Nice's tram trains to be lengthened

Line 1 is not only been extended but will see its trains grow in size

In 2010, eight new trains measuring 33 metres were added to the fleet, now totaling 28 trams, to deal with the swarms of passengers. This helped increase the frequency between each tram from five minutes to four minutes.

Now, the development of the machines themselves has already begun. The first train to be changed to a length of 44 metres was adapted in Alstom, La Rochelle, and will be put back on the tracks by the end of the year. The other extended trains, which will be lengthened in local workshops in Rouret in Nice, will be reintroduced to the network over a long period of time.

The platforms have already been adapted for this transition, as a tram extension has been planned for the future from the beginning.

Mayor Christian Estrosi told media yesterday (Thursday) that, "the arrival of 15 extended trains measuring 44 metres will increase the carrying capacity by 33 per cent. I have made improving transportation a priority as many have expressed a wish for more ease and comfort when they travel in the city."

Apart from their growth spurt, the insides of the train will not change much apart from the lowering of the door opening buttons to help disabled passengers, screens will display more travel information and more CCTV cameras, according to Yvette Lartigau, director of transportation in the city.

Meanwhile, the line itself will be extended over the coming years, adding 4.3 kilometres of track and nine new stations, from Pont Michel to la Trinité via the Ariane quarter. This is predicted to add 5,000 new passengers to the network per day, seeing the overall number of passengers on the line grow to 105,000 by 2013. The extension will be done in several phases.

Emma Hawcroft