Like the tramways, the bustram lines will have their own visual identity. The design of the first vehicles, which will be put into service on May 23, was unveiled this Wednesday. It was entrusted to the Breton poster artist Alain le Quernec.
This is in some ways the start of a countdown. The one that will lead to the commissioning of the first bustram line, on May 23 between Place de l'Europe and Notre-Dame-de-Sablassou in Castelnau-le-Lez. This Thursday, Michaël Delafosse, Julie Frêche and TAM President Renaud Calvat presented the new design of the twelve vehicles that will provide this “high level of service” service with a rotation frequency of 10 minutes along the eight stations.
On the theme of the “values of the Republic”
Like the trams, each of these lines will have its own visual identity. And to wipe the plaster, it is the Breton poster artist Alain le Quernec who was chosen to work on the theme of “values of the Republic”. Hence the blue-white-red livery and the variation in several languages of the words “free, equal, together” on the side of the vehicles.
In Montpellier, the winning designer had made a name for himself with the creation of the municipal poster announcing the festivities of July 14, 2022, using the same themes and tones. “The users will be the illustration of this slogan. The bus is a symbol of their freedom” he explained during the inauguration. “The theme is how we say who we are. And how we respond to the World. France, Montpellier, carry universal values” specified Michaël Delafosse, eager to continue to associate a different artist for each of the future lines of bustram
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This mode of transport is a new tool in the offer proposed by TAM across the entire urban area and is part of the objective of decarbonizing travel with an electric fleet. “The bustram is more competitive than the car with central lanes and priority at traffic lights. Of the 4.5 kilometers, 75% are on a dedicated lane with a dedicated and reserved lane” specifies Julie Frêche. Traffic facilities that will allow TAM to display guaranteed journey times. The construction cost of €2 to €10 million per kilometer is unmatched by that of a tramway estimated at between €20 and €30 million. This first section will then be extended to Castries “in the fall of 2028”. Before that, a second line is being designed to the west between the Gennevaux roundabout and Cournonsec.
“An unprecedented development of the transport offer”
The first bustram line will therefore be open to users on May 23, 2025. It will precede the inauguration of the extension of the Odysseum tram line to the Sud de France station scheduled for October 18, 2025. Before the entry into service of tram line 5 announced for December 20. “This year will be marked by an unprecedented development in France of the transport offer” assures Michaël Delafosse who reiterated his desire to make Montpellier “The most advanced metropolis in France in the fight against global warming, the decarbonization” of its transport.
100% electric buses
With a maximum capacity of 83 people but with three places reserved for people with reduced mobility, the 100% electric bustrams were built by the MAN company, which is making this Montpellier contract a showcase for the latest generation of its vehicles. “It's a clean and revolutionary bus. Collaborative work was carried out with the TAM teams and the liaison committee, access and passenger placement are very fluid. And a lot of work was done to have low bay windows that increase the brightness inside” specifies its director of the bus and coach division, Olivier Foucourt. The twelve buses put into service on this line 1, section 1, will be delivered in March.
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