Transport Database and Photogallery

15 june 2009 - Lille (FR) – Les Pres. The Lille VAL is fantastic – before I went there, I imagined a little ‘toy’ railway, but it really is amazing. Sure, the rubber-tyred trains are small (just 2m wide and 13m long), but they run very fast and the system covers a distance of 45km and has 60 stations, all with full disabled access and platform doors. Two cars make a train, although stations are long enough for four-car trains in the future. Most of the system is below ground, but here at Les Pres it can be seen to best advantage. VAL operation is entirely automatic and trains run every couple of minutes. Great!

Comments

JP (2009-06-18 17:25:52)
Do you know if local people like it?
JacekM (2009-06-18 18:27:13)
Why shouldn't they like it? They use it as fast and easy-accessible means of transport.
dvigar (194.203.103.*) (2009-06-18 18:27:53)
It seems like they do - also, its very nice to sit in the front window and watch the track ahead.
straphan (2009-06-19 00:00:11)
Like I told you, Dave, it IS a toy railway. You could fit the people that travel in this piece of... ekhm... wonderful modern rail technology in a single Konstal 105Na, and they would travel more comfortably...
JP (2009-06-19 14:10:09)
So does it play important role in Lille's transportation system?
straphan (2009-06-19 15:01:51)
It does, because the routes (especially the red line) are very long and connect outlying towns like Tourcoing and Roubaix (remember, this was a mining area so housing is dispersed!). But I still think it's an expensive toy - Rhein-Ruhr's 'evolution, not revolution' approach to tramways is more sensible IMHO.

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Siemens VAL 208 #P40

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