Tramways in Paris

Infobox Paris Network generic
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Tramways are operated in Paris by its public transport authority, RATP, which also operates the Paris Métro and most bus services. The city currently has four lines and is planning an additional one.

History

From 1855 to 1938, Paris was served by an extensive tramway network, predating the Metro by nearly a half-century. The last of these first generation tram routes, to Versailles, was closed in 1957.

Originally horse-powered, Paris trams used steam, and later pneumatic engines, and electricity.

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

The first of a new generation of trams in Paris, line T1 opened in 1992, with line T2 opening in 1997, line T4 on November 18 2006, and line T3 on December 16 2006. As of January 2007, construction on the line T8 has not yet begun.

Lines

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 planned.

T2

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

Because of the success of this line (80,000 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 an eastward one to Porte de Versailles, a transfer point to and from Metro line 12 and line T3.

T3

Opened on December 16 2006, line T3 is the first modern tramway 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) named after many of Napoleon's marshals (maréchaux). It connects Boulevard Victor "RER" station in the western part of the XVe arrondissement with Porte d'Ivry metro station in the XIIIe arrondissement.

The line is expected to carry 100,000 passengers per day.

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

T4

Line T4 is a tram-train line, operating in part on SNCF lines, connecting Bondy "RER" station with Aulnay-sous-Bois station. It opened on November 18 2006. Unlike the other tramways in Île-de-France, T4 is operated by SNCF.

Planned lines

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.

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.

Future projects

Other prospective lines have been proposed or are under discussion:
*A line connecting Saint-Denis, Épinay-sur-Seine and Villetaneuse, including a connection to the future "rue de l'Évangile" station in Paris, projected for 2010 on RER line E. This was proposed as a part of Paris' failed bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.
*A guided bus connecting Saint-Denis, Pierrefitte-sur-Seine and Sarcelles.
*A line connecting Villejuif, Orly, Athis-Mons and Juvisy-sur-Orge.
*A line connecting Sèvres and Boulogne-Billancourt in the western and southwestern suburbs to Metro lines 9 and 10, and line T2.

ee also

* Tram

External links

* [http://www.ratp.info/orienter/tramway.php Tram line routes at the "RATP" official website] (in French)
* [http://www.t2aparis.org/t2.htm T2 Paris official website] (in French)
* [http://www.tramway.paris.fr/ Boulevards des Maréchaux Tramway] (in French)
* [http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr/ RATP official extension information] (in French)
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Comprehensive map of the Paris Tramways network] (in English)

"The page draws heavily on the corresponding French Wikipedia article "Tramway parisien", accessed 19 February 2006."