Since 6th January, travellers in Nice have been adjusting to an overhauled tram network designed to enhance connections between the city centre and its rapidly growing western suburbs. City authorities say the new routes and schedules aim to reduce waiting times, improve accessibility to key areas like the Eco Valley, and better serve the needs of a dynamic and expanding population.
Nice’s tram network is—quite literally—on the move toward a more connected future as city authorities work to keep up with the times and the needs of Nice’s residents. Changes have been made with the anticipated outcome that people will be better served in the long-run, but cancelled stops and modifications to popular routes will potentially mean the opposite for some travellers.
For example, just days ago, the Ligne 2 connected Port Lympia in the east to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport’s Terminal 2 before travelling on to the CADAM administrative centre. That route is now history. Four stops, including Paul Montel, Les Moulins, Digue des Français and CADAM, have been removed from the service, and passengers heading to the CADAM area will now need to switch trams. From the city centre, they can take Ligne 2 or Ligne 3 to Grand Arénas then transfer to the new Ligne B, which now serves CADAM directly.
For those travelling from Saint-Isidore to the city centre, there’s good news: no more transfers. Passengers can now ride Ligne 3 straight through from start to finish, with trains running every seven minutes.
As for the CADAM 628-space park-and-ride facility (formerly Charles-Ehrmann), passengers will no longer have a direct tram to the city centre. They will instead need to take Ligne B then change at Grand Arénas to Ligne 2 or Ligne 3 for their onward journey. Passengers using the park-and-ride facility near Ikea will be able to travel directly to the city centre via Ligne 3.
In comments made to France 3, Gaël Nofri, in charge of parking in the city of Nice and the president of the Lignes d’Azur network, explained the reasoning behind the changes, saying, “We need to connect the western districts of the city to the city centre. This new tramway plan, which is aimed at 20,000 users, will reduce waiting times and make the Eco Valley area more accessible.”
The overhaul is part of a broader effort to align the tram network with the rapid development of neighbourhoods like Saint-Isidore, Méridia and Plaine du Var. According to city officials, the changes were based on attendance studies and consultations with local committees.
Nofri has, however, acknowledged that the changes might inconvenience some, noting that “it will probably be necessary to walk a few kilometres from time to time”, before adding that the changes are worth it for an overall better service.
For a full rundown of the changes, click here.
Read related:
Line 5 tramway development progresses, bringing major changes to Nice’s east side
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Photo source: Lignes d’Azur