Editing Transport in France (section)

===Trams===
{{Main|Trams in France}}
In spite of the closure of most of France's first generation [[tram]] systems in earlier years, a fast-growing number of France's major cities have modern tram or light rail networks, including [[Paris]], [[Lyon]] (Lyon having the biggest one), [[Toulouse]], [[Montpellier]], [[Saint-Étienne]], [[Strasbourg]] and [[Nantes]]. Recently the tram has seen a very big revival with many experiments such as ground level power supply in [[Bordeaux]], or trolleybuses pretending to be trams in [[Nancy, France|Nancy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=French rediscover love for streetcars |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/07/18/French_rediscover_love_for_streetcars/UPI-82771216410359/ |work=UPI |location=Paris  |date=2008-07-18 |access-date=2008-08-13}}</ref>

This way of travelling started disappearing in France at the end of the 1930s. Only [[Lille]], [[Marseille]] and [[Saint-Étienne]] have never given up their tram systems. Since the 1980s, several cities have re-introduced it.
[[File:Gare de Brest 13.jpg|thumb|Brest station.]]
The following French towns and cities run light rail or tram systems:
*[[Angers tramway|Angers]] - since 2011;
*[[Besançon tramway|Besançon]] - since 2014;
*[[Bordeaux tramway|Bordeaux]] - since 2003; 
*[[Brest tramway|Brest]] - since 2012; 
*[[Caen tramway|Caen]] - since 2002 as a 'trams on tyres' system, replaced 2019 by conventional trams;
*[[Clermont-Ferrand tramway|Clermont-Ferrand]] - since 2006, 'trams on tyres'; 
*[[Grenoble tramway|Grenoble]] - since 1987; 
*[[Tramways in Île-de-France|Île-de-France]] (Paris metropolitan area) - since 1992
*[[Lille tramway|Lille]], [[Roubaix]] and [[Tourcoing]] - non-stop since 1909; 
*[[Lyon tramway|Lyon]] - since 2001; 
*[[Le Mans tramway|Le Mans]] - since 2007; 
*[[Marseille tramway|Marseille]] - since 2007;  
*[[Montpellier tramway|Montpellier]] - since 2000; 
*[[Mulhouse tramway|Mulhouse]] - since 2006
*[[Nancy, France|Nancy]] - since 2000, 'trams on tyres' system featuring a single guide rail while running on tyres;  
*[[Nice tramway|Nice]] - since 2007; 
*[[Nantes tramway|Nantes]] - since 1985; 
*[[Orléans tramway|Orléans]] - since 2000;
*[[Reims tramway|Reims]] - since 2011;
*[[Rouen tramway|Rouen]] - since 1994; 
*[[Saint-Étienne tramway|Saint-Étienne]] - non-stop since 1881; 
*[[Strasbourg tramway|Strasbourg]] - since 1994
*[[Toulouse tramway|Toulouse]] - since 2010 (previously existed from 1906 to 1952)
*[[Valenciennes tramway|Valenciennes]] - since 2006
*[[Dijon tramway|Dijon]] - since 2012
*[[Le Havre tramway|Le Havre]] - since 2012

Tram systems are planned or under construction in [[Tours]], and [[Fort-de-France]].[[File:TramStrasbourg lineB Hoenheim versHommeFer.JPG|thumb|left|[[Eurotram]] in [[Strasbourg]]]]
The revival of tram networks in France has brought about a number of technical developments both in the traction systems and in the styling of the cars:

: ''APS third rail'': The [[Alstom APS]] system uses a third rail placed between the running rails, divided electrically into eight-metre segments with three metre neutral sections between. Each tram has two power collection skates, next to which are antennas that send radio signals to energise the power rail segments as the tram passes over them. At any one time no more than two consecutive segments under the tram should actually be live. Alstrom  developed the system primarily to avoid intrusive power supply cables in sensitive area of the old city of [[Bordeaux]].<ref>[http://www.railway-technology.com/features/feature1096/ Allez le Tram from Railway-Technology.com]. Retrieved 15 February 2009.</ref>

:''Modern styling'': The [[Eurotram]], used in Strasbourg has a modern design that makes it look almost as much like a train as a tram, and has large windows along its entire length.<ref>[http://world.nycsubway.org/eu/pt/portometro.html Porto:Metro from NYCsubway.org]. Retrieved 15 February 2009.</ref>

:''Modular design'': The [[Alstom Citadis|Citadis]] tram, flagship of the French manufacturer Alstom, enjoys an innovative design combining lighter bogies with a modular concept for carriages providing more choices in the types of windows and the number of cars and doors.<ref>[http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr16/pdf/f20_dobias.pdf Georges Dobias: Urban Transport in France from Japan Railway & Transport Review, 16 June 1998]. Retrieved 15 February 2009.</ref> The recent Citadis-Dualis, intended to run at up to 100 km/h, is suitable for stop spacings ranging from 500 m to 5 km. Dualis is a strictly modular partial low-floor car, with all doors in the low-floor sections.<ref>
[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/07/7583/dualis_extends_the_reach_of_the_citadis_family.html Dualis extends the reach of the Citadis family from Railway Gazette, 2 June 2007]. Retrieved 15 February 2009.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213214426/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/07/7583/dualis_extends_the_reach_of_the_citadis_family.html |date=February 13, 2009 }}</ref>
Prominent bi-articulated "tram-like" Van Hool vehicles (Mettis) are used in [[Metz]] since 2013. They work as classic trams but without needing rails and catenaries, and can transport up to 155 passengers while being ecological thanks to a diesel-electric hybrid engine. 
In the starting up, batteries feed the engine of the bus, which can then roll 150 meters before the diesel engine takes over.