operated the city's tramway system. This project ultimately failed, and the idea of building a metro in Marseille was abandoned for many decades. Several proposals came immediately before and after the Second World War calling for modernizing the existing tramways with a network of lines running underground, but all were scrapped due to material shortages. Instead, the system, so badly damaged by the conflict, was almost completely dismantled during the following decade and replaced by buses (with the exception of line 68). However, by 1960, the city was suffering from severe congestion due to the growth in automobile use. A number of alternative concepts came forward at the time, including light rail or commuter train networks, but found no support among municipal authorities. It was not until 1964, when a project calling for a construction of an underground metro line to replace the busiest bus routes, that interest was aroused among elected officials. After several years of studies, the city council voted unanimously in 1969 for the creation of a metro system. Construction of the first line started on August 13, 1973 and lasted until early 1977. Revenue operation started on November 26, 1977 on a portion of the line, between La Rose and Saint-Charles. The rest of the line opened on March 11, 1978. The plans for the second line were approved in 1978. Construction began in 1980. The central portion of the line, between Joliette and Castellane, opened on March 3, 1984. Southern and northern portions of the line were opened in February 1986 and February 1987 respectively. Subsequent extensions took place in the following years. Line 1 was first extended between Castellane and La Timone on September 5, 1992 (, 2 new stations), and then between La Timone and La Fourragère (, 4 new stations) in 2010. On 16 December 2019, line 2 was extended northwards from Bougainville to Gèze (, 1 new station). Current network Map Rolling stock The rolling stock comprises 36 4-car trains, named MPM 76. Trains have a capacity of 472 passengers (including 182 seats). MPM 76 trains use the rubber tyre metro technology developed by the RATP for the Paris métro. Trains were built in Valenciennes, France, by a group of French companies which are now part of Alstom group. A first batch of 21 3-car trains was delivered in 1976, for line 1. A second batch of 15 was delivered in