A large crowd gathered in Place Masséna on Saturday morning despite the weather. “Rainy wedding, happy wedding,” quipped Jacques Peyrat, the Senator Mayor of Nice. He, like the other politicians, wasn’t the star of this particular morning that many in Nice had been eagerly awaiting for a long time. The flashes flicker as it makes its musical entry into Place Masséna. Journalists follow it, dedicating special broadcasts on the airwaves and on the small screen. This star is none other than the tramway car. It took patience to catch a glimpse of its nose. It paraded through Nice for more than three hours from the tramway maintenance center to the Nice-Nord Terminus. A special spot was reserved for it, like a grand actress who has her suite in the palaces. It is pampered. It will be on display until December 27.
“The Tramway is here, with electric traction, accommodating 220 seats, including 54 seated. It’s progress! You can’t stop progress… There are stingy folks and ‘rachous’ who thought we should still stick to the time of carriages and sailboats. We decided to equip the fifth largest city in France with the asset it once had until 1953, and which we are reclaiming now. It was high time! It’s a great joy for everyone,” Jacques Peyrat delighted from the inaugurating podium before an equally satisfied audience. Louis Nègre, mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer, vice-president of the general council of Alpes-Maritimes, and representative of Christian Estrosi wanted to highlight the ecological aspect of this transport: “It’s a sustainable development project. Nicolas Hulot talks about it. Speeches are all well and good. Actions are better! Here, with the tramway, we have sustainable development. There’s no more pollution. There’s much less noise. It leads to an urban development of the city of Nice that will become exemplary. It’s an example in terms of land planning and sustainable development. It’s also a modern vision of travel. We are entering the 21st century thanks to this tram.”
Just one tram car on display and so many expressions of joy. One can hardly imagine what the celebration will be like when the first tramway cars run across the entire network without being towed, as on this Saturday. The first tests are expected in the summer of 2007 with the service, welcoming passengers, from the start of the school year in 2007.
Calendar:
January 2007: Public consultations for the extension of the Tramway network and the dedicated bus route.
February 2007: Delivery of other tram cars at a rate of four per month.
March 2007:
– First online tests and staff training.
– Nice Fair on the theme of the Tramway.
April 2007: Coverage of the Pairoliére excavation.
June 2007: Last rail weld.
July 2007:
– Opening of the entire line.
– Trial run (tests without passengers) will be conducted during the summer of 2007.
September 2007: Completion of road works.
Start of the school year 2007: Official inauguration and commissioning.
Characteristics:
Length: 33 meters (possible extension to 44 meters).
Width: 2.65 meters.
Empty mass: 41.8 tons.
Energy: electricity, 750 volts direct current. Powered by an overhead contact line, autonomous power supply (without overhead lines) by Nickel Metal Hydride technology batteries for crossing Masséna and Garibaldi Squares.
Tram car configuration: bi-directional vehicle equipped with a cabin at each end. 6 access doors. 5 modules per short tram, allowing for extension by adding 2 modules.
Capacity: 220 places including 54 seated places and 8 foldable seats with two spaces for wheelchairs.
Equipment:
– Seats with armrests, anti-vandal fabric cover, and foldable seats.
– Handrails throughout the vehicle.
– Indirect lighting and spotlights.
– Large windows providing a great view of the outside.
– Audio and visual passenger information systems on board the tram cars.
– Air conditioning.
– Video surveillance.
