There is news about the line B extension project from the metro to Toulouse. Pre-project studies for the realization of the Line B connection (CLB) which induces the extension of the line and the connection with the future 3rd metro line were approved by the Tender Commission of Tisséo Communities, met on Monday, December 6.

Two types of studies have been carried out: infrastructure studies parents to the viaduct, underground works, stations and urban developments, but also the studies of systems launched by Siemens mobility. Nevertheless, a few budgetary and temporal unforeseen events appeared.

The revised project schedule

The project was similar to the future Toulouse cable car. While it was announced for 2026, the commissioning is now scheduled for the start of the 2027 school year, with preparatory work that will start by spring 2022. “The project schedule has been updated to take into account the effects of the health crisis and the delays in negotiating the contract with Siemens”, explains Tisséo. Thereby, early 2022 we will start the preparatory work such as the release of companies, deviations from networks. Obtain the procurement procedures for the viaduct and underground works of the project.

Year 2023 will mark the start of civil engineering works of the viaduct and underground works. Two years later, work on the stations and on the Siemens transport system will begin. We will therefore have to wait for the first semester 2027 for the first tests. Finally, it is in the month of September that the commissioning will take place, after two months of white walk. Note that the line B will probably have to be closed during the works, between 2023 and 2024, as well as in the summer of 2026 between Saint-Michel and Ramonville. The third metro line is planned for the end of 2028.

The CBL budget more than expected

Time is not the only constraint of this project, the question of budget was also put back on the table. Indeed, the note of the CBL is lengthened. “Based on these studies, the provisional financial envelope for the CLB operation is increased to 227 million euros instead of 182.5 million euros“, explains Tisseo. To justify this increase of 44.5 million euros, the transport network mentions “a revaluation of market cost system which integrates the new functional perimeter, the taking into account of obsolescence of equipment as well as the current economic conditions “.

In addition, taking into account modifications to pre-project studies of the infrastructure part, but also thediscounting of the land cost should also influence the increase in the budget. Thus, the CLB project benefits from funding from the Haute-Garonne Departmental Council in the amount of 65 million euros, from the State of € 20.5 million, and the Occitanie Region up to 20 million euros.

Extension of line B to Labège

As a reminder, this project must extend the current line B of the Toulouse metro from two stations after Ramonville, which currently serves as a terminus. He will stop at Canal Technology Park and INPT in Labège. Thus, it will allow better service to the major economic centers in the south-east of the Toulouse metropolitan area while offering a network and complementarity of the transport offer with the 3rd metro line.

The main part of the route 2.7 km will be in the air. Only a connection to the Ramonville station will be underground, around 500m of tunnel, in particular to pass under the Canal du Midi and avenue Latécoère, is planned. The rest of the route will be in viaduct and will cross the highway, the Hers and the INPT lake.