Alstom has inaugurated its first tramway maintenance centre
in Reims

Alstom and its partner, "The Bouygues Group", were involved
as project managers in the functional definition of the
maintenance centre and in making architectural choices. Amongst
other things, they were responsible for laying the tracks in
the depot: pitted tracks, storage tracks and testing tracks.
Alstom electrified the tracks and provided all rail signalling
installations, including the centralised command station
equipment which will be used to manage tramway and bus traffic.
Alstom also designed, supplied, installed and managed all of
the centre's maintenance equipment: wheel reshaping machine,
trainset wash station, complete trainset lifting and bogie
maintenance jacks.


Alstom - through Transdev, its subcontractor - will maintain
the Reims tramway for a 30-year period as soon as it comes into
service in April 2011. This contract, worth 93 million ,
is for the maintenance of the rolling stock and fixed
installations.



Alstom Transport is a 17% shareholder in the MARS consortium
and is also the Construction Consortiums representative.
As such, Alstom is providing a turnkey solution for the Reims
tram project involving the design and production of rolling
stock and all electromechanical systems: 18 Citadis tramsets
plus the rail track (in partnership with Colas Rail),
signalling equipment, electrical supply installations,
catenaries and ticketing systems for the urban areas
transport system. Line 1 of the Reims tramway system
will be equipped with a ground-level power supply (APS system)
over nearly 2 kilometres. With this technology, the tram can
operate safely with a catenary-free system, thus preserving the
appearance of the historical town centre. It only took 14
months to build the tracks for Line 1 of the Reims tramway
system thanks to Appitrack technology. This is the first time
this new solution has been used in France. Completely developed
by Alstom, it involves a mechanised means for laying track,
which minimises the logistical constraints associated with the
project. It was used on nearly 60% of the Reims tramway line,
and as a result, the work was completed three months faster
than it would have been had conventional processes being used.



The Reims tramway systems Citadis trainsets are
currently being designed and built in the La Rochelle factory.
Five other sites will also be involved in manufacturing the
trams: Tarbes will provide electrical and electronic equipment
for the traction systems, Ornans the motors, Le Creusot the
bogies, and Villeurbanne and Saint-Ouen the onboard
electronics. The 18 tramsets will serve 23 stations and cover
11.2 kilometres on Line 1. The Reims tram is scheduled to come
into service in April 2011.


About Alstom Transport France

With operations at nine sites throughout France, Alstom
Transport is the leading manufacturing company in the French
rail sector and contributes to the dynamism of local economies.
Alstoms 8,700 employees in France provide expertise to
both French and international customers, and one job at Alstom
creates some three jobs for its suppliers.


About Alstom Transport

Alstom Transport develops and offers the most complete range of
systems, equipment and services on the rail market, with
sustainable transport always in mind. The company is capable of
managing entire transport systems, including rolling stock,
signalling and infrastructure, and also provides complete
turnkey solutions. In 2008-2009, Alstom Transport's turnover
was 5.7 billion and its orders increased by 9% over the
preceding financial year. Alstom Transport is present in more
than 60 countries and has 27,000 employees.



Press contact:

Laurent Gerbet : +33 (0)1 57 06 92 83 /
laurent.gerbet@transport.alstom.com