World first for the Alstom Citadis tramway

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The community of greater Nice Cote-d’Azur (CANCA)
inaugurates its CitadisTM tramway, in the presence of Jacques
Peyrat, its President, on Friday, 24 November. For the first
time anywhere in the world, a tramway now operates over part of
its route using an autonomous on board system, allowing the
supply of the electrical power via overhead lines to be
avoided. The absence of posts and overhead lines in Place
Masséna and Place Garibaldi enables the character of these
two historic sites to be preserved. Nice is the first city in
the world to benefit from this technology.

Ordered from Alstom by CANCA in June 2004 in a contract
worth a total of €57 million, the 20 trainsets are fitted
with the latest equipment in the Citadis range, an
indispensable aid for maintaining passenger comfort: enhanced
air conditioning, audio and visual information for disabled
people, video-protection, reinforced safety, large windows

Working at the cutting edge of innovation, Alstom Transport
has developed a complete range of “wireless”
solutions that allow the urban environment to be preserved:

· On-board autonomy, using batteries: the
nickel/metal hydride batteries enable the tramway to cover
short distances

· APS ground level power supply: a third rail, fully
integrated into the platform, enables the tramway to operate
“wirelessly”, while maintaining full performance.
This system has been used to equip the Bordeaux city network
and has been chosen by Angers, Orleans and Reims.

To date, over 1,100 Citadis have been ordered by 28 cities
around the world, and over 60 cities have a tramway project
scheduled for the next few years. Tramways are enjoying
undeniable success because they make it possible to develop
sustainable mobility, to rethink and re-energize urban space,
and to preserve architectural heritage, while contributing to
city growth.

Press contact:

Cécile Dodat : +33 (0)1 41 66 91 48 /
cecile.dodat@transport.alstom.com