Lausanne Métro Line M1

The Lausanne Métro Line M1, is a light rail metro line which links Lausanne-Flon, in the centre of Lausanne, to Renens, to the west of the agglomeration. The line serves an important purpose as it goes through the Lausanne campus, making it a crucial transport method for students accessing their university. In 2013, its ridership was 13.2 million,[5] making it the lesser-used line of the Lausanne Métro at this time.

Lausanne Métro Line M1
Métro Line M1 standing at Renens terminus, adjacent to regional rail station
Overview
OwnerTL[1]
LocaleVaud, Switzerland
Termini
Stations15[2][3]
Service
TypeLight rail metro
SystemLausanne Metro
Operator(s)TL
Daily ridership43,500 (university term-time)[4]
Ridership13.2 million (2013)[2]
History
Opened2 June 1991[3]
Technical
Line length7.8 km (4.8 mi)[2][3]
Number of tracks1 (some double track sections)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC Overhead catenary
Lausanne Line M1

The line opened in 1991, and was branded TSOL until 2000 when it was rebranded to its current name to prepare the system for the second metro line.

Route

The line goes from Lausanne-Flon to Renens. It is 7.8 km (4.8 mi) long.

Stations
Station Altitude (m) Situation
Lausanne-Flon479
Vigie481
Montelly443
Provence430
Malley422
Bourdonnette389
UNIL-Chamberonne388
UNIL-Mouline[5]386
UNIL-Sorge391
EPFL397
Bassenges399
Cerisaie398
Crochy403
Epenex410
Renens404

Fleet
Train at Lausanne-Flon

To run the service, the line was equipped with a set of modern Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), which run using electricity supplied via an overhead live wire and can be run singly or in multiple units,[6] with each formation needing a driver.

There are a total of 18 of these original LRVs on the line, but after 20 years in service they were showing their age, and 2 were regularly out of use. Additionally, the line has been a victim of its own success, with 12.5 million passengers carried in 2012[6] and the line carrying the equivalent to the entire population of Yverdon-les-Bains every day.[7]

In 2011, the Canton of Vaud gave 34 million Swiss Francs to enable the existing LRVs to have a mid-life refurbishment, and to permit the operator to commission MOB to build 5 brand-new LRVs. Previously, it was physically impossible for all trains to operate with a double formation, but the additional vehicles will enable the line to operate a full double-car service on all 10 peak-hour trains.[3] In order to accommodate the new trains, the depot at Ecublens has been enlarged and additional servicing facilities built.[6]

The first of the new LRVs was finished in July 2013 and was taken to the Ecublens depot in three distinct pieces: one half of the car body, the other half body, and the underframes and bogies. The operator was left to complete final assembly,[6] and the new car entered service in December 2013.[3] It is expected that the full fleet will be in service by 2015, permitting a 5-minute interval service of double-length trains.

All trams are high floor, can run high speed. Each tram has two cars, and in peak hours, two trams are often coupled for high capacity. It takes electricity via pantograph.

Features

The line, which is 7.8 km (4.8 mi) long,[2][3] links the centre of Lausanne, the Lausanne campus (UNIL and EPFL) and Renens. The line is generally single track. At most stations a passing loop is provided to allow trains to pass, and a dedicated platform is provided for each direction. Exceptions to this are Bassenges, UNIL-Sorge and Provence stations, where the line is still single track serving one bidirectional platform.

The entire Lausanne Modern tram network is hybrid type. It partly runs underground, partly runs on unreserved segregated track with raised rail with granite stones like mainline railway which is completely separated from other vehicles, and partly on elevated track.

Alignment and Interchanges

The modern tram route is completely on segregated rail track, with both underground and elevated sections. So it offers a smooth and high speed service, due to no disturbances of road traffic.

Interchanges become with Lausanne Metro and Lausanne Light Rail at Lausanne-Flon, and with suburban rail at Renens.

See also

Notes and references
  1. The previous owner, TSOL SA, was liquitaded in 2012 and all its assets were transferred to TL https://www.shab.ch/shabforms/servlet/Search?EID=7&DOCID=6752216. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Chiffres clé 2013" [Key figures 2013] (in French). Transports publics de la région lausannoise (TL). 2013. Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  3. "Communiqués de presse - La première nouvelle rame m1 en circulation" [Press Release - The first new train m1 in circulation] (in French). Transports publics de la région lausannoise (TL). 19 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  4. "m2 – plus de 100'000 voyageurs en deux jours" (PDF) (in French). Transports publics de la région lausannoise. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  5. Named "Mouline" until 12 December 2012.
  6. "Communiqués de presse - Transfert de la première nouvelle rame m1" [Press Release - The first new m1 train transferred] (in French). Transports publics de la région lausannoise (TL). 9 July 2013. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  7. "Communiqués de presse - Début de la construction des nouvelles rames m1" [Press Release - Construction starts on new m1 train] (in French). Transports publics de la région lausannoise (TL). 15 November 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
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