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Île-de-France tramway lines 3a and 3b (French:Lignes 3a et 3b du tramway d'Île-de-France) are the first modern tramway inParis proper since the 1937 closure of the previous comparable system. They are operated by theRATP (Régie autonome des transports parisiens) and divided into two sections calledT3a andT3b. The line is also known as theTramway des Maréchaux because it follows theBoulevards of the Marshals, a series of boulevards that encircle Paris along the route of the formerThiers Wall (built from 1841 to 1844). The boulevards are, with three exceptions, named forNapoleon'sFirst Empiremarshals (maréchaux); they were transformed by redevelopment works carried out during the two-and-a-half-year construction of the line, which opened on 16 December 2006 under the designationT3.
The line initially ran in its own section of these boulevards' roadway between the15th and13th arrondissements, allowing it to connect thePont du Garigliano andPorte d'Ivry in an average of 26 minutes. It carried 25 million passengers in its first year of operation, averaging 100,000 on weekdays and 70,000 on weekends; numbers have steadily increased ever since. In 2009, further work began to extend the line to the northeast, with the extension fully opening on 15 December 2012. Two separate lines were constructed to ensure the service's reliability: the existing line was extended toPorte de Vincennes and renamed T3a; a second line (T3b) initially connectedPorte de Vincennes toPorte de la Chapelle. An extension of the latter to Porte d'Asnières near the border withLevallois-Perret opened on 24 November 2018.[1]
The lines have been operated by theRATP Group since opening, under the authority ofÎle-de-France Mobilités. Future operation of lines will become subject to a competitive bidding process in November 2029.[2]
| Île-de-France tramway Line T3a | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Île-de-France tramway Line T3a nearPorte de Versailles station | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Île-de-France Mobilités | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 25 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Tram | ||
| System | Tramways in Île-de-France | ||
| Operator(s) | RATP Group | ||
| Rolling stock | 63Alstom Citadis 402 (shared with T3b) | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 16 December 2006 (2006-12-16) | ||
| Last extension | 15 December 2012 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 12.4 km (7.7 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge | ||
| |||
T3a connectsPont du Garigliano–Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou station in the western part of the15th arrondissement withPorte de Vincennes station in the12th arrondissement. The line carries 112,000 people per day.[3]
The first section, between Pont du Garigliano and Porte d'Ivry, opened as T3 on 16 December 2006. Work began in early 2009 on a 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) extension fromPorte d'Ivry toPorte de la Chapelle, viaPorte de Charenton. The extension project was then split into a smaller extension to Porte de Vincennes and a separate tramway line for the remainder of the route, which became T3a. The opening of the extension and renaming to T3a occurred on 15 December 2012.
| Île-de-France tramway Line T3b | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Île-de-France tramway Line T3b crosses thecanal de l'Ourcq | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Île-de-France Mobilités | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 33 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Tram | ||
| System | Tramways in Île-de-France | ||
| Operator(s) | RATP Group | ||
| Rolling stock | 63Alstom Citadis 402 (shared with T3a) | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 15 December 2012 (2012-12-15) | ||
| Last extension | 5 April 2024 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 17.5 km (10.9 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge | ||
| |||
T3b initially connectedPorte de Vincennes withPorte de la Chapelle in the18th arrondissement. It opened concurrently with the extension of T3a to Porte de Vincennes on 15 December 2012. The line was extended to Porte d'Asnières—Marguerite Long in the17th arrondissement on 24 November 2018.[1]
A further extension with seven stops towardsPorte Dauphine in the16th arrondissement just east of theBois de Boulogne started service on 5 April 2024. It connects withMétro Line 3 atPorte de Champerret,Métro Line 1,RER A andRER E atPorte Maillot, andMétro Line 2 at its new terminus.[4]
The Little Ring Line (Ligne de la Petite Ceinture) was constructed in order to link the major rail supply routes within the Thiers Fortifications that surrounded Paris. The line was opened in sections between 1852 and 1869, reaching a total length of 32 km (20 mi) and encircling Paris within theboulevards des Maréchaux.
Initially, the line was for the exclusive use of freight traffic, before subsequently opening to passenger traffic. The Ligne d'Auteuil, in contrast, opened to passengers only immediately in 1854, and only opened to freight in 1867. The railway saw a rapid growth in passenger numbers towards the end of the 19th century, especially during the Universal Expositions. However, the inappropriateness of the equipment, consisting of steam locomotives that made the cars hot and uncomfortable, made the line less and less attractive, and it was unable to resist competition from the Métro.
After 1900, passenger numbers saw a constant and relentless fall until, in April 1934, despite several failed attempts to improve the situation, the line permanently closed to passengers, except the Ligne d'Auteuil, which remained open until January 1985. Some months later, in July 1934, the PC Bus Line was created, and was an immediate success.
Freight traffic also disappeared at the start of the 1990s, and most of the line has since been abandoned and split by modern development. The section of the Ligne d'Auteuil between Pereire-Levallois and Avenue Henri-Martin, however, was integrated withRER C of the commuter rail network (Réseau Express Régional).
The design selected for Line 3 was theAlstom Citadis 402.
The trams were ordered in December 2003 and manufactured in factories atLe Creusot (bogies),Tarbes (electrical and electronic traction),Villeurbanne (electronics),Ornans (motors), with final assembly performed atAytré, nearLa Rochelle.
Theirdesign aesthetic was the subject of extensive research by severaldesigners: Régine Charvet-Pello (and designers of his companyRCP Design Global) for the general concept, the colorist for Vonnik Hertig upholstery and indoor environment, Emmanuel Fedon and Luc Maillet for the exterior. Thelivery of the trams is personalised, combining the RATP's traditional jade green with various visual symbols of the city.[5]