DESCRIPTION
An innovative tram on tyres line opened in Nancy at the end of 2000; this line is electrically supplied in the same way of the existing trolleybus lines in Nancy. The so-called TVR (Transport sur voie reservee) is similar to the homologous system opened in Caen in 2002.
TVR track is aligned with the main transit north-south axis; in its median position it interchanges with the railway station. Due to the adoption of rubber-tyres vehicles it has been possible to reach the technologic district of Brabois (overtaking a vertical gradient of 12-13%).
The adoption of a such innovative transport system involved many initial technical problems, as well as some accidents (2001) and temporary interruptions of the service. After a severe verification phase (mostly concerning the overhead power supply and the line segments designed for the tram/trolley-bus transition) regular operations resumed in 2002, reaching remarkable riderships (currently about 40.000 pax/day).
NOTE: Nancy municipality decided to replace TVR system with a more conventional trolleybus or tram system (expected completion: 2022).