On 18 October 2025, the city of Montpellier officially inaugurated the 1.3 km extension of tram line 1. The new section runs from the previous terminus Odysseum to the Gare Montpellier Sud de France, creating for the first time a direct tram connection between the two railway stations — Saint-Roch in the city centre and Sud de France, the TGV station on the city’s eastern outskirts.
Thousands of residents joined the celebration together with Mayor Michaël Delafosse, Regional President Carole Delga, and representatives of the French state. Music, dance performances, street art and wine tastings turned the Place Françoise Héritier in front of the new terminus into a festive meeting place for the city.
Context and strategic importance
The Montpellier Méditerranée metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing regions in France, with a population growth rate of around 1.8% per year. This brings with it massive traffic problems: around 140,000 cars travel through the city every day, causing around 80% of particulate emissions and 57% of greenhouse gases.
The extension of Line 1 was therefore conceived as a key measure within the urban mobility plan. It connects the tram network directly to the national rail network and facilitates transfers between local and long-distance transport. At the same time, it improves accessibility to the new ZAC Cambacérès urban development area around the TGV station.
Late connection for the TGV station
The Montpellier Sud de France station was inaugurated already in 2018, but without any tram connection — a situation that drew heavy criticism from the start. Until now, travellers had to rely on bus services or private cars to reach the city centre. The new extension now closes this mobility gap: passengers will need only around 20 minutes from the TGV station to the city centre.
The new terminus is located in the emerging Cambacérès development district, which is expected to accommodate 14,000 jobs and 7,000 students in the coming years. The area will include the new Campus Nexus, the Halle de l’Innovation, and the Montpellier Business School campus, all framed by the 20-hectare Parc métropolitain Guilhem VIII, where around 2,000 trees are being planted.
Technical features and financing
The project includes 1.3 kilometres of double-track alignment, the new Gare Sud de France terminal stop, and new cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. The centrepiece is a 34-metre-wide and 36-metre-long bridge over the A709 motorway, built by ASF/VINCI Autoroutes. It replaces the former Vauguières Bridge and combines two tram tracks, general traffic lanes, bus lanes, as well as cycle and pedestrian paths.
The double-track line runs along a 3.5-metre-wide green central reservation and has been combined with cycle paths and wide pavements. Particular attention was paid to urban integration: the project is not only intended to improve traffic flow, but also to serve as a catalyst for the emerging business and residential district.
The total project cost amounts to around €50 million, financed by the Montpellier Métropole, the Occitanie Region, and the French State (with a €3.9 million contribution). During construction, more than 13,000 hours of socially inclusive employment were recorded.
Development of the tram network since 2000
The opening of the first tram line in July 2000 marked the beginning of Montpellier’s modern tramway era. After decades without rail-based public transport, Line 1, designed by Garouste & Bonetti, quickly became an emblem of the city. Running across the entire metropolitan area, it has carried over 600 million passengers since opening — more than any other single tram line in France outside the Île-de-France region.
The success of Line 1 led to a rapid expansion of the network:
- Line 2 (red/orange, “Earth”) opened in 2006,
- Line 3 (colourful, “Sea”) inaugurated in 2012,
- Line 4 (the circular “Sun” line) was completed in 2016.
Currently, Line 5 is under construction and scheduled to open in December 2025, connecting new western districts. Today, Montpellier’s tram network comprises four lines, a total length of approximately 65 kilometres, and carries more than 40 million passengers annually.
Passenger numbers (per day) for the four lines in detail:
- Line 1: 126,800
- Line 2: 44,700
- Line 3: 69,100
- Line 4: 27,800
The system is operated by TaM (Transports de l’Agglomération de Montpellier), which in 2020 also introduced free public transport for residents of the metropolitan area — a unique model in France.
A symbol of sustainable urban development
At the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Michaël Delafosse emphasised:
“This extension is much more than an infrastructure project – it embodies our ambition to build a fair, climate-friendly and well-connected city.”
Regional President Carole Delga added that the new section “connects everyday mobility with the development of new neighbourhoods.” The extension not only improves access to the TGV station but also strengthens the economic and urban dynamics of Montpellier’s south-eastern districts.
Conclusion
With the completion of the Line 1 extension, Montpellier has closed a major gap in its public transport system that had existed since the opening of the TGV station in 2018. The project successfully combines mobility, urban development and environmental policy in an exemplary way.
A quarter of a century after the tramway’s revival, the city demonstrates once again that sustainable mobility has become a core element of its urban identity – while also marking a fitting highlight for the tramway’s 25th anniversary year.
This video provides an overview of the route:
