Keolis signs 7-year contract to develop the Lille network
Lille European Metropolis has renewed its confidence in Keolis for the maintenance and operation of the Ilévia transport network. This 7-year contract, worth a total of €2.5 billion, covers the 95 municipalities in the metropolitan area, representing 730,000 journeys a day.
A partner in mobility in Lille
Metros, tramways, buses, transport on demand, services for people with reduced mobility (PRM) and the V'Lille self-service bicycle system... On Friday 18 October 2024, Keolis was awarded the contract to maintain and operate the transport network of the Lille European Metropolis (MEL) for the next seven years. This new management contract for the Ilévia network, which handles 200 million journeys a year, takes effect on 1 April 2025.
253.6 million
journeys per year expected in 2031
€2.5 billion
of cumulative sales over the entire contract
100%
of journeys by the 3 main modes of transport on the network are low-carbon
An enriched and better integrated range of services
Through this renewed partnership, Keolis and the MEL are committed to strengthening and diversifying the mobility offer while developing integration between the different modes of public transport available on the network.
Key projects for the next 7 years
Overview of the main projects under the new contract:
- Metro: Longer trains on line 1, renovation of 60 existing trains, and increased frequencies to offer a smoother travel experience.
- Tramway: 27 new trains, eventually reducing waiting time to 3 minutes 40 seconds instead of 4 minutes today.
- Bus: Launch of a new network with several new routes, including 3 express routes, as well as a diversified fleet.
- Transport on demand: Launch of the Flexity service with 30 routes, including 10 new ones, to improve accessibility throughout the region.
- Self-service bicycles: Creation of 34 new V'Lille stations and introduction of a lighter bicycle model, adapted to urban use and users' needs.
We are making it a point of honour to improve the experience of every passenger, thanks to the digitisation of our services, the increase in our mobility offer and more frequent services.
A better passenger experience
A number of tools to support the customer journey will be gradually rolled out, including:
- MOBilévia: A single application bringing together all the MEL's mobility services, enabling you to plan your journeys, buy your tickets and check the availability of different modes of transport in real time.
- Fabrik’ilévia: A participatory platform that will enable users to be consulted and make recommendations on projects concerning the Ilévia network. It will be associated with the Ilévia LAB'inno innovation laboratory to test new solutions.
- ReKrut’bus: A mobile recruitment agency that will travel the length and breadth of the metropolitan area to attract and recruit new talent, including 50 apprentices a year to reach a total workforce of 2,800.
- New ticketing system and Open Payment1: On 1 July 2027, contactless payment (Open Payment) will be introduced for metros, tramways and buses. From the following year, a new ticketing solution will be rolled out to simplify the passenger experience and facilitate access to transport.
Towards a low-carbon network
Keolis is placing particular emphasis on the ecological transition of the network. Eventually, 100% of travel on the network's main modes will be powered by green electricity or biogas. The fleet of 460 Ilévia network buses already runs on CNG.
By renewing this partnership, Lille European Metropolis (MEL) and Keolis are reaffirming their joint commitment to building safe, diversified, environmentally-friendly mobility that meets the expectations of citizens. They will continue to develop the mobility offer, with the ambitious aim of increasing traffic by 25% to reach 253.6 million journeys per year in 2031.