Efforts to reduce private car use in cities are prompting the search for new mobility solutions. Between public and individual transport, companies and universities are working on low-carbon solutions to meet the challenge of the ecological transition.
Urbanloop consists of autonomous capsules designed for one or two people, which operate on rail tracks around buildings, city blocks or neighborhoods. These journeys form loops and include “branch stations,” as well as parallel lanes for passengers to get on or off. Similar to a freeway, this setup allows passengers to stop at their destination without disrupting others’ journeys. The capsules at the station then become available for subsequent passengers. Although it is public and shared, this mode of sustainable transportfeels very similar to a personal vehicle: it’s like a “mini-metro” with an average speed of 30 km/h and a top speed of 50 km/h.
Urbanloop offers multiple cabins, reversing the usual concept of public transport: now, it is no longer the passenger who waits for the vehicle, but rather it’s the vehicle that waits for the passenger. With no waiting time, no stops and no connections, urban mobility becomes as smooth as it is reliable.
With a minimal land footprint – just the width of a sidewalk for a single lane and half a street for a double lane – there can still be room for greenways. This way, Urbanloop can coexist with other forms of soft mobility, such as walking or cycling. Urbanloop is versatile as well: it can be deployed in semi-urban areas or on unused SNCF railroad lines. Capsules can also be used for other functions, such as carrying packages or household waste.
In Nancy, France, one hectare is currently dedicated to testing two loops of 400m and 800m, where one capsule achieved the world record for lowest energy consumption per kilometer in May 2021.
Eric Calle
Innovation & Industrialization Director
"The Urbanloop project, to which we are contributing our operating know-how, opens up new horizons for mobility. Experimenting with this innovative sustainable mode of transport is an opportunity to introduce our passengers to a different mobility solution that could then be offered to new transport networks."
Hosting five Olympic venues, the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines conurbation was the first to test Urbanloop, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Terre d'innovation”, a partner in the project with Keolis, guarantees the land and infrastructure. As part of this experiment, Keolis is contributing its expertise as an operator of automated guided transport systems, and is involved in the entire chain from deployment to operation of these rail capsules: staff training, power management, infrastructure operability (absence of garbage on the tracks, for example), capsule maintenance, reception and passenger information... Nothing was left to chance During the Paris 2024 Olympics, reception agents were added to the workforce to inform and guide users in the use of this new-style mode of transport.
Supervision was provided remotely from Paris. If a user encounters a problem, an operator responds and resolves the incident remotely, dispatching a field agent if necessary, as with an elevator.
After 2 months in operation, Urbanloop has celebrated its 10,000th passenger! This milestone marks an important turning point in the deployment of the solution. More than just a means of transport, Urbanloop has established itself as a unique experience, combining modernity, comfort and efficiency. A satisfaction survey reveals that passengers are won over, giving the overall experience a score of 3.5 out of 4. A score that illustrates not only the reliability of the Urbanloop system, but also the quality of the experience offered. This result is proof that Urbanloop has met the high expectations of users, whether in terms of ease of use, comfort or fluidity of journeys.
10,000
passengers after 2 months in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
0,47
eurocents per kilometer, a world record for the lowest energy consumption per kilometer for an autonomous rail vehicle!
52
km/h, a genuine speed record for an autonomous vehicle!
10
km
capsules have been put into circulation in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
2
adults can travel in a capsule at one time. Or: 1 adult and 1 bicycle, 1 adult with reduced mobility, 1 adult and luggage or 1 adult and 2 children.
24x7
The system will be available free of charge all week long.
220
people per hour: the maximum output expected from Urbanloop.
Urbanloop originated from a project led by Jean-Philippe Mangeot, a computer science and industrial networks professor, with his students at the University of Nancy. Other institutions like the École des Mines de Nancy quickly joined. Keolis supported and advised Urbanloop's engineers on defining the service, operation, safety and maintenance aspects.
As Jean-Philippe Mangeot explains: “Since the start of the project in 2021, Keolis set up expert workshops on specific issues such as defining the service offer or exporting maintenance and security to the operator. Through this partnership, we were able to develop a prototype for the Paris 2024 Olympics. We hope that this international showcase will spark new interest beyond our borders and enable other Urbanlooprollouts.”
Several shareholders have joined the project, including the University of Lorraine, the Greater Nancy metropolitan area and the Grand Est region.
Following its successful launch, Urbanloop is continuing its real-life experimentation in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines for a total of 17 months. This will enable the concept to be validated and improved for larger-scale deployment. The Greater Nancy metropolitan area has already expressed interest. In early 2027, a 7 km loop will carry 40 capsules around the city.
Urbanloop is particularly suited to serving outlying and suburban areas, so studies are underway with local authorities to connect industrial zones and business parks.
Finally, international expansion is planned in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Urbanloop promises safe, sustainable transport that is set to revolutionize urban mobility!
