Tram systems in Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in south-western France, situated on the River Garonne. Known as La Ville Rose — the Pink City — for its characteristic brick architecture, it combines a historic centre with a major aerospace industry. The city and its surrounding area are closely associated with Airbus and the development of European aviation.
Public transport in the Toulouse metropolitan area operates under the Tisséo brand. The network combines two metro lines, a tram line, the Téléo cable car and an extensive bus network, including the principal Linéo routes. The metro provides the main connections across the city, while the tram serves western Toulouse and the neighbouring communities of Blagnac and Beauzelle.
Toulouse currently has one operating tram line, T1, linking Palais de Justice with the MEETT exhibition and convention centre. Its route serves Arènes, the Zénith events venue, the Cartoucherie district, Purpan hospital and Blagnac before continuing through Beauzelle towards MEETT. Connections with metro line A are available at Arènes and with metro line B at Palais de Justice. Some services terminate at Odyssud–Ritouret, providing a more frequent service over the southern part of the route.
The former T2 service between Palais de Justice and Toulouse–Blagnac Airport ceased operation in June 2023. Its airport branch is being converted into the separate Ligne Aéroport, which will connect with T1 at Blagnac and, subsequently, metro line C. The airport is therefore currently served by buses rather than trams.
Tisséo Voyageurs
Tisséo Voyageurs operates Toulouse’s tram and metro services and the principal urban bus network under the Tisséo brand.
Toulouse’s public transport network began with horse-drawn omnibuses in 1863. Horse-drawn trams running on rails followed in 1887, establishing the foundations of the city’s first tramway network.
Electric operation began on 7 May 1906, initially on three lines. The network expanded and became an important part of everyday travel in Toulouse, reaching its greatest extent during the interwar years. Buses were introduced in 1926 and began replacing tram services during the following decade.
The Second World War temporarily slowed this replacement programme, as fuel shortages increased reliance on electric transport. Tramway closures resumed after the war, and the remaining routes were progressively converted to buses. The last service ran on 7 July 1957, on the route between Ponts-Jumeaux and Saint-Michel, bringing the original tramway era to an end.
Trams returned to Toulouse on 11 December 2010, more than fifty years after the original network closed. The new T1 line connected Arènes with Aéroconstellation, serving western Toulouse, Blagnac and Beauzelle. At Arènes, passengers could interchange with metro line A and local rail services.
On 20 December 2013, the Garonne extension carried T1 beyond Arènes to Palais de Justice. This brought trams across the River Garonne and provided a connection with metro line B, strengthening the tramway’s role within the wider public transport network.
A second service, T2, opened in April 2015, linking Palais de Justice with Toulouse–Blagnac Airport. It shared much of its route with T1 before branching towards the airport through the surrounding employment area.
T1 was extended northwards from Aéroconstellation to the new MEETT exhibition and convention centre on 31 August 2020. This short extension established the line’s present northern terminus.
On 5 June 2023, T2 ceased operation to allow construction of the future Blagnac metro interchange and the conversion of the airport branch into a separate tram service. The former through service from Palais de Justice will not be restored. At the same time, a new intermediate terminus at Odyssud–Ritouret enabled additional T1 services over the busier southern section of the line.
Toulouse currently has 1 tram line, which is listed below.
| Line | Description |
|---|---|
| T1 | Line T1 runs between Palais de Justice and MEETT via Arènes, Purpan and Blagnac. |
Toulouse’s tramway is a conventional steel-wheel system built to standard gauge of 1,435 mm. Trams draw power from overhead wires at 750 V DC.
The operating network consists of T1, running approximately 14.8 km between Palais de Justice and MEETT and serving 25 stops. The route links Toulouse with Blagnac and Beauzelle, with metro connections at Arènes and Palais de Justice.
The former T2 airport branch is excluded from these operating figures while it is being converted into the separate Ligne Aéroport. Its new Blagnac terminus will provide an interchange with T1 and, subsequently, metro line C.
The established fleet comprises 28 Alstom Citadis 302 trams. These articulated, low-floor vehicles are approximately 32 metres long and 2.4 metres wide. Their distinctive appearance was developed jointly by Alstom and Airbus, with the rounded cab design reflecting Toulouse’s association with the aerospace industry.
Nine additional Alstom Citadis trams have been ordered through a joint procurement with Brest and Besançon. Three are allocated to strengthen T1, while six are intended for the new Ligne Aéroport. The airport vehicles have a copper-coloured exterior and dedicated luggage spaces. The new trams are approximately 32 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, with five articulated sections and a revised cab design meeting newer safety requirements.
The tram fleet is based at Garossos, close to Aéroconstellation near the northern end of T1. The depot provides stabling and maintenance facilities and has been expanded to accommodate the additional vehicles for T1 and the airport service.
A new airport tram service is under construction, using the branch previously served by T2. Expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, the Ligne Aéroport will connect Toulouse–Blagnac Airport with a new interchange at Blagnac, situated between the existing Ancely and Servanty Airbus stops on T1.
The airport line will operate separately from T1, with passengers changing at Blagnac to continue towards Toulouse or MEETT. The planned journey between Blagnac and the airport is approximately seven minutes, with trams running every five minutes at peak times. This replaces the former through service from Palais de Justice with a shorter, more frequent airport shuttle.
Blagnac will subsequently become an interchange with the new metro line C, currently scheduled to open in 2028. This will connect the airport tram with a wider corridor linking Colomiers, Toulouse and Labège, including Toulouse’s main railway station at Matabiau. The airport tram will initially connect with T1 while construction of the metro continues.