Valéry, Paul Valéry, Between Paul Valéry and Lochères, Lochères, Between Lochères and Garges - Sarcelles, Garges - Sarcelles, Depot/Remise

T7

Photo locations: Villejuif - Louis Aragon, Between Villejuif - Louis Aragon and Lamartine, Lamartine, Between Lamartine and Domaine Chérioux, Domaine Chérioux, Between Domaine Chérioux and Moulin Vert, Moulin Vert, Bretagne, Auguste Perret - Cimetière Parisien, Porte de Thiais - Marché International, Between Porte de Thiais and La Belle Épine, La Belle Épine, Between La Belle Épine and Place de la Logistique, Place de la Logistique - Plateforme Sogaris, Between Place de la Logistique and Porte de Rungis, Porte de Rungis, Saarinen - Parc Silic Nord, Robert Schuman - Parc Silic Centre, La Fraternelle, Hélène Boucher - Orly Tech, Caroline Aigle, Coeur d'Orly, Aéroport d'Orly, Athis-Mons - Porte de l'Essonne

Page Credits

By Peter Ehrlich.









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