Brest tram line B and BRT line D added to the Bibus network

Brest tram line B and BRT line D entered service in February, expanding the Bibus public transport network with a second tram route and a new bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor designed by Systra France, according to SYSTRA.

The expansion sits under the project title “My network is expanding.” Also, Brest métropole aménagement (BMa) served as the contracting authority, and the work was delivered by the Mobi-Brest consortium led by Systra France, alongside SCE, B3i, LA/BA, Super8, and Ferrand-Sigal.

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Awarded in 2021, the program is aimed at improving public transport for around 215,000 people across the Brest metropolitan area. In addition, it adds roughly 10 kilometers of new lines intended to broaden coverage and strengthen everyday connections.

Brest tram line B and BRT line D: new routes from the station

Tram line B runs from the SNCF train station to the Cavale Blanche University Hospital. It serves Bellevue—described as the city’s most populated neighborhood—and links to two campuses of the University of Western Brittany (UBO). At the same time, in the city center, line B connects with tram line A, which opened in 2012.

BRT line D also starts from the station area and continues to the Lambézellec district, which is undergoing urban regeneration. The route includes redesigned boulevards and important segments on dedicated lanes, supporting high frequency and regular service. Still, the corridor is operated with electric buses.

Together, the two new lines are designed to carry more than 3.5 million passengers annually. They complement line A, which carries more than 12 million passengers per year.

Systra France, Mobi-Brest consortium, and the “My network is expanding” project

Systra France developed the scheme and led the delivery team within the Mobi-Brest consortium. Separately, the overall package combines tram and BRT delivery with broader metropolitan upgrades coordinated by Brest métropole aménagement (BMa), as reported by Railway Pro.

“The Brest network is a relevant example of how a metropolitan area is transforming its mobility and committing to a change in transport use. I would like to thank all the Systra teams who have contributed to this project over the last five years and made it a success,” said Matthieu Pouchard, project manager in the urban division of Systra France.

Bike lanes, multimodal hubs, and major engineering structures

Alongside the new public transport routes, the project included 12 kilometers of bike lanes and the creation of new multimodal hubs across the metropolitan area. For example, authorities estimate these investments will contribute to a sustainable reduction in traffic-related pollution, as the City of Brest notes.

Four major engineering structures were central to the works. Systra’s civil engineering specialists played a key role in the design and construction of the Francis-le-Blé and Touillic-ar-Ran bridges, dedicated to trams, pedestrians, and cyclists. The scope also included widening the Clemenceau and Villeneuve bridges, where the tram platform runs parallel to the road lanes.

By combining electric transport, expanded bicycle infrastructure, and multimodal connections, the latest additions strengthen Brest’s position as a reference case for mobility transformation in a medium-sized European city.

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