Keolis, which has been operating the Twisto network, has started a new tram service in Caen la Mer, France, replacing the rubber-tired tram system which was retired at the end of 2017.
The new system will have 26 tramsets, each capable of carrying 210 passengers, and will operate over the network which consists of three lines and 36 stations.
They will run on dedicated tracks at 10-minute intervals between 5:45 am and 12:30 am, Monday to Saturday, and between 7:45 am and 12:30 am on Sundays and bank holidays.
Built by manufacturer Alstom, the new tram (Citadis X05) features six double doors and wide areas facilitating passenger movement inside the tram. The low floor tram features two areas reserved for wheelchairs, six seats for people with reduced mobility and noise amplifiers for the hard of hearing. The new tramsets also have USB ports offering additional services to passengers.
A unique substitution operation in France
For the first time, a heavy mode of transport (rubber-tiyred tram system) has been completely replaced by another (tram on tracks). The major challenge for the project was to maintain the service throughout the 19 months of works which were initiated January 1, 2018. In addition to bolstering the existing lines and bringing 42 replacement buses into service, Keolis recruited 120 employees for this transition period.
To ensure that there were enough drivers available to operate the three tram lines, 170 of them received training in using the new rolling stock. In addition, 250 employees were deployed at tram stations and bus interchange hubs were on hand to help passengers get to grips with the new Twisto network during the opening weekend on July 27 and 28.
A restructured network for more effective coverage
A major component in the restructuring of the bus network is the newly-created route number 6 – a circular route around the urban area. Called the Ellipse, it enables passengers to travel between neighborhoods and links up Caen, Hérouville Saint-Clair, Colombelles and Mondeville, Monday to Friday, with services every 15 minutes at peak times and every 20 minutes off peak.
In parallel, denser coverage of the urban community has made journeys easier in Caen’s Beaulieu/Venoix neighborhoods and Ouistreham, Verson/Bretteville-sur-Odon, Ifs/Cormelles-le-Royal/Fleury-sur-Orne and Mondeville. These sectors are now better served thanks to the extension of several bus routes and better connections linking them and the tram routes.
In addition, the Twisto network now has six main bus routes (as opposed to only four previously), which now run for longer (5:45 am to 12:30 am). There are buses every 10 minutes on routes 1 and 2, and every 15 minutes at peak times (every 20 minutes during off-peak times) on routes 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Ellipse).
A network geared towards the energy transition
These new services supplement the fleet of 630 bicycles (including 400 e-bikes) and electric shuttles which run throughout the Caen city center. These two services were rolled out when the new contract started in January 2018 and – together with the tram – are evidence of Caen la Mer and Keolis’ commitment to promoting more sustainable forms of mobility.
Restructuring and modernizing the Twisto network should help reduce individual car usage and encourage people to use public transport for their daily journeys.
