Bonjour,
for my big vacation this year I chose a "Tour de France". Amongst a lot of cathedrals and other sights, I visited two VAL-Métros and several trams all around the country. The tour started in Lille in northern France
Tram
The tram network consists of two lines (R, T). Both start at a below ground station next to "Lille Flandres" railway station. The lines run to Roubaix (R) and Tourcing (T). Two trams with different paint jobs (old and refurbished) wait at Lille Flandres for their next run.
The underground section covers two stations, then the lines continues above ground
This tram in Tourcing will return to Lille in a few minutes
View from a bridge near stop "Buisson"
Métro
The Métro has two lines too. It is fully automated and uses rubber-tired VAL rolling stock. The platform door shield the tracks until the train arrives. Sight from within a train.
Platform view at stop "Les Pres"
Impression taken in the vicinity of "Les Pres".
As the 2-coach VAL trains cannot cope with the ridership anymore, extension works are in progress to allow usage of longer train. The French version of "Your tax dollars at work"
The VAL trains are pretty narrow.
Always a nice motif: Métro and green. Train on a bridge that spans over the former goods station "St Saveur"
Some more mixed VAL impression taken around the city
The yard at terminal station "Quatre Canton"
The car park next to the station offered a view from above on the trains turning around to head back into town.
Tram Touristique
The the suburb of Marquette an old tram line (AMITRAm) runs alone the Deûle. The depot in Marquette.
A round-trip ticket costs 5€. For the money you get a 2km in old, rattling rolling stock. The guys that run the line told me that the overhead wiring gets stolen from time to time. This year they at to put a lot of effort to get most of the line back into business for the summer tourist season. When I was there, this tram was in service
A tram, a river (its more a canal): Perfect setting.
Misc Stiff
To wrap this up, some mixed impressions form different corners of the city. The "Tour de Lille" of the roof of TGV-/Eurostar-/Thalys-Station "Lille Europe"
A look down unto the platform. The doors leading to the stairs can be locked. This feature is used, when Eurostar trains to London stop here to avoid passengers getting unto the train without being screened.
The walls in Métro stop Europe are a giant artwork
In Lille classic architecture
meets modern architecture
One of my favourites: The hotel at Europe-station at sunset
The cathedral "Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille de Lille" is one of the youngest chathedrals in France. Construction started in the 19. century und and was finished in the 90s of the 20. century (by putting the modern fassade in place)
On the inside classic and modern elements mix
Last but not least: A bit of green (picture taken on the outskirts of the park that surrounds the Citadelle)
That's all about Lille. Looking forward to you feedback.
Salut
Charly
for my big vacation this year I chose a "Tour de France". Amongst a lot of cathedrals and other sights, I visited two VAL-Métros and several trams all around the country. The tour started in Lille in northern France
Tram
The tram network consists of two lines (R, T). Both start at a below ground station next to "Lille Flandres" railway station. The lines run to Roubaix (R) and Tourcing (T). Two trams with different paint jobs (old and refurbished) wait at Lille Flandres for their next run.
The underground section covers two stations, then the lines continues above ground
This tram in Tourcing will return to Lille in a few minutes
View from a bridge near stop "Buisson"
Métro
The Métro has two lines too. It is fully automated and uses rubber-tired VAL rolling stock. The platform door shield the tracks until the train arrives. Sight from within a train.
Platform view at stop "Les Pres"
Impression taken in the vicinity of "Les Pres".
As the 2-coach VAL trains cannot cope with the ridership anymore, extension works are in progress to allow usage of longer train. The French version of "Your tax dollars at work"
The VAL trains are pretty narrow.
Always a nice motif: Métro and green. Train on a bridge that spans over the former goods station "St Saveur"
Some more mixed VAL impression taken around the city
The yard at terminal station "Quatre Canton"
The car park next to the station offered a view from above on the trains turning around to head back into town.
Tram Touristique
The the suburb of Marquette an old tram line (AMITRAm) runs alone the Deûle. The depot in Marquette.
A round-trip ticket costs 5€. For the money you get a 2km in old, rattling rolling stock. The guys that run the line told me that the overhead wiring gets stolen from time to time. This year they at to put a lot of effort to get most of the line back into business for the summer tourist season. When I was there, this tram was in service
A tram, a river (its more a canal): Perfect setting.
Misc Stiff
To wrap this up, some mixed impressions form different corners of the city. The "Tour de Lille" of the roof of TGV-/Eurostar-/Thalys-Station "Lille Europe"
A look down unto the platform. The doors leading to the stairs can be locked. This feature is used, when Eurostar trains to London stop here to avoid passengers getting unto the train without being screened.
The walls in Métro stop Europe are a giant artwork
In Lille classic architecture
meets modern architecture
One of my favourites: The hotel at Europe-station at sunset
The cathedral "Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille de Lille" is one of the youngest chathedrals in France. Construction started in the 19. century und and was finished in the 90s of the 20. century (by putting the modern fassade in place)
On the inside classic and modern elements mix
Last but not least: A bit of green (picture taken on the outskirts of the park that surrounds the Citadelle)
That's all about Lille. Looking forward to you feedback.
Salut
Charly
