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Valenciennes Tramway

Valenciennes tramway
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Overview
Native name Tramway de Valenciennes
Locale Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
Transit type Tram
Number of lines 1
Number of stations 28
Daily ridership 29,000 (2009)
Operation
Began operation 3 July 2006
Operator(s) Transvilles
Technical
System length 18.3 km (11.4 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
System map
Map of Valenciennes tramway

The Valenciennes tramway (French: Tramway de Valenciennes) is a tramline in the Valenciennes urban area in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais région of northern France. It opened on 3 July 2006.

One tramline has been completed, but it is planned for the tram network to include three tramlines, be 48 km long and serve sixteen cities and villages.

The former Valenciennes tram network was opened in 1881, and at the peak of its development reached the Belgian border. It closed in July 1966.

The first section of line A (Université - Dutemple, 19 stations) opened on 3 July 2006 under the name of line 1. It is 9.5 km long, services five cities or villages of the Valenciennes area, at a cost of €242.75 million. Citadis 302 from Alstom has been selected to transport the first passengers.

The line starts in a nearly rural area in the grounds of the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut-Cambresis, then goes north through a commercial mall and the poorer housing areas of La Briquette. It runs through the center of Valenciennes, from Porte de Paris stop to the railway station. Originally the line was to go through the Place d'Armes in front of the city hall, but instead it uses the nearby Rue de la Vieille-Poissonnerie. Beyond the railway station, the line reaches the suburban city of Anzin, where it runs through former industrial areas, now abandoned, and then reuses the former Abscon - Saint-Waast railway line from St-Waast stop to Dutemple terminus.

A study on a single-track extension from St-Waast stop to Valenciennes hospital was carried out and dropped in favour of an electric shuttle bus.

Line A was extended during Phase II from Valenciennes to Denain (Dutemple - Espace Villars, eight stations) and this extension was formally opened on August 31, 2007. Commercial services began three days later. It is 8.8 km long.


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Wikipedia

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