Thursday, January 26, 2012

The tramway in Nice

On November 24th 2007 the 8,7 km long tramway between Pont Michel and Las Planas was opened. Twenty Alstom Citadis trams were put in operation on the opening. The tramway line provides a good connection between Nice Ville railway station and the city centre. The tramway line also serves the terminus of the narrow gauge Chemins de Fer de Provence.The single fare is 1 Euro (2012).

A tram in the curve south of Place Masséna. At this section there are no overhead wires.
The tramway is crossing Place Masséna and Place Garibaldi, and here the authorities did not want to have overhead wires. The trams are fitted with nickel metal hydride batteries, and the pantographs are lowered before the trams are passing Place Masséna and Place Garibaldi. On the rest of the line there are overhead wires, and the voltage is 750 VDC. The gauge is 1435 mm (4 ft 8 1/2 inch). Each tram is a 5 car unit with a total length of 35 metres. The depot is situated at the north western terminus at Las Planas.

Two trams meet on Place Garibaldi.
The tramway has been a success. In 2011 the line carried 90 000 passengers each day. There has been decided to build a line No. 2 between Nice Airport and the Port of Nice, and a line No. 3 across the Valley of the Var.There are also made plans about extension of the tramway line to Pasteur.

A tram runs under the railway bridge at Nice Ville station.