Montpellier, France--With its exterior design of a flight of silver swallows on a sky blue background, as well as rounded "neo-baroque" interior fittings and the kind of discreet lighting one might find in a fancy restaurant, the new tram coming to Montpellier will be making a fun statement to inaugurate transit service in the next millennium.
The 18-kilometer east-west line approved overwhelmingly in a referendum by 77 percent of local voters will be followed by two additional lines, serving both residents and the 60,000 tourists who visit the city on the Mediterranean Sea every summer.
The "swallow tram," which cost the equivalent of $400 million, will enter service in the year 2000, and will be the first of the state-of-the-art modular Citadis series pioneered by GEC Alsthom. The flexible design allows for expansion from 30 meters (98 feet) to 40 meters (131 feet) in length with the addition of a middle section, depending on passenger demand.
Though the city of Montpellier is a thousand years old, in another way it is one of the youngest of French cities, with one out of four inhabitants under the age of 25. Mayor Georges Freche said he wants the vibrant design of the air conditioned line to reflect the vitality and cheerfulness of his youthful, recreation-minded city.
The city of Lyon recently also ordered Citadis light rail cars for its two future tram lines. The Citadis is also on order for operation in Orleans, France, and Dublin, Ireland.
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