The Reims Metropolitan authority has selected the Mobilité Agglomération Rémoise (MARS) consortium, led by Alstom, to build the first line of the metropolitan authority’s tram system.
The contract is worth €1.4 billion and will be financed as a concession over a 30 year period. It covers the construction of the tramline, urban civil works and the operation of the bus and tram networks throughout the concession period. Alstom’s share of the contract is worth €222 million.
The tramway will use Alstom’s wireless ground-level power system to preserve Reims’ historical city centre over a 2km portion of the 11.2km line. The line will serve 22 stations with 18 Alstom Citadis trams.
The vehicles will be delivered between October 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. Service is scheduled to start at the end of 2010. Each tram will measure 32 metres and will carry over 200 passengers.
Poll: Should the UK’s railways be renationalised?
I think that a network inclusive of the vehicles on it would make sense. However it remains to be seen if there is any plan for it to be for the...