The first five Boa metro trains, equipped with rubber tyres and manufactured by Alstom, have begun passenger service on Line 1 in Lille, as part of a long-term programme to modernise the line.
The 52-metre-long trains will enter service throughout the year, operating in mixed formation on Line 1, combining the BOA trains (52 metres) with the VAL 208 trains (26 metres).
With these new higher-capacity trains, the automated Line 1 takes a major step forward in its modernisation, offering more spacious and accessible services, with smoother and better-connected journeys.
The capacity of the new trains on Lille’s Line 1 will increase from 160 to 313 passengers, allowing the transport of more than twice as many travellers. Specifically, each train can carry 225 standing passengers and provides almost 88 seated places.
Under the contract signed with Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL), Alstom will deliver all 27 Boa metro trains by September 2026. Last year, MEL also placed an additional order for 15 trains, which will be delivered from 2028.
Thanks to their open design, the trains offer a true sense of space, with sightlines extending from one end of the train to the other, creating an impression of higher capacity and freedom of movement within the carriage. The illuminated ceiling and full-height glazed doors contribute to a bright and modern metro, characterised by light and transparency.
To ensure accessibility for all, each train is equipped with four dedicated spaces for wheelchair users and passengers with reduced mobility. These spaces are clearly marked in blue near the central doors of the trains. From the platform, the doors giving access to these areas are also easily identifiable thanks to specific signage.
Each door has a light indicator signalling opening and closing, while LED strips along the train display the next station, line terminus, and time, with English translations, improving travel comfort. The new trains are also fitted with digital screens in each carriage to provide practical information and network updates. As with existing trains, route maps are available in all carriages.
The introduction of the new trains on automated Line 1 will also optimise passenger service on Line 2 by increasing train frequency, as VAL 208 trains are transferred from Line 1 to Line 2.
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