The choice of bidder will be put to the board of Ile-de-France Mobility for approval at its meeting on July 2.
The selection of Keolis will end Paris Transport Authority’s (RATP) domination of light rail operations in the French capital. With the exception of tram-train lines T4 and T11, RATP has operated all tram lines in Ile-de-France since the opening of Line T1 in 1992.
The contract begins at the end of this year and runs until the end of 2022.
The 10km line will run south from an interchange with metro Line 7 and light rail line T3 at Porte de Choissy, serving six districts including Vitry sur Seine, Choisy-le-Roi, Thais, and Orly. Line T9 will serve 19 stations, including an interchange with the future Grand Paris express metro Line 15 at Hotel de Ville de Vitry.
In addition to the tram line, Keolis will also operate a network of six bus lines serving Ablon, Athis-Mons, Choisy le Roi, Juvisy-sur-Orge, Orly and Thiais. Several of these routes will interchange with Line T9.
Ile-de-France Mobility says this will enable the operator to offer more complete mobility solutions and provide options for alternative transport if operation of Line T9 is disrupted.
