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NET - Nottingham Express Transit

By Stephen Dee

 

 Orléans, France

Tram 46 heads towards the statue of Jean d'Arc in the centre of Orléans.

©Stephen Dee

20th May 2003 (ID P5200278)

General information

Interior Views of the trams

Tram stops

Ticket machines and information

Infrastructure - track

Infrastructure - tram Signals

Infrastructure - Overhead

Links to Information on the system
     
General Information
The system is Orléans is a modern system which opened on 27th November 2000.  At present the Orléans tram system consists of one line, line A, which is 18 Km long, and runs from Jules Verne through Fleury-les-Aubrais, Orléans, Olivet to de La Source Orléans.  There are a total of 24 tram stops on line A which gives an average distance between stops of about 800 m.  Other lines are planned, although these seem to have been put on ice for the time being.

The system is operated by SEMTAO (Société d’Economie Mixte des Transports en commun de l’Agglomération Orléanaise).  For a system map see:  the SEMTAO website.  The trams are integrated into the public transport system of Orléans, with plenty of provision made for park and ride sites.

Fares are cheap with all day tickets being very cheap.  Tickets are brought from platform machines and validated for each trip in machines by the tram exits/entrances.

The trams are Alstom Citadis 301 with partial low floor, built in 3 sections with a distinctive gold livery. The middle section caries the pantograph.  There are a total of 22 trams, of which 20 are required in peak service.  The trams have 125mm wheelsets rather then the standard 110mm to allow the trams to run over SNCF tracks on the later planned extension.  The maximum speed is 80 Km/h.  The trams are 30m long, and 2.32m wide.  They weigh 38 tonne.  The overhead line voltage is 750 V.  The trams are maintained by Alstom on behalf of SAMTAO under a 15 year contract.

The trams are designed to carry 178 passengers with 40 seated.  In addition to wheel chair accommodation the trams can carry up to 5 bicycles.

Minimum curve radius is 25m
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Links to Information on the system
SEMATAO - Société d’Economie Mixte des Transports en commun de l’Agglomération Orléanaise, the system operator.
Bernard Chatreau's site pages on the Orléans system with photos sequence taken along the route and construction photos.
Info on line 2  From the Samtao-Transdev not-official site, an enthusiast site with some project history.
Drawing of the Citadis 301 tram  From the Samtao-Transdev not-official site, an enthusiast site.
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