TCL

What TCL does

TCL (Transports en Commun de Limoges) is the public transit network of Limoges Métropole in central France, operated by STCLM (Société des Transports en Commun de Limoges Métropole) under a public-service concession contract with Limoges Métropole, which acts as the Autorité Organisatrice de la Mobilité across 20 communes and approximately 212,000 inhabitants. The network traces its origins to 1938 and is one of only three French cities to have maintained continuous electric trolleybus traction since its first line was inaugurated on July 14, 1943. STCLM operates 5 trolleybus lines (38 vehicles accounting for nearly half of all journeys, 21% of network kilometres, and ~6.6 million trolleybus journeys per year), a broader bus network, on-demand services (Télobus for peri-urban areas, Handibus for persons with reduced mobility), a free city-centre shuttle, and a new airport shuttle launched April 2026. Transdev has been a shareholder since 1989, and the operator holds ISO 9001 (since 2004) and ISO 14001 (since 2008) certifications.

The product portfolio spans physical and digital ticketing: paper tickets, the Modalis contactless smart card (€10, valid 10 years, interoperable across Nouvelle-Aquitaine networks), m-tickets on smartphone, EMV contactless bank-card validation at validators, and the Formule Liberté post-payment subscription (€1.35 per journey billed monthly). Pricing is tiered by passenger profile — single journeys at €1.50, adult annual subscriptions at €320, young (under 26) at €95/year, free for seniors 65+, and reduced monthly fares of €5 for RSA/CUI/job-seeker beneficiaries. Distribution runs through the Boutique TCL retail store, e-boutique, MyTCL mobile app, automatic ticket vending machines (DAT), on-board purchases, and a network of approximately 60 approved merchant partners, supplemented by a mobile sales agency for outreach. A free weekend travel experiment launched July 1, 2025 (Saturday 4:45 to Sunday 00:45) marks a significant policy shift currently running on a one-year pilot basis.

Revenue derives primarily from farebox sales across tickets and subscriptions, the Formule Liberté post-payment stream, employer-funded subscriptions (up to 75% reimbursable under the Prime Transport scheme), bulk ticket sales, card replacement fees, and penalty fares (€30-€108) for fare evasion. As a mixed-economy company (SEM) operating under a public-service concession, STCLM is implicitly reliant on public funding from Limoges Métropole to cover the gap between farebox revenue and operating costs; the registered share capital is €457,200 (Société d'Économie Mixte, RCS Limoges 331280487). No revenue figure is disclosed in the source material.

Name

TCL

Legal name

STCLM - Société des Transports en Commun de Limoges Métropole

Website

https://stcl.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TCL is the public transit network of Limoges Métropole in France, operated by STCLM under a concession contract from the metropolitan authority, serving 212,000 residents across 20 communes with buses, electric trolleybuses, and on-demand transport services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Urban Transportation

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Urban Transit Systems (48511), Special Needs Transportation (485991), All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485999)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Economy/Conventional Scheduled Intercity Bus Services (THAIADAE)

Keywords

• Urban public transport
• Trolleybus network
• On-demand mobility
• Accessible transit
• Regional ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket and Subscription Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of transport titles (single tickets, multi-journey packs, daily passes, monthly and annual subscriptions) across all distribution channels including boutique, e-boutique, DAT, approved merchants, and mobile app. Prices range from €1.50 (single journey) to €320 (annual adult subscription). The Modalis card costs €10 (+ €0.50 with case).
2. Post-Payment (Formule Liberté): Monthly post-payment billing for regular travelers who pay on the 10th of the following month based on journey count (€1.35 per journey), subject to automatic monthly SEPA direct debit.
3. Employer Transport Subsidy (Prime Transport): Employers can reimburse up to 75% of employee monthly or annual TCL subscriptions as a payroll deduction benefit, generating employer-funded subscription revenue.
4. Bulk Ticket Sales (Vente en Nombre): Bulk sales of more than 20 tickets to employers and organizations, processed exclusively through the Boutique TCL with a minimum 5 working days lead time.
5. Card Replacement and Duplicate Fees: Fees charged for duplicate Modalis cards (€10) in case of loss, theft, or degradation, and for card replacements beyond 3-year warranty.
6. Penalty Fares (Indemnités Forfaitaires): Administrative penalties for fare evasion ranging from €30 to €108 depending on infraction type and payment timing, with additional procedural fees up to €50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TCL operates the public transport network of Limoges Métropole, providing scheduled bus and electric trolleybus services across 20 communes serving approximately 212,000 inhabitants. The network is operated by STCLM, a mixed-economy company, and additionally offers on-demand mobility (Télobus), accessible transport (Handibus) for persons with reduced mobility, shuttle services, and intermodal ticketing via the Modalis card with EMV contactless bank card payment.

