The public transport authority for Lille has contracted Siemens Mobility for 57 automated metro trains to replace the aging fleet of VAL 206 for €445.7m (VAT-exclusive) by 2028 to upgrade Line 2.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Lille Buys Siemens Driverless Metro Trains Worth €445 Million
Photo: wikipedia

Siemens Mobility Driverless Metro Trains Will Replace the VAL 206 Fleet

The Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL) awarded a 445.657 million euros contract to Siemens Mobility for 57 automated VAL 208 NG3 trains. The trains will be driverless and will run on Line 2. They will replace 30 VAL 206 trains, which have been operating on Line 2 since 1983 and 1986.

Don’t miss…LA Metro Ridership Surges with A Line Expansion and Events

Plans for deliveries are envisaged for late 2028, after system testing and infrastructure adjustments. According to MEL, this will improve passenger capacity for Line 2 by 30%.

The VAL 208 NG3 is built with ongoing Lille’s innovative rubber-tyred automation, which was originally developed in 1983. This-enhanced design ensures efficient energy usage and maintenance while easily interfacing with current infrastructure.

Driverless Metro Trains Enhance Lille’s Transport System Upgrade

At the same time, MEL is teaming up with Alstom, which is supplying trains on Line 1. At the beginning of January 2025, it ordered 15 more Alstom trains on top of the framework agreement signed with Alstom in 2012.

Siemens Mobility is in charge of upgrading Line 2, and Line 1 is managed by Alstom. Thus, Lille can be considered one of the innovative centers for sustainable metropolitan transport in Europe. This is because it is part of a continental move towards automation and reduced emission for metropolitan transport.

Historically, Lille’s role is significant, starting with it becoming a global pioneer in 1983 by introducing an automated VAL metro line, thus becoming the world’s first automated metropolitan transport system. Again, Lille will stand out by introducing a new line by Siemens Mobility.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Detroit’s $40M multimodal transportation hub to reshape travel

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit