The day opened at 10 a.m. at Parc Montessuit with the launch of the Mobility Village, followed by the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony by Gabriel Doublet, Mayor of Annemasse and President of the Genevois French Metropolitan Pole. This event signifies the culmination of three years of work and a Franco-Swiss partnership for more sustainable mobility in Greater Geneva.
Throughout the day, many residents took advantage of the free trams and buses on the French section of the network to explore the new route and enjoy the activities. These included the Mobility Village at Parc Montessuit with partner stands, bike stunts, and a show. A photo exhibition detailing the construction phases was displayed at Place Jean Deffaugt, while Parc Olympe de Gouges hosted the 'La fashion BTP' parade and the Mister Fly Circus show. Tours of the future P+R Aubrac construction site were also offered at the Perrier-Aubrac terminus.
Line 17, operational since December 2019, now serves three new stations in the heart of Annemasse: Place Jean Deffaugt, connecting with TAC network lines and a short walk from the train station; Henri Barbusse, marking the city entrance with the redevelopment of Place de l’Étoile; and the new terminus Annemasse Perrier-Aubrac, which will host a 200-space car and 70-space bike park-and-ride facility in 2027.
The works, carried out since autumn 2023 in coordination with the pedestrianization of the city center, were financed by the Swiss Confederation, the State, the Department of Haute-Savoie, Annemasse Agglo, the City of Annemasse, the Genevois French Metropolitan Pole, and the Water Agency. The tram is operated by TPG.
The project extends the line by 1.2 km with 3 new stations, bringing the French section to 3.3 km and 7 stations. The journey between Annemasse Perrier-Aubrac and the Moillesulaz customs post takes 12 minutes, with a tram every 9 minutes during peak hours. Each tram can carry over 350 passengers. The investment amounts to €63 million excluding tax, with an average of 11,400 daily passengers projected for the French section in 2026.
