France: Lille area

Monday 17 March 1997 – Cariane Nord 9124 QP 58 seen at St Philibert, the western terminus of the Lille Metro line 2. I had travelled on this bus from Armentières at 0910. The livery is that of Transpole, the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Cariane had branches throughout France and eventually through mergers and changes became part of Keolis.

Monday 25 March 1996 - Cariane Nord was a major operator in the Lille area working contracted services for Transpole, the transport authority for the conurbation. 3125 VV 59 and 9317 VV 59 were seen at Armentières Town Hall (with a few madamoiselles). Cariane had branches throughout France and eventually through mergers and changes became part of Keolis. . The building in the background on the right is the Théâtre le Vivat.

Monday 25 March 1996 – The clock tower of Armentières Town Hall dwarfs a Kässbohrer-Setra bus of Cariane Nord which was setting out from one of the bus stops that surround the building. The livery is that of Transpole, the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Cariane had branches throughout France and eventually through mergers and changes became part of Keolis.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Les Cars de Weppes 3900 SN 59 had just arrived at Armentières Town Hall working the 1330 Transpole service 67 from La Bassee where the company was based. Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation which is made up of the city itself together with a number of smaller towns some of which are represented by the shields and crests displayed along the side of the bus.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Kassbohrer-Setra 3010 (1759 XS 59) was almost brand new so I couldn’t resist taking a ride on it. It was operating the 1203 service 6B from Gare Lille Flandres to Lambersart (Conquerants), a journey of 25 minutes although I only rode to Place Louise de Bettignes.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Kassbohrer-Setra 3010 (1759 XS 59) was almost brand new so I couldn’t resist taking a ride on it. It was operating the 1203 service 6B from Gare Lille Flandres to Lambersart (Conquerants), a journey of 25 minutes although I only rode to Place Louise de Bettignes.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Renault PR100 (a Berliet design) 4011 (2530 PG 59) seen in Place de la Republique in the town centre of Tourcoing, the twin town of Rochdale. The satellite towns of the Lille area were similar to those in industrial Lancashire and prospered with the mining and textile industries. When employed in the shipping department of a Lancashire based textile machinery manufacturer I regularly arranged shipments to customers in Tourcoing and Wattrelos where the bus was bound.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Renault R312 6212 (9885 TP 59) was seen at Gare Lille Flandres at 1142 having arrived as the 1108 service 3 from Wambrechies (Agrippin). I travelled on this bus from Gare de Saint-Andre at 1128. It was about to leave again as the 1147 back to Wambrechies.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Renault R312 6751 (6550 RZ 59) was seen near Place du Lion d’Or in Lille.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Renault R312 6751 (6550 RZ 59) was seen near Place du Lion d’Or in Lille. In some parts of the old city centre access was limited to local buses and taxis.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Renault R312 6763 (4341 SO 59) was seen at Gare Lille Flandres loading as service 3 to Quesnoy (Mairie).

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Renault R312 6771 (1100 SN 59) was seen at Gare Lille Flandres about to work the 1038 service 12A to Haubourdin (Le Parc). I travelled on this bus to Place de Marechal LeClerc arriving at 1050). An advert on the bus shelter for Leffe, one of my favourite Belgian brews.

Saturday 26 April 1997 – Transpole, the transport authority for the Lille conurbation, bus stop sign on a shelter in Rue Rochdale, Tourcoing used by service 38 to Comines. Tourcoing is twinned with the Lancashire town of Rochdale. The satellite towns of the Lille area were similar to those in industrial Lancashire and prospered with the mining and textile industries.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. Tram 09, working the 1236 journey from Lille to Roubaix, speeds away from Croise Laroche where the Roubaix and Touring tram routes divide.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. 2664 (9847 WC 59) was a Car et Bus Le Mans integral which was seen at Gare Lille Flandres with the EuraLille centre in the background.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. 2659 (8824 MC 59), a Car et Bus Le Mans integral, still carried the old TCC livery although the Transpole logo is just visible on the rearmost side panel of the bus. Seen at Gare Lille Flandres. The display on the roof of the Transpole office declares a temperate of 11 degrees C at 1011.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Transpole is the transport authority for the Lille conurbation. 2659 (8824 MC 59), a Car et Bus Le Mans integral, still carried the old TCC livery. Seen at Gare Lille Flandres. Note the Transpole engineer on the right who is in process of erecting a new bus stop/timetable display unit.