(France )ORLEANS-L1

Orleans
Orleans (125 km south of Paris, 250.000 inhabitants in the entire district) is currently the smallest French town with a tramway system. Line A opened in 2000, with the aim to connect each other the low density southern suburbs (developed in the years 60s), La Source tertiary area, the university and the hospital.
The 18 km long track runs north-south mostly in reserved lanes and stops at the most important urban polarity, like "de La Source" hospital, "L'indien" university, Parc Floral, Chateau, "Zenith" exposition park and the city center (in some sections the track shares its lanes with road traffic).
A second line (Line B) is planned, with an east-west alignement serving residential areas in Orleans, Saint-Jean-de-Braye (east of Orleans), Saint Jean de la Ruelle and la Chapelle Saint Mesmin (both located west of Orleans). Line B interchanges with Line A at De Gaulle stop; 6 parking areas are located along the route.
www.semtao.fr (official site)

CHRONOLOGY
20-11-2000	Jules Verne – Hopital de la Source

Country	France
Line	Line A
Inhabitants	City 100.000, District 250.000
Date opening	2000
Future development:	--
Length (km)	17.8
Track sections	in reserved lanes, except for a short section in the city center
Stops	24, average distance m 800
Platforms	heigth 35 cm
Platform doors	--
General characteristics	--
n. of vehicles	22
n. of cars per vehicle	3
Type	steel wheels, bi-directional
Vehicle dimensions (m)	length 29.9, width 2.32
Vehicle capacity (pax)	217 (40 seated)
Frequency	4/
Current/Voltage	750 V DC overhead
Type of guide/gauge	standard gauge rails (1435 mm)
Speed Km/h	Comm. 21
Accel./Decel. (m/sec2)	--
System capacity
Ridership	40.000 pax/day; 11 million pax/year
Total cost	--
Staff	--
System builder	ALSTOM
Model	Citadis 301
NOTE	--