Rivals deliver new trams to French tramways

There was a time when the French-based company Alstom won most of the orders for trams for the country's new systems. However the Spanish company CAF has made significant inroads into this quasi-monopoly in recent years, helped by its decision to establish a tram factory at Bagnères-de-Bigorre in the Hautes -Pyrénées Department (Occitane region) after taking over the former Soulé plant (that has been expanded to employ 250). On 8 July the first of 15 100% low-floor 42.5m aluminium-bodied CAF Urbos trams was delivered to Marseille and is scheduled to enter service on November. The 2.65m wide tram can carry up to 262 passengers (62 seated). The exterior design is based on the existing Bombardier-built cars, meant to reflect the city's maritime heritage, and showing how CAF is willing to adapt its Urbos design to meet customer requirements. CAF has orders from Grenoble, Marseille, Montpellier and Tours. 

 

Meanwhile Alstom remains busy, delivering new trams to Besançon, Paris, and Strasbourg. Now Brest joins the list: the first of the eight new Alstom Citadis is due to be delivered from the assembly plant at La Rochelle in September and enter service on the new line B in mid-February 2026. This is part of a joint order from Besançon, Brest and Toulouse. The 32.5m trains accommodate up to 201 passengers (seating varies by customer).