Frequently Asked Questions

The project

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The general public transportation network

Where is the Tramway's first proposed alignment?

The alignment serves the main existing or planned job and business areas of Brest's conurbation, dense residential areas as well as the sites of major projects to develop amenities that Brest Métropole Océane has undertaken (Urban renewal operations for the Europe -Pontanezen and Recouvrance neighborhoods, an urban project for Saint Martin, and the plateau des Capucins development). 27% of the population of greater BMO and 38% of jobs will enjoy direct service less than 450 meters from the proposed alignment

What are the line's features?

The alignment is 14.3 km long. 27 stations are planned. 20 trains will run without interruption from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the following morning, passing every 5 minutes during rush hour periods.

What will become of the existing bus network?

Some of the buses whose route followed that of the Tramway line will be reorganized and used elsewhere in the network to better serve the entire Brest métropole océane conurbation. New links will be established, frequency of passage will be increased and insofar as possible, the bus schedules will be set with respect to Tramway schedules, a feedering system which will make it possible to use the general public transportation network from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day.

Will the North-South axis be developed?

This runs from the Cavale Blanche hospital to Liberté square in the city center is a bus line with separate right-of-way bus lane: buses run more regularly and provide high-quality service. As of 2009, this axis was extended to serve the SNCF railway station as well, going from Liberté square to 19ème RIC square.

What is intermodality?

Intermodality is a term meaning combining different means of transportation or going from one means to another. For example, this can be using both car and light rail thanks to park and ride parking lots, or both Tramway and bus to go on to another connection. It can also involve going from bicycle to light rail or bus, by leaving your bike in a special rack or locker, etc.

How many park and ride (P+R) locations are planned and how will they operate?

4 P+R parking lots are planned in the urban area. Located at the ends of the line or at strategic points in the conurbation, they are designed to accommodate users' vehicles and enable them to take the Tramway. There is a charge for the parking space in a P+R, but it gives the right to as many public transportation tickets as there are people in the car, so the system offers a strong incentive to carpool. Number of spaces in the P+R parking lots: 200 spaces for Kergaradec, Froutven and Montbarey, 200 spaces for the Strasbourg square location (these may be extended depending on available land and if necessary).

What is Tram-Train?

Tram-Train refers to a light rail system using the existing train tracks from a given point to link the towns on the outskirts of a conurbation. Brest métropole océane has chosen to use rails for its future Tramway to keep the possibility for light rail vehicles to run on the railway track and thus serve the towns in the Northeastern part of the greater Brest area.

The light rail system's performance

Is the Tramway comfortable and quiet?

Light rail is a gentle means of transportation, for quiet and vibration-free travel. The trains are air-conditioned and heated in winter. Traveling by light rail means eliminating all the hassle of finding a place to park. Each train can seat approximately 200 and they are spacious and roomy inside.

Are you sure to arrive on time with the tramway?

The light rail system guarantees reliable travel time, thanks to its private right-of-way which frees it from the constraints of car traffic and the fact that it has absolute right of way at all intersections.
With the Tramway, there is no risk of getting stuck in traffic. It will take approximately 37 minutes to go from one end to the other of the East-west line. It has optimal regularity: a train every 5 minutes at rush hour. The light rail vehicle stops at every station.
The Tramway runs at a commercial speed which is higher than that of buses in urban areas: an average 20 km/h including stops at stations, compared to 11 km/h for the bus.

Is the Tramway accessible to everyone?

The Tramway is designed for People with Restricted Mobility. It opens up possibilities for new users and promotes social integration thanks to its totally accessible streetcars. Think-tanks with special user working groups are underway (accessibility group, cycling group). It is adapted to ensure accessibility to everyone with restricted mobility (the elderly, wheelchair users, the visually impaired, etc.) From access to the stations to getting around inside the light rail cars, all of the specific requirements of people with restricted mobility have been studied and are taken into account, as well as making things much simpler for people traveling with luggage and families with strollers.

Is it easy to get on the light-rail vehicles?

The Tramway cars are all fitted with fully low floors. The floor of the vehicle is level with the platform. This "low-floor"' design is made possible by a very limited distance between the threshold and the plaform. The access doors are especially wide. There are areas reserved for wheelchairs in each train. For the visually-impaired, a public address information system indicates station names and connections to passengers all along the trip.

