Alstom introduces French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to Citadis Spirit, the tram-train chosen by Ottawa in Canada

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Today Alstom presented a model of the Citadis Spirit tram-train to Frances Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, during his visit to Montreal. Alstom has recently started commercializing Citadis Spirit on the North-American market, just after it was chosen by the City of Ottawa, Canada. This new tram-train stems directly from the know-how enjoyed by Alstom and its partners working in the French rail industry sector.

There are six facilities1 in France working on the design and production of Ottawas Citadis Spirit and whose contribution amounts to about 20% of the deals overall worth. Ordered in its high-capacity version, this tram-train can operate at a maximum speed of 100 km/h, thus helping reduce travel time between the suburbs and the downtown area.

The Citadis Spirit configuration is similar to that of the Citadis-Dualis which has been operating for close to two years in Frances Pays de Loire Region (in Nantes), as well as more recently in the Rhône Alpes Region (in Lyon), already clocking up 600,000 km in both regions.

Designed to provide a link between urban and suburban areas, Citadis-Dualis is able to enter downtown cores as a tram and to travel on regional railway tracks using adaptations involving power, safety and comfort. That kind of configuration makes it a versatile, economical transit mode, thus fostering a move away from individual cars towards public transit.

Tram-trains are fully modular, providing a wide range of options in interior layout (seating/standing room, luggage/bike racks etc.), and in interior and exterior design (customizable livery to each citys colors). It is accessible to everyone thanks to a low floor and a series of gap-cover plates. As a result, it is a crucial public mobility issue that tram-train development should continue throughout the Paris region and in Frances large and mid-sized cities.

With 1,600 Citadis trams sold worldwide and 148 tram-trains sold in Europe, Alstom Transport claims the leading spot in the tram market.

1 - Valenciennes Petit Foret, Le Creusot, Ornans, Tarbes, Villeurbanne and Saint-Ouen

À propos dAlstom Transport

Alstom Transport designs sustainable and global rail solutions tailored to operators, public authorities and passengers. Alstom Transport creates smarter mobility, designing and maintaining safe, fluid and efficient solutions. Alstom Transport offers the widest range of cutting-edge rail solutions in the world, including trains, infrastructure, services, turnkey solutions and signalling.In 2011-2012, Alstom Transport recorded sales of 5.2 billion and employed 24,700 people in more than 60 countries. With operations at ten sites throughout France, Alstom Transport is the leading manufacturing company in the French rail sector and helps boost local economies. Its approximately 8,700 employees have expertise that serves clients both in France and abroad. One job at Alstom creates about three jobs for its suppliers.

Contact presse

Linda Huguet
Tel.: +33 1 57 06 10 42
linda.huguet@transport.alstom.com