Matt Transit Castelnau Le Lez - Palm Ridge Line

The Castelnau - Palm Ridge Line is a tram line which acts as a local street level service to the Gardellia Northwest Line between the two cities, serving Gospley along the way. Commercially, it is called Connect1. Services began in early 2017, serving separate regions of Castelnau Le Lez and Palm Ridge. In the future, the line will serve Traxia and Gospley, in addition to the New Oak extension.

Castelnau Le Lez - Palm Ridge Line
Line Overview
Operator(s)	Matt Transit under the Connect brand
Line Length	?
Runs Through	Castelnau Le Lez, Gospley, Palm Ridge

History

Core Section

An idea of having local services along the Gardellia Blue Line (now Northwest Line) was discussed among the cities of Castelnau, Gospley and Palm Ridge. This led to an economical solution of building this tram line. Phase 1 would be between Maguelones and Paillade in Castelnau Le Lez, while Phase 1A would be between Central and Aberdeen in Palm Ridge. The line officially started construction on 14 January 2017. The line opened on 8 March the same year, between Maguelones and Beaulieu. The official inauguration of phase 1 and 1A took place 3 days later when the Palm Ridge section was completed. Phase 1B, between Maguelones and Canal, was opened and inaugurated the next day. Campus Agropolis tramstop was a late addition, which merged with Phase 1B. When Castelnau Mainline Station was rebuilt, the platforms at Maguelones were relocated. This resulted in the closure of Expo station due to close proximity. Line D was extended further to Paillade to complete Phase 1. To allow for platform extension works and due to proximity, Luynes tramstop was closed and merged into lengthened Beaulieu station.

Gospley extension

There were plans since 2018 to finish construction in Gospley. However, a ban of trains in the city halted any form of construction. Eventually, it was decided that the line would continue underground to prevent disruption on developments in Gospley.

Line D was first renovated in 2019, which included track improvement works and station upgrades. As a result of the separation of Lines A and B, the section between Maguelones and Canal was taken over by Line A. The next phase was to extend the line to Gospley. There were several complications which delayed its extension. The tunnel portal and tunnels were too small, which means tunnel strengthening and widening had to be done. Works were completed in 2020. New sections of tunnel were dug in May 2021, with the two new stations Gospley Central and Gospley Bridesgate opened on 11 June 2021.

Extension to New Oak and Traxia

Line D was to be extended to North New Oak to serve the new developments in New Oak. Construction of new tunnels using existing diameters were done west of Palm Ridge Central and the line was extended in May 2020. When such work took place, the platforms at Palm Ridge Central had to be lowered due to space constraints. 3 new stations opened, Westlands in Palm Ridge, and New Oak Riverpark and North New Oak in New Oak.

Phase 2 of the extension would connect the existing Palm Ridge and New Oak section to the Gospley section. Due to incompatibility, tunnel widening and improvement works had to be done between New Oak and Palm Ridge - Aberdeen. Aberdeen would be relocated to be in a cutting when the line connects. Platform extension works (with selective door operation to be implemented) were ongoing at Palm Ridge Central. Efficiency was at its peak to widen these tunnels, which were completed in weeks. The new Aberdeen station, together with widened tunnels to Palm Ridge Central, reopened on 12 June 2021. The section from New Oak tunnel portal up to Palm Ridge Central was completed a day later. The Gospley connection would be expected to open in September 2021, with a new station at Gospley Residential (placeholder name).

Stations

Not All are marked yet

Status	Code	Name	Connections
		Maguelones	Gardellia Northwest/Central Peninsula/Northeast Mainline
		Beaulieu
		Paillade
		Gospley Central	Gardellia Northwest/Central Peninsula Mainline
		Bridesgate
		Future Fill In Station (closed)
		Aberdeen
		Palm Ridge Central	Bus 11 to Ferries
		Westlands
		New Oak Riverpark	New Oak Tram
		North New Oak

NOTE: Line operated in 2 separate parts.

Phases

Phase 1: Maguelones Luynes Beaulieu

Phase 1A: Palm Ridge Central Aberdeen

Phase 1B: Expo Canal

Phase Agropolis: Addition of Campus Agropolis Station, subsequently merged with phase 1B. Hence the narrow island platform.

Phase 1 Extension: Paillade Station. The station was opened due to the construction of the Halles de La Paillade (shopping mall) nearby.