--- title: Light Rail url: "https://www.systra.com/en/markets/light-rail/" type: markets date_published: 2023-11-27 date_modified: 2026-07-13 schema: @type: WebPage language: en-US word_count: 988 reading_time: 5 min canonical: "https://www.systra.com/en/markets/light-rail/" featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tramway-header-1.png" type-market: - Urban mobilities --- # Light Rail ![Light Rail](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tramway-header-1.png) ## An asset for moving around cities and regions **Trams are one of the only modes of transport that can square the modern circle faced by decision-makers and public authorities in every conurbation: offering a fast, high-capacity, safe, wide-ranging travel service that is protected from road traffic, as carbon-neutral as possible and with limited deployment costs.** For almost 50 years, SYSTRA has been a major player in the revival of tramways, and has designed over 700km of new networks on every continent. In France, we have contributed to almost **90% of the networks in service**, and have worked with industrial partners to develop customised solutions such as ground-level power supply so as not to alter the historic landscape, controlled irrigation to limit water consumption by grassed areas, platform doors and automatic train protection and control systems for maximum safety. ![](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/page-52-bordeaux-1024x691.jpg) ### numerous avantages Buses can run on exclusive rights-of-way, but only trams can carry up to 250 people per tram, without a break in load from morning to evening, and carry 10,000 passengers every hour in each direction. Metros offer more capacity, but trams are **five times cheaper** to build per kilometre, and their construction gives local authorities the opportunity to make a** strong architectural choice** in the treatment of roads and public spaces, with a complete redevelopment of traffic routes from one end to the other. In response to the growing use of soft modes of transport, such as bicycles and scooters, the tramway offers greater **accessibility **for people with reduced mobility and disabilities. Last but not least, the tramway offers a **low-carbon option**, which meets a major challenge for our clients, city and regional players, their residents and users. ### environmental expertise at the service of sustainable mobilities SYSTRA covers the entire lifecycle of a mobility project in order to understand its full complexity: we are involved from the planning, consultancy and consultation phases right through to independent certification and maintenance, including studies, contractual support, construction supervision and commissioning, for infrastructure as well as systems (track, energy, etc.), rolling stock and environmental integration. On certain projects, SYSTRA has to provide very specific environmental expertise, linked to the geographical characteristics of the sites where the projects are to be carried out and the need to manage their impact on the environment. ![uk-transport-policy-call-out](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/uk-transport-policy-call-out-1024x645.jpg) ## reusing existing tracks: the advantage of the tram-train The most sustainable infrastructure is that which is reused. By taking advantage of disused or little-used railway lines, the tram-train is a real asset for serving suburban and rural areas. In this way, it can contribute to regional networking on the outskirts of conurbations, as well as running through city centres. Not to mention the fact that re-using the right-of-way also helps to minimise project costs, particularly in terms of land management. ## Our achievements in images - ![Bordeaux Tram network – France](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bandeau_tramway_bordeaux-e1611659205138-474x474.jpg) - [ Bordeaux Tram network – France ](https://www.systra.com/en/project/bordeaux-tramway-network-france/) - ![Dubai Tram – United Arab Emirates](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/header_tram_dubai-474x474.jpg) - [ Dubai Tram – United Arab Emirates ](https://www.systra.com/en/project/dubai-tram-united-arab-emirates/) - ![Casablanca Tram – Morocco](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/casablanca-lrt-474x474.jpg) - [ Casablanca Tram – Morocco ](https://www.systra.com/en/projects/casablanca-tram-morocco/) - ![Bologna Tram network – Italy](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20211006-bologne-tram-474x474.jpg) - [ Bologna Tram network – Italy ](https://www.systra.com/en/projects/bologna-tramway-network-italy/) - ![Lyon LRT Network – France](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/lyon-tram-474x474.jpeg) - [ Lyon LRT Network – France ](https://www.systra.com/en/projects/lyon-tramway-network-france/) - ![Uppsala Tram – Sweden](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/uppsala-sparvagn-white-474x474.jpg) - [ Uppsala Tram – Sweden ](https://www.systra.com/en/projects/the-uppsala-tramway-sweden/) [ See a selection of SYSTRA's projects ](https://www.systra.com/en/our-projects/?market=light-rail) ## Discover our transportation buildings expertise ![uk-mep-project-edited](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/uk-mep-project-edited-1024x640.jpg) _markets Stations Read more sur Stations_ ![LGV Maroc](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/header-maroc-lgv-1024x683.jpg) _markets Transportation technical buildings Read more sur Transportation technical buildings_ ![xiamen-depot-gaoqi-depot-china](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xiamen-depot-gaoqi-depot-china-1024x576.jpg) _markets Transportation depot facilities and operation control centres Read more sur Transportation depot facilities and operation control centres_ ![TRAMS NEW brochure](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/trams-new-brochure-1024x683.png) ### SEE our Light rail transit brochure A mobility solution clean, green and built to last. [download](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/systra-lrt-en-2026-06.pdf) ## Check our other markets [ ![Tall Buildings](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/quay-quarter-tower-amp-tower-australia-1-scaled.jpg) ### Tall Buildings [ ![Freight](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/er-etihad-rail-1-scaled.jpg) ### Freight [ ![Healthcare](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/header_sante_marche.jpg) ### Healthcare [ ![Bridges & Viaducts](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pont-header-panama.png) ### Bridges & Viaducts [ ![Tunnels & underground structures](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/page-62-tunnel-telt-scaled.jpg) ### Tunnels & underground structures [ ![Stations](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/uk-mep-project-edited.jpg) ### Stations [ ![Transportation technical buildings](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/header-maroc-lgv.jpg) ### Transportation technical buildings [ ![Micro mobilities & Cycle](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/anz-man-riding-to-work.png) ### Micro mobilities & Cycle [ ![Operation & Maintenance](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/exploitation-et-maintenance-2-scaled.jpg) ### Operation & Maintenance [ ![Power](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energie-et-alimentation-scaled.jpg) ### Power