2023-12-09 18:43:00
This first real Ile-de-France tram-train, put into service this Sunday, will cross the Essonne department, linking Massy to Évry-Courcouronnes in 40 minutes.
A new tram line in Île-de-France. Line T12, linking Massy to Évry-Courcouronnes and crossing the Essonne department, was inaugurated this Saturday, in the presence of the LR president of the Île-de-France region Valérie Pécresse. After several years of delay on the initial schedule and three months of dry running, it will be officially put into service this Sunday morning from 5 a.m.
«It’s more than 20km of tram-train for Essonniens to connect the two banks of the department. It is reliable, modern transport and it is proof that the transport revolution continues throughout Île-de-France.», welcomed Valérie Pécresse on X (ex-Twitter), while sharing photos of the inauguration, held in the rain.
The great novelty of this line is in fact that it is not a traditional tramway, but a tram-train. A first in Île-de-France. Concretely, a tram-train can run on classic tram tracks, in an urban environment, as well as on tracks of the national rail network. In the case of the T12, it will take the current RER C route – which it will replace – between the Massy and Petit Vaux stations, reaching a speed of 100 km/h on this section. For some RER C users, the arrival of the T12 is therefore not good news. “These travelers will now have an additional connection, for example to reach Paris, which will extend their travel time. », regrets to the Echoes Marc Pélissier, president of the FNAUT Île-de-France users association.
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Origin-destination pricing
But at the same time, this new tram line should make travel easier for many residents of Essonne. This will connect the two main economic centers of the department, Massy and Évry-Courcouronnes, in 40 minutes, serving 16 stations and 12 municipalities, seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. During peak hours, a tram will run every 15 minutes during the first months of operation, before moving to a tram every 10 minutes in spring 2024. Ultimately, 40,000 daily users are expected on board.
Please note that users may have a little surprise when purchasing their ticket. Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) has chosen so-called “suburban” pricing for T12. “It takes into account the origin and destination of the user and varies with the distance traveled, in a manner comparable to the use of an RER in Île-de-France.», Explains the organizing authority for Ile-de-France transport. For a Massy-Evry journey, count on 4.85 euros for a single ticket – compared to 2.10 euros for the classic t+ ticket. “Not sure that this encourages occasional use…», deplores the FNAUT Île-de-France. The T12 also remains accessible to all holders of a Navigo or Imagine R pass.
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