Le Mans celebrates the arrival of the tramway

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In doing so, Le Mans was able to rediscover a means of
transport that had previously disappeared, in 1947.

The city has taken advantage of the project to undertake
extensive urban modifications, including the construction of
two esplanades, a revision of the way traffic operates in the
city centre, and numerous arrangements made for bicycles, with
the provision of 26km of additional paths.

The opening of this first, 12 kilometre-long line, which runs
from the north west to the south, will be followed by the entry
into service, on 22 December, of a second branch to the east.
Alstom Transport supplied a total of 23 trainsets, and will
handle maintenance during the 18 months of warrantee period,
using a dedicated team assigned to the city.

Designed by Tours-based agency RCP in collaboration with the
Design and Styling department, the silhouette of the tramway is
ultra-modern, enlivened by a beautifully rounded nose. The red
of its livery is evocative of the Gallic-Roman walls that
surround Le Mans.

Michael Serra, CEO of Alstom Transport, spoke on 17 November
during the inaugural event. “For the past 13
years”, he told those present, “Alstom has been
supporting the people of Le Mans and their region in their
daily movements, thanks to the TGV Atlantique and its regional
trains”. He also referred to the future of transport in
the Pays de la Loire region, with the arrival in 2010 of the
CITADIS ™ Dualis for the network in and around Nantes.

The project team can be proud of the project, which was very
well managed internally and with the customers.

Eager to experience their new tramway, inhabitants of Le Mans
were invited to travel for free over the weekend. Seven event
sites were set up for the day, to celebrate the
inauguration.