THIS AUTUMN has been set as the opening date for T3, which runs for 7·9 km in southern Paris, serving a total of 17 stops along boulevards named after illustrious figures from France's military past. Costing a total of €311·5m, the first phase of the Tramway des Maréchaux project is being funded by national, regional and city governments as well as operator RATP, which is acquiring 21 Alstom Citadis 402 LRVs for the new route.
For most of its length, the new route runs on a reserved alignment down the middle of the roadway, flanked on either side by two lanes for road traffic. Reducing the space for vehicles in this way is expected to see road traffic fall by 25%. The route runs at the side of the road between Porte de Gentilly and Porte de Choisy.
Construction has involved the use of pre-cast concrete panels at the 35 road crossings along the route, installed complete with rails. A typical crossing requires between four and six panels ranging in length from 6m to 8m, each weighing between 20 and 25 tonnes.
Tracklaying began on January 27 2005 and has been undertaken by six teams working simultaneously from different sites along the route. Rail weighing 50 kg/m is being laid in 18m lengths. The overhead line will be carried by a total of 460 masts, most also equipped with public lighting to reduce the amount of street furniture along the route. Street furniture for the project has been designed by the architectural practice of Wilmotte et Associés, including shelters at stops and the OHLE masts which are positioned to align with the trees planted along the route.
Traction current at 750V DC will be supplied by six substations, the first of which was commissioned within the Lucotte rolling stock maintenance depot to enable test running to begin between Balard and Pont du Garigliano on October 12 2005 (RG 11.05 p674). The depot covers a 1·8ha site and is connected to the route by a 200m spur. Equipped with a wheel lathe, it will also house the control centre for the route which will monitor CCTV images and the system giving LRVs priority at road junctions.
More trees, more space
Through an extensive planting programme and the creation of wider, less cluttered pavements, Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delano?€? hopes that the project will transform busy streets into a green space where pedestrians will be more at ease. A total of 1000 trees are to be planted, comprising 600 along the alignment itself and 400 in neighbouring streets. Taller varieties such as plane, maple and chestnut trees are being grown in nurseries to a height of between 6m and 8m before planting, with flowering varieties chosen for the stops grown to a height of between 4m and 5m before planting.
Two-thirds or 36000m2 of the alignment will be grassed over, using the Soltram system which incorporates automatic watering controlled by meteorological data. Turf for the project is being supplied from Bouron-Marlotte south of Fontainebleau. Cycle paths are being provided along the route, with cycle racks provided at stops and other locations.
Improvement works at major road junctions have focused on improving public space and facilities for pedestrians. Most of the five metro stations served by the new light rail route will have been refurbished by the end of this year.
Passengers will be able to interchange with a total of 40 bus, metro and RER routes, and the re-routing of some bus routes to better serve the new light rail route has already begun. With Citadis LRVs each accommodating 304 passengers operating at a frequency of every 4min during the peaks, it is expected that T3 will offer an end-to-end journey time of 24min, some 38% faster than the existing PC1 bus route with twice the capacity. Initial ridership is expected to be in the region of 100000 passengers a day.
Extensions in prospect
T3 is due to be connected to RATP's existing route T2 by 2·3 km of new construction due to open in June 2009, which will extend T2 from Issy-Val de Seine to Porte de Versailles via Porte de Sèvres and Porte d'Issy. Civil works are due to start in January 2007 with the construction of a tunnel under RER Line C. Construction of the light rail route itself is scheduled to take place between August 2007 and January 2009.
The infrastructure cost of this link is €72·5m, of which 37·85% is being provided by the Ile-de-France region, 22·7% by the government, 21% by the Hauts-de-Seine département, 15·15% by RATP and 3·3% by the City of Paris and other local authorities. RATP estimates that the cost of the 10 LRVs required to work the extension will be €16·8m.
Public consultation for two extensions to route T3 closes on May 15. An extension round the eastern side of the city from Porte d'Ivry to Porte de la Chapelle, between 13·5 km and 14·5 km in length depending on route options, has been costed at €547m. This comprises €188m for the 'transport system', €80m for a depot, €159m for street works including pavement widening, €70m for bridges and other structures and €50m for associated works including landscaping, street furniture and paving. An additional €58m would be required to acquire 23 LRVs.
Also out to consultation is a shorter western extension with two intermediate stops from Pont du Garigliano to Porte d'Auteuil. Serving four major sporting venues in southwestern Paris, this now enjoys lower priority since the city was unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The project is costed at €60m, comprising €30m for the tram route itself, €27m for street works and €3m for bridges and structures. A further €10m would be required for rolling stock and €8·5m for associated works.
Project funding, €m
City of Paris 93·70
RATP 85·73
Ile-de-France region 81·32
Central government 50·76
- CAPTION: The first of 21 Citadis 402 cars being built for T3 by Alstom was delivered to Paris on September 8 last year; test running began in October
Photo: Jean-Paul Masse - CAPTION: The first section of T3 to be completed was the western end between Balard and Pont du Garigliano, which is being used for commissioning tests with the Citadis LRVs
Photo: Stephen Parascandalo - CAPTION:In conjunction with the tram project, the city is planting 1 000 trees to convert the busy streets into a green space for pedestrians and cyclists. Two-thirds of the route is being laid with grass tracks
- CAPTION: T3 is expected to be 38% faster than the existing PC1 bus route, with the trams offering twice the capacity
Photos: Stephen Parascandalo
Paris construit un tram vert
Circulant le long des boulevards entre le Pont du Garigliano et la Porte d'Ivry, la troisième ligne de tramway desservant la capitale de la France devrait entraîner une réduction de 25% du trafic routier tandis que la capacité offerte par les services d'autobus existants sera doublée. Un important programme de plantation d'arbres et d'engazonnement le long de la ligne contribuera à créer un corridor vert parmi les artères chargées, là o?€” des aménagements pour les piètons et les cyclistes seront améliorées et du nouveau mobilier urbain installé. La planification de l'extension future vers l'est et l'ouest est maintenant bien engagée
Paris baut grüne Strassenbahn
Mit der Linienführung durch die Boulevards vom Pont du Garigliano zur Porte d'Ivry soll die dritte Strassenbahnstrecke der franz?€?sischen Hauptstadt eine rund 25%ige Reduktion des Strassenverkehrs bei Verdoppelung der Kapazität gegenüber dem heutigen Busangebot bringen. Ein umfangreiches Programm zur Pflanzung von Bäumen und Grünflächen längs der Strecke hat zum Ziel, einen grünen Korridor durch dichtbefahrene Strassen zu schaffen, welcher fussgänger- und fahrradfreundlicher wird. Dabei werden auch neue Strassen-Einrichtungen errichtet. Die Planung für kommende Erweiterungen nach Osten und Westen sind im Gange
Paris construye un tranvía verde
Pasando por los bulevares desde el Pont du Garigliano hasta la Porte d'Ivry, la tercera ruta de tranvía de la capital francesa reducir? , según se espera, un 25% el tr? fico de carretera, doblando la capacidad ofrecida por los servicios de autobús existentes. A través de la plantación extensiva de ? rboles y hierba se crear? un pasillo verde por calles con densidad de tr? fico considerable en las que se mejorar? n las instalaciones para peatones y ciclistas, adem? s de instalarse nuevo mobiliario urbano. También se est? planificando una mayor extensión en un futuro cercano tanto hacia el este como al oeste
