The city of Strasbourg in France is carrying out a six-week trial of delivering parcels by tram on one of its main tram routes.

From Monday, 16 September to Saturday, 26 October, a tram on Line B of the city’s tram network will take part in the trial, which is intended to explore new ways to deliver parcels and optimise the available capacity of the transport infrastructure.

The trial is being led by the logistics and parcel delivery operator La Poste, Alstom, the city’s the transit authority Eurométropole de Strasbourg (EMS), and network operator Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS).

Line B trams run from Hœnheim Gare station to Broglie station the city centre.

At 9.00 am, a postman will accompany around a hundred Colissimo parcels in the tram’s lead car, and on arrival at Broglie, a second postman will load the parcels onto a cargo bike and deliver them through Strasbourg’s inner city. A second route will also be added in the early afternoon.

The trial is intended to determine whether parcels can coexist with passengers, without impacting on passenger comfort or the operation of the tram network, and without affecting the parcel delivery service.

If the trial is successful, it will pave the way for deliveries currently made by truck to be delivered by tram.

Each partner in the trial shares the desire to develop logistics solutions that reduce urban congestion, rethink public space, and improve urban air quality.

In line with the objectives of the roadmap “for sustainable, low-carbon urban logistics” adopted by Eurométropole de in 2023, Strasbourg is looking at ways to reduce heavy goods vehicle and commercial vehicle traffic in favour of alternatives such as cyclo-logistics and river and rail freight.

Eurométropole is also promoting innovation by hosting avant-garde experiments, such as extending a long-term river freight experiment to promote short-distance rail freight.

In response, La Poste is working with local authorities and economic players in the regions to develop innovative solutions for sustainable urban logistics.

Cooperation agreements have been signed with 18 cities in France including Strasbourg to develop new and less polluting urban logistics solutions. In Strasbourg, 22 cargo bikes and 20 electric vehicles are already used by La Poste for parcel deliveries.

To make transport ever more sustainable, safe, and efficient, Alstom is looking at relying more on digital innovation.

By predicting fluctuations in passenger and goods flows, adapting to them, and responding to changes in real-time, Alstom’s expertise has helped municipal authorities to achieve greater fluidity and capacity in their various transport services.

Alstom is a major supplier of trams to French cities, and last year announced orders for new trams for Toulouse, Brest and Besançon.