Keolis Wins a New Bus Contract in Thionville in France’s Grand EST Region with a Focus on Growing Ridership
On 17 February 2021, the Thionville-Fensch urban public transport authority (SMiTU) awarded Keolis a contract to operate and maintain its Citéline public transport network.
This public service delegation contract will come into effect on 1 April 2021 for a period of almost five years and is forecast to generate a total revenue of nearly €90 million. Keolis will take over the existing network and accompany the SMiTU in launching an electric bus rapid transit (BRT) service in 2026. Keolis aims to grow commercial revenues by 12.6% by 2025.
Keolis Group Executive Director France, Frédéric Baverez, said:We are honoured by the SMiTU’s confidence and are committed to supporting a new phase in the development of mobility in this region.
The Citéline public transport network serves 190,000 inhabitants and 35 municipalities in Thionville, in eastern France, a strategic cross-border hub situated between Metz and Luxembourg.
The network is structured around 70 lines:
- 17 core lines,
- 29 feeder lines,
- 20 on-demand transport lines running all year round from Monday to Saturday,
- 2 lines providing a Sunday service.
To promote the new transport service to passengers, ’Bus info’ points will be set up in the different municipalities making up the urban area.
On 1 April 2021, Keolis will take over operation of the Citéline network on behalf of SMiTU. To ensure a smooth transition, Keolis will retain all 270 network employees, including 200 drivers, under a new management team.
In 2021, Keolis will help improve the quality of the service, particularly through better passenger information provided by a new website and the launch of a special app for on-demand transport and for transport for people with reduced mobility. Before the end of the contract, Keolis will also accompany SMiTU in launching the future fully electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service “Citézen” due in 2026. The service will feature a new depot as well as a new maintenance centre which will house the entire network fleetto be built in Florange by 2025. As a cornerstone of the region’s mobility policy, the project will enhance quality of life for local inhabitants.
Through this new contract, Keolis will increase its operations in the Lorraine sector of the France’s Grand Est Region. In addition to the urban transport system in Thionville, Keolis operates networks in Nancy, Metz and Epinal.
This article was originally published by Keolis Group.
