Tram systems in Angers
Angers is a city in western France and the administrative centre of the Maine-et-Loire department. It stands on the River Maine, a short distance north of its confluence with the Loire, and forms the centre of the wider Angers Loire Métropole urban area.
The city developed around an important medieval stronghold and is particularly known for the Château d'Angers, which houses the medieval Apocalypse Tapestry. Its historic centre, universities and concentration of administrative, commercial and cultural institutions make Angers the principal urban centre of the former province of Anjou.
Public transport across Angers Loire Métropole is marketed under the Irigo name. The network comprises trams, urban and suburban buses, demand-responsive services and facilities supporting cycling and shared mobility.
Operations are managed by RATP Dev under a renewed public-service contract that began in January 2026. Bus routes connect central Angers with surrounding communities throughout the metropolitan area, while the principal corridors within the city are served by the tramway.
Angers Saint-Laud is the city's principal railway station. It is served by regional and high-speed trains connecting Angers with destinations including Nantes, Le Mans, Tours and Paris. The station is directly connected to the urban tram and bus networks.
Angers has a standard-gauge electric tramway comprising three lines. Line A connects Avrillé-Ardenne with Roseraie, Line B runs between Belle-Beille Campus and Monplaisir, and Line C links Belle-Beille Campus with Roseraie.
All three routes serve central Angers. Lines A and C also serve Angers Saint-Laud railway station, while Lines B and C share the western corridor between Belle-Beille and the city centre. The three services use a combination of infrastructure opened with Line A in 2011 and additional corridors completed for Lines B and C in 2023.
Services are operated by low-floor Alstom Citadis trams carrying Angers' distinctive multicoloured livery. Sections through visually sensitive parts of central Angers and Avrillé use ground-level electrical supply, allowing trams to operate without overhead wires.
Angers' first electric trams entered service in May 1896. The metre-gauge network initially included suburban routes towards Érigné and Trélazé, followed by a group of urban lines centred on Place du Ralliement.
By 1906, the system comprised six urban lines and two suburban routes. The tramway connected the railway stations, central districts and developing suburbs, while the longer routes extended beyond Angers into neighbouring communities.
The original network received relatively little modernisation during its later years. Its small vehicles, short routes and limited service frequencies became increasingly inadequate as Angers expanded and road traffic grew.
Motor buses were introduced experimentally during the 1920s and began replacing tram services during the following decade. The remaining tramway closed in 1949, after which public transport in Angers was provided entirely by buses for more than 60 years.
Proposals to restore trams emerged as Angers sought a higher-capacity alternative to its busiest bus routes. Feasibility work was undertaken during the early 2000s and construction of the first modern line followed later in the decade.
The modern Line A opened on 25 June 2011 between Avrillé-Ardenne and Angers-Roseraie. Its construction included a new crossing of the River Maine on the Pont Confluences and the redevelopment of streets and public spaces along the route.
The line introduced Alstom Citadis trams and ground-level electrical supply through Place du Ralliement and central Avrillé. This avoided installing overhead wires in some of the most visually sensitive parts of the route.
Planning subsequently began for a substantial expansion serving Belle-Beille, the university district, La Doutre, Saint-Serge and Monplaisir. The project combined newly constructed corridors with sections of the original Line A.
Twenty additional Citadis trams were ordered to support the expanded system. New infrastructure included another crossing of the River Maine and connections allowing the network to operate as three interlinked routes.
Lines B and C entered passenger service on 8 July 2023. Line B created a cross-city connection between Belle-Beille and Monplaisir, while Line C linked Belle-Beille with La Roseraie. Line A was reorganised to continue connecting Avrillé with La Roseraie alongside the two new services.