What is the Transportation in Reims, France Really Like?
If you have been reading our blog or watching our YouTube videos for a while, you know that Maria and I love public transportation in France. It’s better for the environment, it’s practical, and it’s affordable on a student budget. Coming from the suburbs of the United States where personal vehicles are the norm, we were not at all accustomed to relying on public transportation to get around. As Americans living in France without a vehicle of our own, we have really enjoyed the experience of using public transport for our transportation needs. Keep reading to learn in detail about the transportation in the city of Reims, France.
Like many towns, cities, and agglomerations in France, Reims has its own public transportation system. Reims’ system is called CITURA and is run by Transdev Reims, a subsidiary of Transdev. CITURA boasts a well-connected network of bus routes, tram lines, shuttles, and on-demand transportation to help residents and visitors alike get to where they are going.
Buses
The bus is the transportation method that Maria and I use most often. We love the bus because it lets us get anywhere in the city with minimal effort. Going grocery shopping, heading to classes, or just going for a downtown stroll can all be accomplished with the bus.
The CITURA bus network consists of twenty-one different bus lines that run all across the city of Reims and its conurbation. While CITURA offers the run-of-the-mill, normal bus lines, there are also specialized lines such as the réseau de soirée, or evening network, which offers bus and tram lines running from nine at night all the way until six in the morning! Moreover, there is a special shuttle bus known as the CityBus. This shuttle is specially designed for tourists and visitors, but is of course at everyone’s disposal. It connects the city’s main transportation hub, Gare Centre, with attractions such as the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims and the many champagne houses that call the city of Reims home.
Trams
The CITURA network also contains two tram lines. While these two lines don’t serve as much of the city as the buses do, they are still an amazing and useful element of the CITURA network. Depending on where you are and where you are going, the tram can be a very efficient mode of transportation. Maria and I don’t use the tram as much as the bus, but when we do, we enjoy the smooth ride, the plethora of seating options, and the sheer number of passengers it can transport in one go!
On-Demand Services
The last component of the CITURA transportation network is the service de transport à la demande (TAD), or the on-demand transportation services. This service is really helpful to people who need to get to certain places that are within the general area of the transportation network, but aren’t served by the bus or the tram. With this service, you can reserve your transportation online or by phone. Once your reservation is made, all you have to do is go to your closest designated TAD bus stop. Instead of getting on the next bus, however, you’ll hop in the reserved CITURA vehicle that will take you to your destination. For the moment, the bus and tram get us everywhere we need to be. Should that ever change, however, this service provided by CITURA could be a real life-saver!
Smartphone Application
Perhaps the most convenient service offered by CITURA is its smartphone application, KIF&GO. The free app gives users access to maps of the network, bus schedules, real-time tram and bus arrival updates, traffic and service alerts, and even offers the possibility to buy digital tickets and subscriptions.
Our Experience
Soon after arriving in Reims, Maria and I purchased year-long subscriptions to access the CITURA transportation network. As students residing in the city, this cost us 264.60 € each, or 22.05 € per month. However, this is not the only way to get access to Reims’ public transport. CITURA offers other subscriptions and purchasing options suited for all sorts of transportation needs.
Maria and I have been very satisfied with the transportation options in Reims. It’s obvious to us that CITURA and its employees work hard to provide this public service, and we are very thankful for them.
We hope that this article will be of use to you if you ever find yourself in the wonderful city of Reims, or if you’re simply interested in what public transit in France is like. Did you enjoy this deep dive into the transportation options that Reims has to offer? Let us know if you have any questions in a comment below!
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