Keolis awarded renewal contract for Bordeaux public transport network

Credit: Keolis

Keolis has announced that Bordeaux Métropole has renewed its confidence in the company to operate and maintain its whole public transport network. Lasting eight years, the new contract will begin on 1 January 2023.

The contract features the creation of two new tram connections, using existing infrastructure with new points and intelligent equipment installed at Porte de Bourgogne, to improve traffic flow; development of transport on-demand (ToD) services to be deployed from 2023; river shuttles, with four additional boats to be deployed by 2025; and a fleet of 500 new self-service bicycles, including the set up of around 50 new bike parking points.

Services operated by Keolis will meet the highest standards in terms of sustainable development, including an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The company will also obtain Cap’Handéo certification in recognition of its commitment to accessibility across the network.

The total revenue of the contract is expected to reach €2.2 billion and Keolis will set up the first mission-driven company (entreprise à mission, incorporating social and environmental purposes) in the mobility sector in the city. 

Marie-Ange Debon, Chairwoman and Group CEO: “The Keolis group, with its 3,000 employees working for Bordeaux Métropole, is proud to continue its partnership and support the deployment of a safe, innovative and sustainable mobility service across the Bordeaux area. The appeal of the TBM network and the reputation of the Metropole will be reinforced with the new tram connections, the enhanced multimodal offer and the goal of setting up the first mission-driven company in the transport sector.”

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In order to improve traffic flow on the tram network, Keolis intends to:

• Create two new connections (E and F), which will be introduced using existing
  infrastructure with new points and intelligent equipment installed at Porte de Bourgogne
• Improve service frequency on the central part of the network (which represents 25 per cent of journeys within the urban area) by reducing the interval between trams to two and a half minutes (from three minutes currently).

The company has also signed a strategic partnership with Alstom to extend the lifetime of the tramway and improve the reliability of the ground-level power supply, which was one of the first such systems introduced in the world.

Furthermore, the mobility offer will see a significant improvement to services for the city’s 18 railway stations by increasing the distance covered by the network by 13 per cent across all modes of transport, supporting the Metropolian Council in developing seven express bus lines, improving services to the 18 railway stations (TER and RER Métropolitain).

A new Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) app will also be provided for users, which will incorporate all the city’s mobility solutions, including multimodal route planning, real-time travel information, ticket purchasing, bookings for self-service bikes or ToD or filing complaints.