Tramways in Paris

Tramways are operated in Paris by its public transport authority, RATP. It also operates the Paris Metro and most bus services in Paris. RATP currently operates two lines, is building two more lines and is planning an additional line.

History

From 1855 to 1938, Paris was served by an extensive tramway network, predating the Metro by nearly a half-century. Elements of this network functioned until 1957, when the last tram, to Versailles was taken out of service.

Originally horse-powered, Paris trams evolved with new technologies, using steam-powered and later pneumatic engines, and finally submitting to electrification. With the arrival of the automobile, the network was increasingly seen as poorly adapted to the modern city and was progressively dismantled in favour of the Metro and conventional buses.

The funicular that operated in Belleville from 1891 to 1924 is sometimes erroneously thought of as a tramway.

The first new Paris tram line, line T1, opened in 1992, with line (T2) in 1997. Lines T3 and T4 are projected to enter into service in late 2006, while construction on the line T8 has not yet begun.

T1

Line T1 connects Saint-Denis to Noisy-le-Sec, parallel to the Paris northern city limit. It opened in 1992, and the extension to Noisy-le-Sec was completed in December 2003. An extension west to Asnières and Gennevilliers is expected to open in 2010, and a continuation to Nanterre is planned. An eastwards extension to Montreuil and eventually to the Val de Fontenay RER station is in the works.

T2

Line T2 (Trans Val-de-Seine) connects La Défense to Issy-les-Moulineaux west of Paris. It started service in 1997, mostly on converted SNCF right-of-way.

Because of the success of this line (65,000 people use it daily) the trams were doubled in length in 2005, raising the capacity of each tram to 440 passengers.

Two extension projects are planned for completion in 2009: a northward extension to Bezons and a southward one to Porte de Versailles, a transfer point to and from Metro line 12 and the projected lineT3.

Planned lines

T3

In October 2005, construction started on line T3, the first intended to operate in Paris proper. It is known as the Tramway des Maréchaux because it follows the boulevards that were built on the route of Thiers' fortifications around Paris (built 1841-45), and named after many of Napoleon's marshals (maréchaux). It will connect Boulevard Victor RER station in the western part of the XVe arrondissement to Porte d'Ivry metro station in the XIIIe arrondissement.

It is projected to open in December 2006, and is expected to carry 100,000 passengers per day.

Further planned extensions include a link to Porte de Charenton in 2011 and eventually Porte de la Chapelle.

T4

Also under construction, line T4 is to be a tram-train line, operating in part on SNCF lines, connecting Bondy RER station to Aulnay-sous-Bois station. It is expected to open in 2006.

T8

Current tramway expansion plans foresee the construction of a fifth line - provisionally numbered T8 - connecting Châtillon – Montrouge metro station to Viroflay Rive Droite on the Transilien Paris - Saint-Lazare rail line. Construction is expected to begin in late 2006.

TVM

The Trans-Val-de-Marne bus line, which runs in a designated bus lane and is intended to provide rapid transit southeast of Paris in the département of Val-de-Marne, is operated by RATP. Despite beginning with a T, it is not a part of the tramway network.