The first five units of Lille Metro’s new BOA series began running on Line 1 on Saturday, 14 February. They were initially scheduled to carry passengers during the 2016 Euro, meaning their introduction comes almost a decade behind schedule.
Awarded in 2012 under a €266.4 million contract, the 27 trainsets are expected to be fully operational by September 2026. The delay stems mainly from issues with the development of the Urbalis Fluence ATO software, integration with existing infrastructure, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2019, Alstom has paid over €50 million in penalties to the Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL). In 2023, MEL sought further compensation for damages, but the court dismissed the claim, ruling that fines and replacement bus services provided adequate redress.
Despite this record, in January MEL awarded Alstom a further order for 15 BOA units worth €210 million. These trains will enter service from 2028 to replace the ageing VAL 206 and VAL 208 fleets.
The new BOA trains, part of Alstom’s Metropolis platform, boast 20% energy savings and lower maintenance costs, thanks to the updated ATO, in operation since November 2024, and advanced predictive maintenance technologies.