Are the surroundings of the Tramway safe and secure?

The light rail platform is entirely separate. No other vehicle can drive or park on it. It can only be crossed when the way is clear.
A light signaling system (tramway lights, traffic lights and pedestrian crossing lights) at the approaches to intersections and stations safely manages the co-existence of light rail, cars, pedestrians and two-wheeled vehicles.
The stations have closed circuit video which is directly linked to the Central Control Room (PCC). This system enables personnel to check the track, the traffic and any unusual situation which could disrupt the operation of the network, thus ensuring rapid intervention if needed.
Easily identified spaces are allocated to each means of transportation (tramway, two-wheeled vehicles and automobiles).

What about safety inside the light rail vehicles?

Passengers benefit from a series of safety systems inside the trains: alarms, call buttons and closed-circuit video surveillance in the vehicles which is directly linked to the Central Control Room.A public address system enables the drivers and the regulators from the PCC central control room to issue messages for the passengers.

The Tramway's design

What will Greater Brest's Tramway look like?

Every light rail system in the world has its own, characteristic image. Personalizing a light rail system and making it a perfect match for the city is one of the project's challenges. A contest will be held to select a designer. Once the designer has been chosen, he/she will make proposals to the Brest conurbation's Tramway its own distinctive image and look.
A designer can both trim and entirely transform the rolling stock. He/she can determine the color of the train, the shape of its nose piece, the layout of the driver's cabin as well as all of the inside areas of both vehicles and facilities, like seats, handrails, information displays, etc.

Since May 29, 2008, the look of Brest Métropole Océane's Tramway is known. The Tramway was designed by Eric Rhinn, a rolling stock designer from the Avant Première firm.

Design du Tram

For cyclists

How will bicycles fit into the scheme once the light rail project is complete?

Several bicycle lanes will be created around the platform and in adjacent streets. A think-tank is currently working on how bicycles will find their place in the scheme. The city's topography and roads will have to be taken into account to find the easiest and safest itinerary for users. Setting up bicycle racks or lockers in P+R parking lots will also be examined.

Pedestrianization of the downtown area

Are pedestrian-only areas planned?

1.5 km of pedestrian lanes from the bottom of Siam street to the Saint Martin area will be implemented. The objective is to free up public areas and make them accessible to pedestrians in order to make downtown businesses, shops and services more dynamic.

Construction work

What are the construction phases?

In order to begin construction work, a Declaration of Public Utility must be issued.
Construction work is slated from late 2009 to late 2011.

What are the construction phases?

Work to prepare or divert grids and networks: the utility companies (water, electricity, gas, phone and internet) will have to relocate and renovate their networks situated along and around the light rail line. The networks currently in place date back to the post-WWII reconstruction period and would have had to be renovated anyway, even if the light rail project had not been engaged.

Work on layout and infrastructures: this phase of the work will enable the light rail platform to be built and sidewalks and roads near it to be laid out.

Putting equipment and facilities in place: This is the finishing phase where all the station's street furniture (layout of station platforms with shelters, benches, information boards, ticket distributors). The electrical power supply is in place.

Trials (or tests before commissioning): Before the light rail line is put into service, a series of tests must be run. This involves running it at maximum speed (approximately 70 km/h) to test the brakes in the case of an emergency, checking how the vehicle works in the case of engine failure, testing it on slippery track, checking the track gauge, etc. Everything will be stringently checked and verified by the technical services in charge of safety. The trial phase will also enable the future tram operators (men and women) to be trained.

How is information about the construction work handled?

During construction work, mediator/facilitators will be on site and act as the link between nearby residents, business owners and the SemTram. They'll be in charge of informing people who live and work nearby, explaining what is happening at a given point in time in front of their home or business, distribute newsletters to them, and ensure that the construction site is accessible and clearly identified and that special signage indicates the approaches to the site. Public meetings about the construction are organized in the neighborhoods, at each new phase of the construction work.

Regular press releases will be sent to the local press to keep people as well informed as possible about how the construction work is going.