Bordeaux tramway, Tram system in Bordeaux, France
The Bordeaux tramway consists of four lines labeled A, B, C, and D that link 133 stops across 77.5 kilometers (48 miles) in the city and surrounding areas. Each line runs on its own dedicated track, connecting residential neighborhoods, business districts, shopping zones, and the waterfront along the Garonne river.
From 1880 until 1958, the city ran an earlier network that started with horse-drawn cars and later switched to electric power, growing to 38 lines covering 200 kilometers (124 miles). The current system opened in 2003, replacing decades of bus routes with modern trams built for a revitalized urban core.
The modern tramway lines provide access to numerous museums, theaters, and educational institutions, forming connections between central districts and surrounding communities.
Trams run daily starting around five in the morning until after midnight, with exact hours varying by line and day of the week. Frequency is highest along central segments, where trains pass every five to ten minutes during the day and slightly less often toward the outer ends.
In the old center, the trams draw power from a third rail embedded in the pavement instead of overhead wires, keeping the view of historic facades and monuments clear. This ground-level system operates only on select stretches where preserving the architectural character matters most.
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