trams of Nantes

A preserved compressed air tram

Electric Motrice or motor wagon 144 was built by the Société Franco-Belge in 1914 at La Croyère in Belgium. One notes the arch shaped overhead current collector.  This wagon was likewise restored, in 1987 by Semitan. Here it passes the Château des Ducs de Bretagne.

The first tramway in the French city of Nantes opened in 1879 and closed in 1958 like many tramway systems around the world in the post-WW2 period. 

The first tramway was notable for its pioneering use of compressed air propulsion. In 1911 the intention to electrify the network was announced by the mayor, Paul Bellamy, but work did not start until just before the outbreak of WW1. In 1915, 8 lines were in service, but work was not completed until the end of 1919. The company standardised its fleet of 100 tramcars, all on Brill trucks with vestibuled platforms. Further extensions were opened, and by 1932 there were 20 lines serving 14 routes. Like the present system, the network was centred on the Place du Commerce.

Trams were re-introduced to the city in 1985, the first 'new generation' tramway to be built in Europe and the first in a wave of new tramways built in France and elsewhere in Europe. The current tramway system has over 40 km of track, and 90 stations, operated by Semitan, which is the operator of the Nantes public transport network.