Product overview

TCL (Transports en Commun de Limoges) is the public transportation network of Limoges Métropole, operated by STCLM in partnership with Transdev. The offering is a multi-modal platform combining regular bus and trolleybus services (5 electric trolleybus lines, numerous bus lines), on-demand transport (Télobus for peri-urban zones, Handibus for mobility-impaired passengers), and special shuttles (city center and airport). The portfolio includes both physical ticketing products (Modalis contactless cards, paper tickets) and digital services (MyTCL App' mobile app, e-Boutique online shop, M-Ticket via smartphone, Formula Liberté post-payment subscription). Supporting services include real-time traffic alerts (ALERT'TRAFIC), interactive journey planning (Plan Interactif), and lost property management via iLost. The system supports regional interoperability through the Modalis card across Nouvelle-Aquitaine networks and accepts EMV contactless bank card payments directly at validators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Telobus: On-demand public transport service for peri-urban areas
• Handibus
• Modalis

Products and services

• Bus and Trolleybus Network Scheduled public transport service combining bus and electric trolleybus lines (5 trolleybus lines, 38 trolleybus vehicles) for daily urban and peri-urban mobility across the 20 communes of Limoges Métropole, serving approximately 212,000 inhabitants.
• Télobus On-Demand Transport

Quantifiable outcome

• Free weekend travel covering Saturday 4:45 to Sunday 00:45 for all passengers, effective July 1, 2025 as a 1-year experiment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TransdevcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Transdev, a major French public transport operator and subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, has been a shareholder of STCLM since 1989. Transdev brings international expertise and operational best practices to the TCL network. The group operates in over 70 French cities and 27 countries globally, with particular expertise in tramway operations.
• Limoges MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe urban community (Communauté Urbaine) of Limoges Métropole is the Autorité Organisatrice de la Mobilité (AOM) - the organizing authority that mandates and funds the TCL network across 20 communes. Sets tariffs, defines service levels, procures vehicles, and holds a concession contract with STCLM. Represents 212,000 inhabitants.
• Modalis (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)coreTechnology or IntegrationModalis is the regional ticketing brand and interoperability platform for Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The TCL network uses Modalis smart card infrastructure, enabling passengers to use the same card across multiple transport networks in the region. Modalis also powers the TAD (on-demand transport) platform and the m-ticket smartphone application.
• SNCF / TER Nouvelle-AquitaineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional rail operator. TCL tickets are valid on TER trains within the Limoges Métropole perimeter. TCL also provides the airport shuttle linking Limoges-Bellegarde Airport to the train station.
• CFTA, MASSY, Villessot (Lost Property Subcontractors)minorOthersSubcontractors handling lost and found items on the TCL network. CFTA (06 17 52 21 69), MASSY (05 55 32 68 69), and Villessot (05 55 75 90 80) manage items recovered by their respective operational teams.
• Bureau VeritasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party certification body conducting regular audits for ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) compliance. Performs triennial renewal audits and periodic compliance reviews.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Transdev: Major French and global public transport operator and STCLM shareholder since 1989. Operates bus, tram, metro and shared-mobility services in 70+ French cities and 27 countries, making it the most directly comparable incumbent for TCL's urban bus and trolleybus concession operations.
• RATP Dev: Subsidiary of RATP Group operating urban transit networks (bus, tram, metro) across France and globally. Comparable to TCL as an experienced French public transit concessionaire running similar bus-and-tram operations in medium-sized urban areas.
• Keolis: French public transit operator and subsidiary of SNCF, running bus, tram and metro networks across France and internationally. Comparable to TCL as a multi-modal urban transit concessionaire serving French urban agglomerations.

Direct peers

• Star Rennes (Keolis): Bus and metro operator for Rennes Métropole under Keolis. Comparable to TCL as a French urban transit concessionaire with similar digital ticketing, real-time app, and on-demand mobility services in a medium-sized urban area.
• Service des Transports en Commun de l'Agglomération Clermontoise (T2C): Urban bus and tram operator for Clermont Auvergne Métropole. Comparable to TCL as a French mid-sized urban transit operator with similar headcount scale, BRT-style bus operations, and concession contract structure in a regional capital.
• Transports Bordeaux Métropole (TBM): Keolis-operated urban bus, tram and river shuttle network in Bordeaux Métropole. Comparable to TCL as a French urban bus concessionaire with multimodal services, contactless ticketing, and a mobile app for a large French urban agglomeration.
• SEMITAN (TAN Nantes): SEM operating the TAN bus, tram and Busway network in Nantes Métropole. Comparable to TCL as a SEM-structured urban transit operator with similar fare structure (formule liberté equivalent), real-time apps, and concession-based operations in a mid-sized French urban area.
• Twisto (Caen): Bus and tram operator for Caen la Mer Normandie urban community. Comparable to TCL as a French mid-sized urban transit operator with similar multimodal bus and tram services, concession structure, and post-payment ticketing options.
• Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS): SEM operating the urban bus and tram network of Strasbourg's Eurométropole under a similar French concession contract structure. Directly comparable to TCL as a mid-sized French urban transit SEM running scheduled bus services for ~280k+ inhabitants.
• Transports de l'Agglomération Grenobloise (TAG): SPL operating bus and tram services in Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole. Comparable to TCL as a French urban transit operator of similar scale (~200k inhabitants) running scheduled bus services under a public service delegation model with electronic ticketing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TCLdeLimoges?locale=fr_FR
• Instagraminstagram.com/tcl_limoges
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parc-relais-saint-lazare

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TCL