In January 1985, the tram of Nantes transported its first passengers, but its construction wasn't very easy.
Announced for 1980, then for 1983, the Nantes tram was finally born in 1985.
Let's go back in time...
In 1958, the 25th of January, the old tram, called “péril jaune” traveled for the last time, the population thought. The residents of Nantes were a little nostalgic, but they thought there was no place for this tram in the modern world.
But in 1977, during his campaign to become mayor, Alain Chénard made transportation a part of his campaign, not a tram, but a « light rail to save time », he said in a meeting.
Alain Chénard started the construction in 1980, but in 1983, Michel Chauty the new mayor of Nantes, wanted to change direction. He said the tram “is a backwards way of preparing for the future” and he stopped the constuction, while he waited for his office to complete a “complementary estimation” that would decide whether a tram was indeed necessary. His office” did decide the tram was important and that Chauty needed to continue the construction, but he never inaugurated the tram... The first line was from Haluchère to Bellevue.
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