Lille tramways’ renovation

Lille tramways started their commercial service in 1994. At that time, they were the first low floor rolling stock vehicles with a metric gauge in service. Manufactured by Ansaldo, the 30 meters long 24 trains were perceived as visually outdated in comparison with the new refurbished town as well as with some other vehicles recently launched.

Therefore the operator Transpole – Groupe Keolis decided to contact MBD Design to work on the vehicles’ refurbishment. Beyond the trams modernization, the study also took into consideration the users’ new expectations.

The exterior design presents a livery inspired by the current bus network graphics. The choice of the « liana », flowing and soft, makes a lot to modernize the base’s geometrical volumes, integrating the front end in their enveloping curves.

The interior’s deep renovation integrated a functional evolution and a real comfort improvement. Spaces around the gangways were widened and reorganized following the operator’s feedback and considering the users’ new behaviors. The interiors have been modernized with the choice of new colored and bright seats. The handling bars and grab poles have been partly renovated to generate a fresh and spacious visual impact. The new trams are also equipped with some last generation screens.

More luminous and more silent, the vehicles are also more spacious, offering a 15% capacity increase. Some PMR dedicated spaces have also been added.

The first tram set was presented to the public on August 27th.

The additional 23 trams will progressively entered service at a speed of one tram every two months until end of 2015.