France: MEL, the Lille metropolitan area transport company, received the five-section LRV in late March. After the upcoming trial runs, the vehicle will enter commercial service, which is planned for autumn.
The 32.4 m tram can accommodate 196 passengers. Its interior features dedicated spaces for strollers, wheelchairs and bicycles. It is worth noting that this is the first 1,000 mm gauge Citadis tram over a 26-year history of the platform.
Alstom Citadis platform tram for Lille. Source: MEL
Under the contract signed in late 2023 and the exercised option, Alstom is due to deliver 27 LRVs for Lille. The EU-financed procurement is valued at €124.8 mln (€4.6 mln per one tram).
Alstom Citadis platform tram for Lille. Source: MEL
The new rolling stock will replace a fleet of 24 low-floor trams, manufactured by Italian Breda in the 1990s. Alstom’s site in La Rochelle is scheduled to produce two trams every month, with the whole Citadis fleet expected to start operation by summer 2027.
