As work on the Grand Paris Express project progresses by the day, the tramway network in the Île-de-France region is also evolving by the month. In anticipation of the T3b extension to Paris, Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) has announced the imminent inauguration of a new tramway line: the T12. From this Saturday, December 9, 2023, travelers in the Paris region will be able to board this tram-train, which will link Massy-Palaiseau to Evry-Courcouronnes in 39 minutes.
In detail, over a 20.4-km route, the Tram T12 will pass through 13 communes in theEssonne department: Massy, Palaiseau, Champlan, Longjumeau, Chilly-Mazarin, Épinay-sur-Orge, Savigny-sur-Orge, Morsang-sur-Orge, Viry-Châtillon, Grigny, Ris-Orangis, Evry and Courcouronnes.
What's special about the T12? It's a tram-train, meaning it can run on both the national rail network (between Massy and Épinay-sur-Orge) and urban tramways (between Épinay-sur-Orge and Évry-Courcouronnes).
Between Massy and Épinay-sur-Orge, the tram-train will use the existing RER C route, which it will replace on this section. Then, from the town of Épinay-sur-Orge to its terminus at Évry, the T12 will switch to " tramway mode ". This is called the "débranchement", as Île-de-France Mobilités explains.
A total of 16 stations will be served on this new tramway line. " Stations between Evry-Courcouronnes and Epinay-sur-Orge have been newly built, while existing stations along the railroad line have been redeveloped, with the exception of those at Massy-Europe and Champlan, which have been completely redesigned," states Île-de-France Mobilités in a press release. Find out more about the Tram T12 route on the IDFM website.
Although the inauguration of the T12 is scheduled for December 9, local residents can already admire the tram-train trains in daily operation. Since September, the train has been running "à blanc" (without passengers), before entering service on December 9, 2023.
Dates and Opening Time
On December 9, 2023
Official website
www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr