Paris tramway T12 opens

9 December saw the start of passenger service on another of the Ile de France region’s disparate tram operations. T12 is a tram-train service linking Massy-Palaiseau and Evry-Courcouronnes (20.4km, 16 stops, with a running time of 39 minutes) in the southern suburbs. 

 

The section between Massy-Palaiseau and Épinay-sur-Orge is on the heavy rail alignment (replacing a branch of RER line C between Massy-Palaiseau and Petit Vaux), while Épinay-sur-Orge to Évry is a new tramway. 

 

The whole line is electrified at 1500V dc. The T12 will later continue over the heavy rail alignment from Massy-Palaiseau to Versailles-Chantiers, but the timescale for this is still uncertain. 

 

A full service without passengers has been operated since 11 September using 25 42m Alstom Citadis Dualis low-floor cars able to carry 251 passengers (92 seated). Operator is Transkeo, a joint venture of Keolis and SNCF Voyageurs and the project cost was EUR 525M plus EUR 150M for the rolling stock. 

 

40 000 passengers/day are expected, with a 10-minute service offered.