Tramway Français Standard

The Tramway Français Standard, or TFS, is a type of tram designed and manufactured by Alstom for use on various tramway systems in France. It is no longer in production, having been superseded by the Alstom Citadis range of tramcars. Two different models were produced, both articulated designs. The first, the TFS-1, was built for the opening of the Nantes tram system in 1985 as single-articulated 6-axle tramcars with a high floor and steep stepped access, all later rebuilt with an added low-floor centre section to become 8-axle double-articulated cars. For the opening of the Grenoble tram system the TFS-2 variant was created, also a 6-axle tramcar but with a different articulation mechanism with a very short central section carried on a four-wheel truck, so that a low floor runs through most of the length; all subsequent users have adopted the TFS-2. The TFS-2 is 29.40 metres long and weighs 44.2 tonnes, with two outer bogies each equipped with a 275 kW electric motor giving high acceleration and a top speed of 70 km/h. TFS or TFS-derived trams are used on all lines of the tramway networks in Nantes, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne, and on Île-de-France tramway Line 1 north of Paris.