Keolis Begins Operating Its First Tram Network In The Paris Region

On 10 April 2021, after a three-month trial phase, Keolis welcomed the first passengers on T9, the new tram line linking Paris to Orly in the Ile-de-France region. Owned and managed by IDFM, Keolis was awarded the contract in July 2019 following a competition with other operators.

Addressing the region’s strong demographic and economic growth, the T9 tram offers a practical mobility solution for commuters between Paris and five cities in the Val-de-Marne department (Ivry-sur-Seine, Vitry-sur-Seine, Choisy-le-Roi, Thiais, and Orly). Between 70,000 and 80,000 passengers are expected daily.

The T9 tram improves residents’ quality of life by improving access to business districts and Paris closer together and in doing so offering a compelling alternative to private cars. The T9’s development also enhanced the local environment thanks to the creation of 88,000 m² of green spaces, 1,500 street lights and dedicated pedestrian zones.
Linking Orly to Paris in just 30 minutes, the new line is fully integrated in the existing transport network thanks to interconnections with the metro (including the upcoming Grand Paris Express metro line 15), other tram networks and suburban trains.

The T9 tram is also connected to 15 bus routes and five bus lines in the Seine Grand Orly basin operated by Keolis following an award by IDFM at the same time as the T9 in July 2019. While developing the T9 line, IDFM set out to encourage bike use by installing a continuous 20 km cycle path between Paris and Orly, as well as bike racks at each station and every 150 m along the line.

Thanks to an important partnership with local players in employment and professional integration, Keolis recruited 100 employees to fill operating (drivers or regulators) and maintenance positions. 89 % of these employees live in the region.

To deliver optimal travel conditions for T9 passengers, Keolis is employing its expertise and know-how in various ways:
- a multidisciplinary team of more than 200 employees (operations, regulation, maintenance, safety-environment, control, security, mediation, marketing and sales, quality, IT, human resources, etc.), to ensure the maintenance and continuity of service of a reliable, high-quality mobility offer,
- a control team, working 365 days a year from 4 am to 2 am to ensure smooth tram operations (traffic, rail signalling, route management, power supply system, real-time information in stations and on board trains, ticket sales in stations),
- a Customer Relations Centre, reachable from Monday to Saturday by phone, email or Twitter,
- inclusive stations and trains accessible to all including the visually impaired, deaf or hearing impaired, elderly, people with reduced mobility and passengers with infants
- spacious seats and bright trains, each with 32 USB ports.