IDFM renews its trust in Keolis for the T9 and assigns it 28 additional bus lines

Following a competitive tendering process launched by Île-de-France Mobilités, Keolis has been selected to continue operating tram line T9 and appointed to operate 28 additional bus routes in the Seine-Orly area. This contract, known as concession agreement 47 (DSP 47 in French), will run for seven years starting on 1 August 2026, with an optional two-year extension.

Having already won contracts to operate lines 16, 17 and 18 of the Grand Paris Express, including the management of the Saint-Denis Pleyel station, and the 42 bus lines of DSP 9 in the Marne et Brie area, Keolis is thus consolidating its foothold in Paris and its nearby suburbs across several transport modes.

DSP 47 covers 34 municipalities inthe Grand-Orly Seine Bièvre administrative authority, which encompasses Ivry-sur-Seine, Vitry-sur-Seine, Orly and key districts of Paris (primarily the 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th arrondissements). This densely populated and strategically significant corridor is home to 2.7 million people.

Keolis will operate 28 bus routes in this area:

• 16 daytime bus lines currently operated by RATP, of which 6 run entirely inside Paris (lines 27, 47, 62, 83, 89 and 91). Among these, line 62 (Porte de Saint-Cloud – Porte de France) and line 91 (Gare Montparnasse – Gare du Nord) are the two busiest bus routes in the capital.

• 5 routes previously part of DSP 22 Bords de Marne, currently operated by Keolis.

• 7 Noctilien night bus routes departing from Paris, as well as the management of the Châtelet – Les Halles Noctilien bus station, the nerve centre of the night bus network in Île-de-France. With these additions, Keolis will operate 35% of the entire Noctilien network.

• Optionally, the TZen 5 BRT route, running predominantly in a segregated bus lane between Paris’ 13th arrondissement and Choisy-le-Roi.

Tram T9, operated by Keolis since its launch in 2021, will remain a cornerstone of the mobility offer between Paris and Orly, carrying around 100,000 passengers daily. The contract also includes the launch of the new orbital bus line 386in July 2027 between Bagneux and Vitry-sur-Seine, as well as a better alignment of the service offering with the needs of the region.

Keolis will drawon approximately 1,900 members of staff, working across five operations depots, one of which solely dedicated to TZen 5 in Choisy-le-Roi. The fleet will comprise 424 vehicles, including electric buses, compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, and HVO biofuel vehicles. It will also include 22 Citadis trams for line T9 and 28 bi-articulated 24-metre electric buses for the TZen 5. Keolis will also step upits night-time presence at Châtelet – Les Halles, deploying control and security teams to guarantee the safety and security of Noctilien passengers.

To ensure a smooth transition, Keolis will work closely with Île-de-France Mobilités and the outgoing operator, thereby ensuring continuity of service for passengers. Keolis will also draw on its expertise in technical and social transition to guarantee the network operates effectively from the very start of the contract. Keolis has developed strong expertise in taking over large-scale networks, offering tailored support to each employee, maintaining existing pay conditions and providing an attractive social framework.

In the Île-de-France region, Keolis has around thirty operating subsidiaries and employs nearly 7,000 people. The Group runs 500 bus routes, including approximately15 express lines and ten on-demand transport (ODT) services. Keolis also operates tram line T9 and tram-train lines T4, T11 and T14, and is preparing for the operation of three out of four Grand Paris Express metro lines (16, 17 and 18), as well as the CDG Express rail service to Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.