From its inception, the Bordeaux tramway has had three lines running at surface level, each connecting with the other two and connected to the other public transport networks in the city.

The network thus fulfils the need for a truly multimodal system, which is the only way to discourage car use, especially in the city centre, and to ensure smooth connections between the city’s major residential areas, business areas and facilities.

In the old part of the city centre, with its narrow streets, the lines were equipped with Alstom’s APS ground power supply. The platforms were generally installed on protected or segregated sites and a system to absorb vibrations was installed next to the construction sites.

Management of the project was awarded to a consortium led by SYSTRA in 1997. SYSTRA’s role in the consortium was to manage the OPC unit, work, coordination of studies and work on the systems, ticketing, supervision of the development of the APS system, rolling stock, track and signalling.

Since 2002, again as part of a consortium, SYSTRA has been in charge of project management of the second phase of the network. SYSTRA is now the project manager of phase 3, which covers the extension of the three existing lines, expanding the network to 58.8 km and 124 stations.

Key Dates

• 1995 : study of travel in the city
• 1998 : approval for the route
• 2000 : start of work
• 2003 : commissioning of phase 1 (three lines)
• 2008 : commissioning of phase 2
• 2010 : construction work begins
• 2013 : commissioning of phase 3

Key Figures

• length of network : 24.7 km (2003) / 43.3 km (2008) / 58.8 km (2013)
• number of stations : 53 (2003) / 89 (2008) / 124 (2013)
• number of trams : 44 (2003) / 70 (2008) / 90 (2013)
• volume of traffic : 160,000 passengers a day (2003) / 288,000 (2008) / 430,000 (2013)

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