SWITZERLAND: Commercial services on Lausanne's automatic metro line m2 began on October 27 when the first train left Ouchy station at 05.26 bound for Croisettes. The 6 km route climbs 338 m during the 18 min journey, with gradients of up to 12%. Line m2 took 4½ years to build at a cost of SFr700m. It has a fleet of 15 Alstom two-car rubber-tyred trainsets, and is expected to carry 25 million passengers a year. Alstom also supplied the electrical and mechanical equipment, and is responsible for maintaining the rolling stock for a period of five years.
