Over the coming years, the French city of Limoges is planning a comprehensive reorganisation of its public transport system. At the heart of the project is the expansion of a modern, largely electrically operated bus network combining conventional trolleybuses, battery-electric vehicles and two new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines. With this strategy, the historic trolleybus city aims to further strengthen its role as a pioneer of electric urban transport in France.
Limoges is one of the few cities in France to have operated its trolleybus network continuously since the Second World War. Today’s network comprises five routes with a total length of around 30 kilometres and still forms the backbone of the city’s bus services.
The planned transformation is based on a transport concept developed by Limoges Métropole in 2018. The objective is to create a network focused more strongly on fast, high-frequency trunk corridors with improved interchange opportunities. The future network will follow a hierarchical structure: alongside local bus services, battery-equipped trolleybuses and so-called BHNS routes (“Bus à Haut Niveau de Service” – high-level bus service) will form the high-capacity core network. These main routes are intended to operate seven days a week with frequent intervals.
BHNS Battery Bus Routes
The centrepiece of the project is the BHNS programme operating under the name “Moovéo”. By 2030, two high-quality rapid bus routes are to be introduced.
Route A will connect Beaubreuil with the University Hospital and serve 28 stops along approximately 13.6 kilometres. Route B will run between Val de l’Aurence and Panazol and will be just under 10 kilometres long. The scheme includes dedicated bus lanes, modern stops and traffic signal priority at junctions in order to significantly reduce journey times. The two lines will intersect at Place d’Aine and at the beginning of Boulevard Gambetta.
Both routes are planned to operate at higher daytime frequencies:
- Route A every 6 to 9 minutes
- Route B every 8 to 10 minutes
According to current planning, 33 buses will be required to operate all services.
The two new BHNS routes A and B will be operated entirely by battery-electric buses. These vehicles will be recharged via rapid charging systems at the termini, with charging facilities planned at both ends of each route. The buses will therefore operate without overhead wiring while still providing locally emission-free transport along the new rapid transit corridors.
Future Trolleybus Routes
According to current plans, the trolleybus network, which has existed since 1943, will be reorganised from today’s five routes into four principal lines. The present routes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 form the basis of the future electric core network.
Currently, trolleybuses operate on the following corridors:
- Route 1: Route de Lyon – Porte de Louyat
- Route 2: Pierre Curie – La Bastide
- Route 4: Montjovis – Pôle Saint-Lazare
- Route 5: Jean Gagnant – Les Courrières / La Cornue
- Route 6: La Bastide 2 – Maréchal Juin
These routes already carry more than half of all passengers on the network.
In future, the main electrified corridors will continue to be served by trolleybuses. The plan foresees increased use of so-called “In-Motion Charging” vehicles, also referred to as “Dynamic Charging”. These vehicles can recharge while running beneath overhead wires and subsequently operate for several kilometres away from the wiring. This will make it possible to serve new route sections without requiring a complete overhead line infrastructure.
At the same time, parts of the existing overhead wiring in the historic city centre and on other sections of the current network — including the Route de Lyon corridor — are to be partially reduced, with the aim of lowering maintenance costs.
The future battery-trolleybus routes based on the dynamic charging concept will be designated T1 to T4:
- T1: Porte de Louyat ↔ La Cornue
- T2: PEM Bastide ↔ University Hospital
- T3: PEM Casseaux ↔ Val de l’Aurence (Mal Juin)
- T4: PEM Beaublanc ↔ PEM St Lazare
The new routes are intended to operate at higher frequencies and with better coordination than the present network. Modern interchange hubs with short transfer times — referred to as PEMs — are also planned.
Another key aspect of the programme is infrastructure modernisation. This includes upgraded depot facilities, while all substations on the existing trolleybus network will also require substantial renewal, as they are approaching the end of their technical service life.
Vehicle Orders
The current electric bus fleet consists of the following three trolleybus types:
- No. 101–127: Irisbus Cristalis ETB12, built 2006–2011
- No. 901–904: Hess/Vossloh Kiepe “Swisstrolley” articulated trolleybuses, built 2013
- No. 911–917: Iveco Škoda Crealis / Škoda articulated trolleybuses, built 2019 and 2022
Iveco has won two tenders for new vehicles for the future combined electric bus network. Through its French subsidiary Heuliez, Iveco Bus will supply between 20 and 45 GX 437 ELEC LINIUM articulated electric buses.
The associated charging infrastructure will be provided, installed and maintained by Dalkia Electrotechnics, including the electrical infrastructure, chargers and ABB E-mobility charging masts.
The GX 437 ELEC LINIUM articulated buses are equipped with high-capacity batteries and a roof-mounted pantograph for opportunity charging en route, together with two depot charging sockets. The vehicles will accommodate more than 150 passengers, including 34 seated passengers and two spaces for passengers with reduced mobility.
In addition, 13 battery-electric 12-metre GX 337 ELEC buses will be delivered, with an option to increase the order to a total of 40 vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue over a four-year period.
