Metro VAL by tijs
Only the metro is worth a visit to Lille. This new generation of metro systems, a kind of small profile light railway, is so spectacular because it operates automatically (the so-called VAL system which stands short for Véhicule automatique léger). The metro vehicles are very funy because they are so small: only 2 m wide and 26 m long (two linked cars). They run on rubber tyres, like the metro in Paris. The entrance to the platforms is usually pretty oldfashoned and narrow and the platforms are only 52 m long, long enough for two units.
The Lille Métro operates from 5:00 until midnight, with trains every 1.5 - 4 minutes, every 6 - 8 minutes early morning and evenings. On Sundays there is a train every 4-6 minutes. Prices in Euro: Single E 1.15; 10 rides E 10.00; Day Pass E3.35; Week Pass E 11.00. All tickets are valid on buses, trams and métro. Special season tickets are available including TER regional trains and regional buses.
Something about the history: After trials were carried out by MATRA during the early 1970's, the CUDL decided in 1974 to build 4 VAL lines in the metropolitan area. Construction started in 1978 and the first line was inaugurated on 25 April 1983 between 4 Cantons and République. One year later, on 2 May 1984 the entire Line 1 opened (13.5 km long, 8.5 km underground). It links C.H.R. B Calmette in Lille to 4 Cantons in Villeneuve d'Ascq via Gare Lille Flandres (Central Station). All stations have doors between platform and train. Line 2 opened on 3 April 1989, initially called Ligne 1bis, between St. Philibert and Gares, later renamed Gare Lille Flandres (15.5 km, 7 km underground). In 1994, there was a one-station extension to the new TGV station Gare Lille Europe, and in 1995 the line reached Fort de Mons. On 18 Aug. 1999, Line 2 was extended to Tourcoing-Centre (12.5 km - 16 stations) and it reached C.H. Dron near the Belgian border on 27 Oct. 2000 (3.6 km). The entire Line 2 is now 32 km long with 43 stations (currently the longest automatic metro line in the world).
