“This tram does not take passengers.” Since Monday, tramline 3 users have seen empty cars streaming pas them. The “TramFret” project launched by the city of Paris, the RATP, the STIF (Syndicat des Transports d’Ile-de-France) and Apur (Paris Urban Planning Workshop), is using certain conventional tramlines for freight transport.

An idea originally proposed by the UMP deputy Yannick Paternotte at the launch of the Club du dernier kilomètre in May 2011, the goal is to decongest the capital of truck traffic. According to the city of Paris cited by Mobilicités, “One million deliveries are made every day in the Ile-de-France, 90% by road.” Two trams will run the 8 km between the stations Pont du Garigliano and Porte d’Ivry empty until December 10th, outside of peak hours. Eventually, they could carry from 60 to 80 tonnes of cargo. The objective is to examine the possibility of using the infrastructure of the tramway to transport goods in an ecological way to shops downtown. Passenger traffic should not be disturbed as freight cars will be inserted between passenger cars. This experiment, if it proves successful, could lead to an extension of the service by 2013 or 2014. Its greatest asset: the density of the Paris tram network, which is expected to reach 100 km in 2020.

Avoiding restocking delays
The only uncertainty: completing deliveries without causing any restocking delays. To avoid this difficulty, connections should be created to warehouses and shopping centers at a cost of several hundred thousand. Casino and Carrefour, which have shops along the tramline, are working with Apur to potentially bring trains directly into their warehouses.

• Article source: Delivery in the city: Paris will test the “TramFret” - in french (Mobilicités - 12/11/2011)
• Download Apur’s study

Photo credit: City of Paris

Translated by Genny Cortinovis

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