RELATED: Amtrak signs contract with Alstom for high-speed trains
Alstom secures French contract to supply 23 tramsets
The trams will run on all three of the new lines, replacing the existing trams in reserved lanes.


Alstom will supply 23 trams to the French agglomeration community of Caen la Mer. The trams will be delivered from the summer of 2018 onwards, with entry into commercial service scheduled for September 2019.
The first order could be extended, via the exercising of options, to include up to nine tramsets by 2021. The trams will run on all three of the new lines, replacing the existing trams in reserved lanes.
Equipped with six double doors on each side, the Citadis X05 of Caen la Mer will be able to transport over 210 passengers. It will be equipped with 100% LED lighting and large glass surfaces, and will offer USB recharging sockets, a first in France. It will be highly energy-efficient, and will offer a high level of reliability, thereby guaranteeing an improved alternative to Caen la Mer’s existing system.
Citadis X05 is the lightest tram of its generation, thus reducing its infrastructural imprint to a maximum. The design, over which discussions have begun today and will be submitted to a vote by inhabitants by the end of the year, will highlight the identity of the region of Normandy.
The Caen la Mer tram could reach full autonomy in terms of power supply, through its specially designed roof, without using infrastructure that affects the urban environment.
Seven of Alstom’s twelve sites in France will be involved in the tram’s production.
More Rail

Trinity Metro Breaks Ground on $270M TEXRail Extension
The 2.1-mile extension will connect Fort Worth’s Medical District and Near Southside to downtown, surrounding communities, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Read More →
Bringing Austin’s First Light Rail System to Life
Austin Transit Partnership CEO Greg Canally discusses the city's nearly 10-mile light rail project, its collaborative approach to project delivery, the importance of community engagement, and the milestones ahead as construction approaches in 2027.
Read More →
Metra Draft Plan Outlines Costs, Service Improvements for Regional Rail
The Systemwide Network Plan identifies infrastructure needs and potential investments to expand all-day, bidirectional rail service across the Chicago region.
Read More →
Amtrak Completes First Street Tunnel Upgrades, Restores Service
The nine-day construction project included replacing aging track infrastructure and modernizing switch systems near Washington Union Station.
Read More →
FRA Announces $2.3B for Passenger, Freight Rail Projects Nationwide
The CRISI Grant Program funding will support rail infrastructure improvements, safety upgrades, and projects aimed at improving freight and passenger rail service across 45 states and Washington, D.C.
Read More →
Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth
The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.
Read More →
FTA Advances $164M Broward County Commuter Rail Project
The proposed 10.5-mile commuter rail extension would connect Fort Lauderdale and Aventura, expanding passenger rail options in South Florida.
Read More →
New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project
Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.
Read More →
LA Metro Breaks Ground on East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project
The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.
Read More →
CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail
Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.
Read More →