Photographs were taken in July 2008 exclusively for www.draemmli.info by © Samuel Maurer.

Nice, historic city with celtic-roman roots in the “département Alpes-Maritimes” offers its residents the new elegant tramway line no 1 from „Las Planas“ to the „Pont Michel“ under wire since november 2007. With respect to the historic surroundings like „Place Masséna“ or „Place Garibaldi“ tram-wire was avoided and accumulators are used in its place. (The same technique was used by the former tramway system 1879-1953).

The articulated six-axels Citadis tramcars with five components are similar to the French standard tramways. After a half year in service, people of Nice have re-discoverded tramriding. The cars with 160 standing and 54 seating-places are usually filled up to the last place. Entering and leaving the trams of Nice could be described as social event: Passengers entering first the tram make it difficult for passengers wanting to step out. Different from riding a bus, where the entrance is at the drivers door and exit at the second door, tram entering and step-out is possible at each door. If the situation would be less confusing with the use of longer trams may be doubted.

A second tram-route is in preparation with track negotiations at the moment. T2 should link the harbour „Vieux port“ with the „Place Masséna“, ride along the famous „Quai des Anglais“ and end at the „Centre administratif“ (see graphic). Where the tram-route is heading in the west is in discussion – logically the terminus at the „Centre administratif“ would make sense. Line opening is planned for 2011. A third tram-route is in planning.

Conclusion: With its T1 the city of Nice started successfully a modern tramway structure. The only spoilers are the short vehicles and the absence of a timetable system.