Rouen tramway — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Located in the heart of France, the Rouen metro system, although called a “metro”, is more like a tram or light rail system. The single-line system covers a distance of 15.1 kilometres (or 9.4 miles) and has 31 stations. It operates daily from 4.30am to 11.30pm. A one-way ticket costs €1.60 (equivalent to US$1.97). Although there isn’t a direct link from the metro to Rouen Vallée Seine Airport, this article will later discuss an inexpensive way to get to the airport.

The Rouen Metro, also known as the “Métro” in France, carries approximately 60,000 passengers per day. The fare for this metro is 1.6 euros.

The Rouen Metro does not operate 24 hours a day, but is open from 4.30am to 11.00pm every day. This metro system does not use driverless trains. Passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms and there is no air conditioning on the trains. There are no platform doors at the stations.

Metro Map of Rouen

Map of Rouen Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Rouen Metro map in PDF format.

A Brief History of Rouen

Rouen, a picturesque city in northern France, is the capital of the Normandy region. Although it’s home to just over 110,000 people, the population swells to nearly 660,000 when the greater metropolitan area is taken into account.

With a history dating back to the early days of the Roman Empire, Rouen was founded by Emperor Augustus, who ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD. The city’s historical wealth has made it a popular destination, attracting thousands of tourists every year.

As a port city, Rouen’s economic prosperity is inextricably linked to the sea. It forms a vital link between the English Channel and Paris.

The city experienced significant growth after the Second World War, leading to a surge in public services, including public transport, by 1980. This growth led to the development of a more robust mobility system.

The Genesis of the Rouen Metro

The Rouen metro was born out of the need for a comprehensive rail transport system. The administrative procedures for the project began in 1989, followed by the start of construction in 1991. The first section of the metro was completed in December 1994 after three years of hard work.

Since then, the Rouen Metro has grown to its current 15.1 kilometre (9.4 mile) route with a commercial line and 31 stations. Although officially recognised as a “metro”, it is more like a tram or light rail system.

Line and Stations

The commercial section of the Rouen metro covers a total of 15.1 km (9.4 miles), but the sections extending to the car parks extend up to 18.2 km (11.3 miles). Serving more than 80,000 commuters a day, the system’s 31 stations are mainly located in the Jouvenet and Saint-Sever districts. The network extends from Boulingrin station to Saint-Sever, where it splits into two branches, although both are part of the same line. One branch serves the commune of Le Grand-Quevilly and ends at Georges Braque station, while the other serves the commune of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray and ends at Technopôle station.

Key Stations

Boulingrin: Located in the Jouvenet district, specifically in Place Boulingrin, this station, inaugurated on 16 December 1994, serves as a vital link for locals. It’s also notable for having the fewest stops at ground level.
Gare-Rue Verte: Also located in the Jouvenet, this station is close to Rouen’s busy city centre and houses striking artworks by Brian Coleman and Florian Lechner.
Palais de Justice: Situated in the centre of Rouen, this station is very busy due to its proximity to the Palais de Justice and the important Avenue Jeanne d’Arc. Opened in 1997, it houses works by Philippe Kauffman.
Théâtre des Arts: Opened in 1994, the Théâtre des Arts is located between the Vieux-Marché and the Cathédrale districts, between the Avenue Jeanne-d’Arc and the Théâtre des Arts. It contains works by Jean-Pierre Bourquin, Denis Godefroy and François Perrodin.
Joffre-Mutualité: Opened on 16 December 1994, it is located in the Saint-Sever district. It houses several works by the American artist Keith Sonnier.
Saint-Sever: Located on the Avenue de la Bretagne in the neighbourhood of the same name, this station opened in December 1994. It’s a busy station, with connections to the Technopôle and Georges Braque lines, which has led to several extensions since its opening.

Transit Connections

The Rouen metro is seamlessly integrated with the local Metrobús system, a dedicated bus line that covers specific routes.

Underground Connections

Boulingrin: This terminal station offers connections to the Metrobús T1 line and bus numbers 4, 22, 40, and t53.
Beauvoisine: This station connects to bus numbers 6, 7, 20, and 22.
Gare-Rue Verte: Passengers can connect to bus numbers 4, 8, 11, and 13 at this station.
Palais de Justice: This station provides a single connection to bus number 8.
Théâtre des Arts: With numerous connections, passengers can catch the Metrobús lines T1, T2, T3, and bus numbers 8, 10, 20, and 21 here.
Europe: This station offers a connection with the number 6 bus line.
Hôtel de Ville de Sotteville: This station links to bus lines 10, 41, and t54.
Ernest Renan: Passengers can connect to bus number 42 at this station.
Technopôle: This station also connects with bus number 26.
François Truffaut: This station provides a single connection to bus number 41.
Place du 8-Mai: Similar to François Truffaut, it offers a connection to bus number 41.
Saint-Julien: Passengers can access bus numbers 41 and 6 from this station.
Charles de Gaulle: The only bus connection at this station is bus number 6.
J.F. Kennedy: Passengers can connect with bus numbers 42 and t54 at this station.
Paul Cézanne: This station provides a connection to bus number 6.
Georges Braque: Currently, passengers can access bus numbers 6 and 27 from this stop.

Operating Hours

The Rouen metro operates extensively from 4.30am to 11.30pm, Monday to Sunday. Occasionally the metro stays open for an extra 15 minutes to allow all passengers to disembark. However, the frequency of trains varies throughout the week.

