Rennes Metro

The Métro Rennes, opened in 2002, is the third automated metro in France with the VAL system.

After in Lille and Toulouse with the VAL system (VAL: Vehicle of automatique Léger, "better automatic train " ) had a positive experience, the construction of a subway system that was decided in Rennes. The first Métro (line a ) in Rennes, built by Siemens Transportation Systems and supported in a north- south line of JF Kennedy to La Poterie, which was opened on 16 March 2002. The whole metro project cost 2.942 billion francs, that is 449 million euros, and is embedded in a restructuring of the ÖPNVs the metropolitan area of Rennes. Several Parc relay ( Park Ride facilities ) were built, linking the metro with private motorized transport.

8 km of the route are in the tunnel, one kilometers located on the surface. The average distance between stations is 611 meters, and all 15 stations are wheelchair accessible. The trains run Monday to Saturday from 5:15 bis 0:45 clock from 7.00 bis 21:00 clock in a 2 -4- minute intervals. On Sundays the subway until 7:30 clock, the clock is also slightly reduced. The 16 two-car trains of type VAL 208, 28 tons and 26 meters long, a maximum of 158 passengers ( 50 seated and 108 standing). Currently driving an average of 110,000 passengers per day with the 9.4 km long Métro, the original plan was only 77,000 passengers daily from. Following the success of the line should be extended to the south of the city limits to the Rive du Blosnes station in the municipality Chantepie.

As of 2013, a second automated line ( line b ) is to be built. This route will lead from northeast to southwest, from Chantepie ( station Cesson- Viasilva ) to Saint -Jacques -de- la-Lande ( station Saint -Jacques- Gaîté ) and thus leave at both ends of the city of Rennes. It will include a total of 15 stations, where they will cross at the stations Sainte- Anne and Gares the line a. Commissioning is scheduled for 2018.