France: A fleet of 12 seven-section bi-directional Urbos 100X trams entered service at the end of December on a new line in the French city.
The 16 km route with 27 stops takes 45 minutes to complete. Current headways are 12 minutes, expected to reduce to 7.5 minutes by September once the full order of 22 vehicles—placed in 2022—is in operation.
Each 43 m tram accommodates 301 passengers, including 70 seats and three wheelchair spaces. The rolling stock features an intelligent energy-efficient climate control system, claimed to be a world-first application. The livery was designed by Cameroonian artist Barthélémy Toguo.
In 2022, CAF received an order for 77 trams worth €224 mln (excluding tax; €2.9 mln per unit). Of these, 30 units will replace Alstom Citadis 401 trams in service since 2000. Production is at CAF’s Bagneres-de-Bigorre plant in France, with deliveries due to complete in 2030. Similar Urbos 100X orders were placed by Marseille and Tours in 2022 and 2025.
