French Tramway Revolution Volume 2

Much has happened in France since we issued Volume 1. More new systems have opened, and the others have expanded. We start with disc 1 and a comprehensive visit to the new system in Bordeaux opened in 2003, which has adopted a surface contact system of the current collection, for use in the environmentally sensitive city center. We go on to visit the new system in Nice, that has opted for battery power through two elegant squares. The other new system, featured on this disc, is in Valenciennes, which opened in 2006. This disc concludes with a look at Montpellier’s second line, with its distinctive floral livery. Disc 2 starts with Irr of developments in Grenoble, here the tramway has expanded to four routes. Next, we go to Lyon, where route T1 has been extended, and a third route, T3, opened. We continue to Marseille, where its one remaining route has been upgraded to light rail standards. An entirely new second route has also been opened. Developments in Nantes are covered, comprising extensions to the three existing routes. Paris has also moved on, with extensions and new routes, bringing the total to four, all of which are visited. The extension of the surviving meter-gauge line in Saint Etienne, to serve the SNCF station at Chateaucreux, is featured.