Trams in Montpellier
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| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Native name | Tramway de Montpellier | ||
| Locale | Montpellier, Occitanie | ||
| Transit type | Tram | ||
| Number of lines | 4 | ||
| Number of stations | 84 | ||
| Daily ridership | 282,000 (2012) | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | July 2000 | ||
| Operator(s) | TAM | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 60.5 km (37.6 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
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The Montpellier tramway (French: Tramway de Montpellier) is a four-line tramway system in the city of Montpellier in Occitanie, France. The tramway is owned by the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and is operated by the Transports de l'agglomération de Montpellier (TAM) authority.
The first line opened in July 2000 and the second in December 2006. Lines 3 and 4 opened in April 2012 along with an extension of line 1 and a diversion of line 2. The western section of line 4 opened in July 2016, thus completing the loop it makes around the city.
Line 1 is 15.7 km long and runs entirely within the city limits of Montpellier, going on a looping route from the northwest, through the city centre, and going to the east end of the city, terminating at Odysseum, a shopping and entertainment district. There are 27 stations on the line, with 7 major interchanges. Currently, ridership on the line averages 130,000 passengers per day, exceeding initial ridership projections of 75,000 passengers per day. The line was completed on a budget of €348.8 million. The line is coloured blue.
Line 1 opened on July 1, 2000. The Millénaire station opened on October 11, 2003, and the Malbosc station opened on November 18, 2003. A one-station extension opened on September 21, 2009 from the former Odysseum station, which was renamed Place de France, to a new Odysseum station which serves an additional shopping centre. On April 7, 2012, the west end of the line was extended from Stade de la Mosson to Mosson to connect with the newly opened Line 3.
For the line, stations, station platforms, and urban improvements were done by architect Antoine Garcia-Diaz. The livery of trams on Line 1 was decorated in blue with white swallows by stylists Élisabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. Each tram is named after a community member of the Montpellier agglomeration community.
All rolling stock on line 1 is stored at the Les Hirondelles depot in the western district of La Paillade, which is located between the Saint-Paul station and the Hauts de Massane station. The rolling stock comprises 30 Citadis 401 trams and 3 Citadis 402 trams manufactured by Alstom.
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