The inhabitants hope to have the right to the tram, as in the city center -

E. Martin / ANP / 20 Minutes

  • The mayor of Nice announced last year the upcoming launch of a project to extend line 1 of the Nice tramway with "stops at Saint-André-de-la Roche, L'Ariane, La Trinité and Drap".

  • She returns today to this announcement by explaining that "studies of the different scenarios will make it possible to determine whether it will be a tram line or a BRT".

  • In the Ariane district, we have long hoped for the first option.

“It would change everything, especially going to work in the morning.

This Tuesday at Ariane, in the east of Nice, Vagner, 25, was not the only one to hope to see the tram land one day.

Last summer, the metropolis announced the extension of line 1 for entry into service in 2026. But, in fact, in the Paillon valley, nothing has been stopped, the metropolis is now correcting, in a new about-face .

She indicated that several options are under consideration.

Yet "with this new service, people would more like to come and live here," says Kerroumi Khlifa, 65, who has lived there for three years.

In this sensitive area, classified as a “priority safety zone” since 2012, we are waiting to be “opened up”.

And quick.

“In the tram, we wait 2 to 5 minutes and a train arrives, it changes everyone's life.

By bus, we are stuck in traffic and we are completely dependent on traffic, says the 60-year-old met at the Ariane / General Saramito stop.

I really thought they were going to start doing work but they concentrated on Saint-Laurent-du-Var [line 4 between Nice and Cagnes-sur-Mer has been launched].

Those who decide change their minds all the time.

We can't do anything, we wait and we endure.

"

A BRT, a tram-train, the tram?

So hoped for a very long time, almost twenty years in fact, the rail project to serve the north-east of Nice has seen many twists and turns.

It was first ruled out by Christian Estrosi in 2018 in favor of a High Service Level Bus (BRT).

Then finally, in 2019, a 190 million euro “tram-train” running on the SNCF Nice-Tende line.

Another change of course, last year, just before his re-election as mayor of Nice: Christian Estrosi confided to 20 Minutes that "the extension of line 1 in the Paillon valley" would be launched "perhaps by tram to at the exit of Drap ”, ie six kilometers of new tracks.

A solution estimated between 220 and 270 million euros that he ultimately judged… "less expensive".

Studies were launched in this direction and the metropolis even confirmed a commissioning for 2026. The mayor even explained that "the influence of the tracks of the Nice-Breil line is sufficient to develop in parallel a track strictly dedicated to the tram", specifying that "stops will be put in place at Saint-André-de-la Roche, L'Ariane, La Trinité and Drap".

But since then, nothing.

A letter from the "Collective for the extension of line 1 of the tramway to Ariane and La Trinité", sent in mid-February to obtain news of the file remained unanswered according to former PS candidate for mayor Patrick German.

All the options would in fact still be on the table to open up this area.

"A public transport line on its own site" is well planned

Enough to trigger in recent days an outcry from the metropolitan opposition (all sides combined) but also from the mayor of the neighboring town of La Trinité, who also wishes to be connected by rails.

“I strongly reaffirm my attachment to the tram extension project,” Ladislas Polski wrote on Twitter.

Contacted by

20 Minutes

, the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolis confirms that “the Transport 2040 master plan does provide for a public transport line on its own site [TCSP] as an extension of Line 1 of the tramway”.

But it also recognizes that nothing is decided on its nature: "studies of the different scenarios will make it possible to determine whether it will be a tram line or a BRT".

The choice of a scenario must be decided before the end of the month for a public consultation launch this summer.

The work, in both cases, is already planned.

Between 2024 and 2025.

In the meantime, uncertainty remains for the inhabitants of Ariadne.

“I've lived here for 21 years, almost as long as I hear that there is going to be a tram.

We saw line 2 then line 3 being done.

On our side, we are neglected, slice Najah, 42 years old.

I saw BRTs in Montpellier.

They are sure to be beautiful, but this is not a tram.

"

Nice

Temporary while waiting for the TGV, the new Saint-Augustin station will open in 2022

Nice

These two projects which will (further) strengthen the public transport offer

  • Tram

  • District

  • Transport

  • Public transport

  • Nice