Train Frequencies

Monday to Friday (Boulingrin to Saint-Sever): Trains run every 4 minutes on this line, reducing to every 3 minutes during peak periods (7:00 to 9:00 and 16:00 to 18:00).
Monday to Friday (Saint-Sever-Technopôle and Saint-Sever-Georges Braque): These lines have trains every 8 minutes, reduced to every 6 minutes at peak times.
Saturday (Boulingrin to Saint-Sever): Trains on this shared line run every 6 minutes on Saturdays, reduced to every 3 minutes at peak times until 19:00.
Saturdays (Saint-Sever-Technopôle and Saint-Sever-Georges Braque): On these lines, the waiting time between trains is 12 minutes, reduced to 6 minutes during the day.
Sundays (Boulingrin to Saint-Sever): On Sundays, the waiting time between trains on this shared line increases to every 10 minutes due to the lower number of passengers.
Sundays (Saint-Sever-Technopôle and Saint-Sever-Georges Braque): The waiting time between trains can be up to 20 minutes on these lines.

Fare Structure

Like most transport systems, the Rouen metro offers passengers a range of payment options, including prepaid cards and adaptable plans.

Single and Multi-Trip Tickets

1 Trip: Priced at €1.60 ($US 1.91), this ticket allows for one hour of travel on the Metro and Metrobús from the time of validation. Tickets can be purchased at station sales offices or automatic ticket machines.
10 Trips: Costing €14.30 ($US 17.10), this magnetic card allows ten trips on the Metro and Metrobús and is ideal for tourists or those making multiple trips in a single day.
YOUTH 10 Trips: Available for individuals under 26, this pass costs €8.50 ($US 10.16) and allows ten trips on the Metro and Metrobús.
MODERATO 10 Trips: Costing €3.20 ($US 3.80), this ticket allows ten trips on the Metro and Metrobús for children aged 4 to 6.
SENIOR 20 Units: Priced at €10.60 ($US 12.68), this ticket offers ten trips on the Metro and Metrobús during specified off-peak hours.
DÉCOUVERTES 24 Hours: For €5.00 ($US 5.98), this pass allows 24-hour access to the Metro and Metrobús from the time of purchase and is particularly suitable for tourists.

Subscriptions

Youth Subscription – Under age 12: Costing €7.58 ($US 9.06) for a monthly pass or €88.00 ($US 105.23) for an annual pass, this subscription offers unlimited travel for children under 12 on the Metro and Metrobús.
Youth Subscription – Under age 17: This plan, designed for youths under 17, offers unlimited travel on the Metro and Metrobús for a month at €14.16 ($US 16.93) or a year for €167.00 ($US 199.70).
HALF-PRICE 365 days: This plan, designed for frequent Metro and Metrobús riders, costs €245 ($US 293) for an annual subscription or monthly payments of €20.66 ($US 24.71) with a legal city address and a bank account.
HALF-PRICE 31 days: Available to the general public, this plan offers unlimited access to the Metro and Metrobús for 31 days at a cost of €27 ($US 32.29), with no legal city address or bank account required.

Guidelines and Rules

In order to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for all passengers, the Rouen Métro has established certain rules and regulations that must be observed when using its services. These include

All tickets must be validated each time you board a train. This rule also applies when transferring from a Metrobús.
Only guide dogs or small pets in special carriers are allowed on metro trains and buses.
In accordance with city legislation, smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes, is strictly prohibited on metro trains.
In order to maintain the comfort of the metro, passengers are requested not to open the windows to prevent the loss of air conditioning.
Seats reserved for the disabled, the elderly and pregnant women must be respected.
To ensure smooth boarding and alighting, passengers should allow others to disembark before boarding.
Spaces reserved for wheelchairs must be kept clear at all times.
Large items that take up excessive space and pyrotechnic products are not permitted on board.
Prams may be taken on board, but must not obstruct other passengers. Only three prams are allowed per carriage.
Vandalism, including graffiti, sabotage of vehicles or deliberate damage to stations or train equipment is strictly prohibited.
Bicycles are allowed on the metro, but they should not take up too much space in the carriage. Check the official site of the Rouen metro for information on when bikes can be carried.
Roller skates are not allowed in the metro.

Connections to the Airport

The Rouen metro does not have a direct link to Rouen Vallée Seine airport and there are no dedicated bus lines to the airport. Therefore, travellers usually use taxis to get to the airport. However, you can save money by using public transport to get as close to the terminal as possible. Here’s how:

First, take the metro to the Gare-Rue Verte station, where you can catch the number 13 bus from the stop just outside the station. Make sure you get off at the La Claire Voie bus stop, which is near the Centre Commercial du Canivet. From here take a taxi to the airport. This will save you a lot of money compared to taking a taxi directly from the centre of Rouen.

To get from the airport to the city centre, follow the same route in reverse. There are taxis outside the airport that will take you to the Centre Commercial du Canivet, where you can catch the number 13 bus to the centre of Rouen.

Future Expansions

There were plans to extend the line from the Grand-Quevilly district to the Zénith Arena. However, this project, which was first mooted in the 1990s, has yet to be realised. The need for this extension is widely recognised by the authorities.

Another possible extension is the repurposing of the currently unused Gare de Rouen Saint-Sever station under the management of Rouen Metro, which would require the extension of Saint-Sever station. With bus services unable to meet demand, a railway system is considered the most appropriate option for mass transport. However, these plans remain speculative at this stage.

Tourist Attractions

Close to the Gare-Rue Verte station, the Museé des Beaux-Arts de Rouen houses an extensive collection of paintings dating back to the 15th century. In particular, it features Impressionist works by Monet, Pissarro and Gauguin, and hosts a number of art appreciation events each year.

A few blocks from the Gare-Rue Verte station is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. This stunning 13th century Gothic cathedral, built with late medieval materials, is a testament to Rouen’s rich history.