Lille Metro Line 1’s modernization is complete, delivering enhanced comfort and capacity. The new 52-meter "boa" trains entered service last weekend, following the switch to automatic operation in November 2024. Led by Egis—as the Egis-Systra consortium’s prime contractor for the Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL)—this ambitious project will profoundly transform the daily experience for the network’s 300,000 passengers.
What’s Changing for Passengers
Larger, More Accessible Trains
The new trains—twice as long as the existing ones—offer a capacity of 320 seats, including four dedicated areas for passengers with reduced mobility. The interior is bright, spacious, and open-plan for smooth movement and a more comfortable journey. Real-time video surveillance and multimedia screens provide up-to-date travel information and enhanced security.
A Major Modernization for the World’s First Fully Automatic Metro Line
Lille Metro Line 1, opened to the public in 1983, was the world’s first fully automatic metro line. Over 40 years later, its transition from an analog to a cutting-edge digital automatic pilot system is now complete. Modernization work and testing were conducted primarily at night to minimize daytime service disruptions. This type of migration is also a world first.
A Controlled Transition
Following comprehensive system tests led by the Egis-Systra consortium in December, Line 1 was closed for two days in mid-January for a full-scale dress rehearsal (“dry run”) with Ilevia operators. This tested the trains under real-world automatic operation conditions before their official launch.
Egis’s Role: Leading a Complex Project from Start to Finish
Since 2010, Egis—alongside its partner Systra—has overseen this exceptional project, managing:
- Engineering and integration of the transport system, and defining the migration strategy.
- Coordination of 20 contracts for works and supplies.
- Infrastructure upgrades: doubling platform lengths with platform screen doors, security systems, ventilation, power, station renovations, and compliance updates to accommodate the new trains.
- An unprecedented transitional phase: operating two train types (VAL and “boa”) on the same line, with VAL trains equipped for both old and new automatic pilot systems—all without major service interruptions.