Boa metro trains Lille enter service on Line 1

As reported by RailwayPro, Boa metro trains Lille have entered passenger service on Line 1, marking the latest phase of a long-term programme to modernise the route. Built by Alstom and fitted with rubber tyres, the new trains are now operating on the network.

Boa metro trains Lille on automated Line 1

The 52-metre Alstom Boa metro trains will be introduced progressively throughout the year and will run on automated Line 1 in mixed formation with the 26-metre VAL 208 trains. Their arrival marks a major step in Line 1 modernisation in Lille, with the aim of providing more spacious and accessible services, as well as smoother and better-connected journeys.

As previously covered by Railway Supply, passenger capacity on Line 1 is set to rise sharply with the new rolling stock. Each Boa train can carry 313 passengers, up from 160 previously, allowing the transport of more than twice as many travellers. Of that total, almost 88 passengers can be seated, while 225 spaces are available for standing travellers.

Alstom Boa metro trains and MEL deliveries

Under its contract with Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL), Alstom is due to deliver all 27 Boa metro trains by September 2026. Meanwhile, MEL also placed an additional order for 15 trains last year and, as Alstom notes, those units are scheduled for delivery from 2028.

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Inside, the trains feature an open design that allows views from one end to the other, creating a greater sense of space and making it easier to move through the carriages. In addition, an illuminated ceiling and full-height glazed doors are intended to create a bright, modern metro environment characterised by light and transparency.

Lille metro capacity increase and accessibility features

Accessibility has also been built into the design. Every train includes four clearly identified spaces for wheelchair users and passengers with reduced mobility, marked in blue near the central doors. From the platform, these access points can also be recognised easily through dedicated signage.

Each doorway is fitted with a light indicator showing when doors are opening and closing. Also, LED strips along the train provide information on the next station, the terminus and the time, including English translations. At the same time, digital screens in every carriage display practical information and network updates, while route maps remain available throughout the train, as on the existing fleet.

The introduction of the new trains on automated Line 1 is also expected to optimise passenger service on Line 2, as VAL 208 units transferred from Line 1 will allow frequencies on Line 2 to increase.

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