A Renaissance on Rails: France Rediscovers Its Love of Trams

France Rediscovers Its Love of Trams By Stefan Simons in Paris Trams are enjoying a comeback in France. From Nantes to Marseille, city planners are building new, high-tech streetcar lines as central elements in urban redevelopment. And they haven't forgotten any of the French flair the world has come to love. It's bright yellow with black stripes -- like some kind of futuristic tiger on rails -- and it runs through Mulhouse at eight-minute intervals like a streak of light. This city in France's Alsace region was once a leader in the industrial revolution, but it is now visibly struggling with structural change. The new tram system has brought it fresh pride and and a new sense of self-confidence. "We wanted a tram that called attention to itself," says Deputy Mayor Michel Samuel-Weis, "as a symbol of economic vitality,... [read full story]