The Poma 2000 in Laon, France, was an automated guideway transit, a cable-driven people mover which ran between the railway station and the city hall. The system was 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long with a maximum gradient of 13% and an elevation change of 100 metres (330 ft).

Poma 2000
Overview
LocaleLaon
Transit typePeople mover
Number of lines1
Number of stations3
Daily ridership2500
Operation
Began operation4 February 1989
Ended operation27 August 2016
Number of vehicles4
Technical
System length1.5 km (0.9 mi)

History edit

The system opened in 1989, replacing a former tram line (1899–1971), that used a rack for braking but not propulsion. There were three stations. The cars ran on rubber tyres on a metallic track at a 2.5 min headway. Four vehicles were used by the system, and each of them could carry 33 passengers at a maximum speed of 35 km/h (22 mph). The maximum capacity was 900 passengers/hour, and most recent ridership before its closure was about 1500 passengers/day.[1]

The system ran every day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and every day in Summer. A complete journey on the line from Gare to Hôtel de Ville took 3.5 min.

Citing €19 million maintenance costs and rising local taxes, the Agglomeration Community of Pays de Laon ended the service on 27 August 2016.[1][2]

Route edit

 
Geographically accurate map of the Poma 2000.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Haydock, David (February 2017). "Laon's Poma 2000 closes". Today's Railways Europe. No. 254. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 16.
  2. ^ "The end of the POMA 2000 Laon". Funimag. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.

External links edit

  • poma - Images of the Poma 2000