The proposed tram line would run along the A4 corridor at speeds up to 100kmh. François Bausch, the Green party infrastructure minister, outlined the plan on 11 June.

According to a study cited in a government press release, demand for public transport along the corridor will grow by 55% between now and 2035. This includes a quadrupling of bus trips, to around 20,000 per day.

The government ruled out introducing high service coaches (including double decker buses) to meet that demand because of the limited capacity they would provide, lack of parking spaces, and “high operating costs”. It also ruled out a monorail or metro, which “would imply an oversized capacity” and the required tunnels and overpasses would be “difficult” to construct.

On the other hand, an express tram would provide good capacity for a reasonable budget, the government said.

The green or red light will be given some time after this autumn’s parliamentary elections. Bausch stated that:

“The plan will be presented to the local councils that are involved, then integrated into the list of infrastructure projects presented to parliament each July. The final decision will need to be taken by the next government, after which technical studies will be launched. For me, this project is indispensable; it fits perfectly into an organised and harmonious approach to regional planning.”