THIS MONTH sees the opening of two more light rail lines in Strasbourg, doubling the length of the 12·6 km network. Line B will run from Elsau in the southwest to Hoenheim Nord, intersecting with Line A at Homme de Fer. Line C will share tracks from Elsau to République before turning southeast along Avenue Charles de Gaulle to Esplanade.
On Line A between Hautepierre and Illkirch-Graffenstaden, a short-working shuttle known as Line D provides a more frequent service between Rotonde and Etoile. The city’s 2010 expansion plan envisages extending this from Etoile to Pont Vauban. Line C would be extended from Esplanade to Neuhof, and from Elsau to Roethig and Lingolsheim, bringing the network to 35 route-km.
Compagnie des Transports de Strasbourg has formed a joint venture with Transdev and SNCF to develop an integrated regional network. Société d’Intermodalité du Bassin Strasbourgeois is to launch Alsaplus, a multi-modal ticket, and open tram/rail interchanges in June 2001 at Hoenheim-Gare on Line B and Pont Suchard on Line A. SIBS is also to progress plans for dual-system services using light rail and SNCF tracks; an initial route from Strasbourg to Bruche-Piémont is to be completed by 2006.
- Marseille’s municipal administration voted on July 17 to adopt a Fr4·5bn expansion programme, on which construction will start in 2002. Metro Line 1 will be extended east to St Barnabé and la Forragère, and Line 2 to St Loup. Tram line 68 will be extended to link Caillols with Bougainville, and a line from la Blancarde to Place 4 September will add 15 km to the light rail network. All four are to open in 2005-06.
