Ever wondered why Lille’s tramway is affectionately called “Mongy”? It’s a tribute to Alfred Mongy. He was the brilliant engineer behind the interurban lines. These lines form the backbone of what we know today as the Lille tramway.
The Lille tramway isn’t just any tram. It’s a piece of history still running. Imagine trams dating back to 1874. The first tram line was built then. Electrification of the town system began in 1894. The current interurban lines were built in 1909. These are the lines we still use.
Most urban tram lines disappeared after 1950. Mongy stood firm. It remained a vital part of the public transport network. It was the predecessor of Transpole. Even the expansion of the Metro couldn’t threaten its existence.
Picture this. The lines originally ended outside the Opéra de Lille. But in 1994, something changed. They were rerouted into a tunnel. This led to an underground terminus at the Gare de Lille Flandres. Now, you can easily transfer to the Metro.
The entire system got a makeover between 1991 and 1994. They introduced new low-floor trams made by Breda VLC. The system runs on a metre gauge. It’s electrified at 750 volts DC.
Today, Ilévia operates the Lille tramway. Ilévia also manages the Lille Metro. This includes the underground VAL system and numerous bus routes. All these share a single ticketing system. It makes getting around Lille so easy.
Did you know the Lille tramway is one of only three first-generation tramway operations in France? It survived after all other systems closed by 1966. The others are in St Etienne and Marseille. New systems didn’t appear until 1985. That marked the start of a new light rail boom in the country.
In 2023, Lille decided to replace the 1990s trams. They ordered 24 new trams from Alstom. These will provide a modern and comfortable ride.
The “Mongy” connects Lille to Roubaix and Tourcoing. These lines stretch 17.5 km. They include 36 stations. The lines run on reserved tracks. These tracks are within the boulevards for most of their length.
Alfred Mongy wasn’t just an engineer. He was a visionary. His tramway has shaped Lille’s transportation for over a century. So, next time you ride the Mongy, remember its rich history. Think of the man whose name it bears.