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Ora ïto and Alstom unveil trams for Nice’s expanded public transport system

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Ora ïto is collaborating with Alstrom to create an organic and rational tram for the new generation of Alstom Citadis X05 citywide tramways. The lucid elegant shape is designed to slip through the historical town paving a contemporary ochre trail. Ochre like the pigments of the façades of the sumptuous Place Massena or Villa Matisse, emblematic 17th century jewels from when Nice was still under Sardinian influence. Ora ïto draws from his double Italian culture to update a tramway summarising this Mediterranean city. Traditional whitewashed workmanship has been converted into a hi-tech object with the ‘simplexity’ (complexity and simplicity) valued by the designer, this tenacious decoding of the most complex technology to simplify it for users.

The pure ochre tramway is trimmed with black strips structuring each train with a graphic and signage rhythm. Attention to detail is pushed to the extreme, metallic lacquering reflecting the city in the movement of the tram immediately resonating with the landscape. An object with the qualities of a chameleon that embodies the French designer’s transversal vision for Nice, like an ideal and mobile portrait of the city.

So as to integrate the Nice landscape seamlessly, the ochre tramway will innovatively charge through the ground to avoid prominent overhead contact lines. The tramway is a means of transport that consumes the least energy and is in demand in today’s cities.

This new generation will contribute even further to protecting the environment with 30 percent less energy consumption, recovery of brake energy and a revaluation rate of 98 percent.

Each 44-metre train can accommodate 300 travellers. The latest in the Alstom range, the Citadis X05 tramway benefits from new technology revitalising the travelling experience: more comfort with 40% more windows, LEDs for soft and homogenous light, large individual seats adapted by Ora ïto for the Nice tramway and journey-related information displayed on extra-wide screens.

There is greater accessibility with double doors along the length of the train. Real-time video protection system, escape hatches in the event of an emergency evacuation and highly fireproof materials provide passenger security.

Delivery of the first trams is scheduled for summer 2017. Implementation will take place in 2018 on the 11.3 km (7 miles) long East-West line with 3.2 km (2 miles) of tunnels. The global market for the 19 trains ordered represents 91 million euros.