Alstom deliver first Grand Avignon tram

14th December 2018

Alstom have now delivered the first Citadis X05 tram for the agglomeration community of Grand Avignon following a three-day journey from La Rochelle, where the design and development of the trams is carried out. Alstom will supply 14 trams in total for the project where they are scheduled to enter service in summer 2019.

The Citadis X05 tram will be able to carry 140 passengers and features four double doors on each side to enable easy loading and unloading of passengers. LED lights are used to provide soft lighting and large glass surfaces cover 40% of the tram. Using standardised components from the Citadis family, residents of the Avignon area will immediately have a proven and reliable tram that is energy efficient and up to 98% recyclable.

Seven of the twelve Alstom sites in France are involved in the design and manufacture of the tram for Grand Avignon: La Rochelle (for the design and assembly of the trams), Ornans (for the engines), Le Creusot (for the bogies), Tarbes (for the traction drives), Valenciennes (for the control system and interior layout), Saint-Ouen (for the design) and Villeurbanne (for the onboard electronic systems).

More than 2,600 Citadis trams have been sold around the world to over 50 cities, including 23 in France. The Citadis X05 variation has already been ordered by Nice (France), Sydney (Australia), Lusail (Qatar) and Caen (France).

Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, President of Alstom in France said:

"Alstom and its teams are proud to present this first tram which addresses the major transport issues of the Agglomeration Community of Grand Avignon. We always take great pleasure in showcasing the knowhow and technologies deployed by Alstom's men and women, for our customers in France and around the world"

Author: Darren Porter
Image: Alstom