On the Place de Jaude, Clermontois were able, from this Saturday, December 14, 2024, to unwrap a mysterious package several meters high. Near the Christmas market, under a tarpaulin, the city’s future transport tool was hidden: a tram-bus. Upon its discovery, apart from the debates on aesthetics, all the curious hoped for one thing: its reliability. “The main thing is that it works and that it allows us to always have an active line! », Reacts Claudine, attracted by this presentation with her granddaughter. Further on, Arthur, a student, is more than intrigued by the vehicle: “It’s just a bus, isn’t it? What does that change? »
A question which seemed anticipated by Olivier Bianchi, mayor of Clermont-Ferrand. The councilor first took charge of presenting the timetable for its entry into circulation: “It is the first in a series of 40 vehicles. This new train will run from December 2025 on lines B and C.”
Concerning the interest of such a novelty, the Auvergne elected official had several arguments to put forward. To convince users who are sometimes burned by the tram or bus. “It will essentially be on dedicated lanes, that is to say out of traffic, so there will be a capacity for speed, not in the sense of speed, but in the sense of fluidity. It will go to areas where Clermont residents have always asked why the tram did not go there. » And Olivier Bianchi did not fail to highlight the visual integration of a “skyline” of the Clermont landscape on this vehicle manufactured in Switzerland, when the next ones will come from Portugal.
A name to be changed by competition
Also present for this unveiling, François Rage, president of the SMTC of Clermont-Ferrand, had the task of explaining the tram-bus concept: “It has the services of a tram. So the frequency (a vehicle every 6 to 8 minutes, Editor’s note), the fact that he stops at every stop without being asked. And then it also has the advantages of a bus. First of all, its price, because we are also concerned about public money and today it is half as expensive as a tram. And then he has flexibility, that is to say that if one day there is an obstacle in his path, he can simply turn away, go back into the path of the cars to be able to get around the obstacle. » These new vehicles will also be able to circulate longer than simple buses, with a service until 1 a.m., which will then resume at 5 a.m., every day of the week, on two lines which cross the urban area.
These tram-buses are also electric vehicles which will be able to accommodate a few dozen seated passengers and 140 in total, “with production in the depot and maintenance center which will be located at the intersection of Clermont, Cournon and ‘Aubière,’ specifies François Rage. “There will be photovoltaic panels and shade structures that will produce the volume needed to make it work. » It remains to be seen whether the people of Clermont were convinced by the presentation, which continues on the Place de Jaude until December 30.
Final step and not the least, before commissioning: agree on the name. Because Olivier Bianchi admits, “tram-bus” is not the most catchy: “In Nantes, they call it the busway. I wonder if we shouldn’t launch a competition where we would give residents the choice of choosing a generic name that would allow us to use something other than this tram-bus name. »
