diff --git a/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/browser_tracks.ini b/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/browser_tracks.ini
index 084a8849..6634e44a 100644
--- a/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/browser_tracks.ini
+++ b/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/browser_tracks.ini
@@ -90,11 +90,29 @@ show data range = no
 overlay previous = yes
 number of bins = 100
 
-[test arcs]
+[spacer]
+height = 1
+
+[tads 3]
+file = tad_classification.bed
+title = TADs color=#cccccc; border color=red (next track: overlay previous=share-y links; type = loops)
+file_type = domains
+border color = red
+color = #cccccc
+height = 3
+
+[test arcs overlay]
 file = test.arcs
 color = red
+line width = 10
+links type = loops
+overlay previous = share-y
+
+[test arcs]
+file = test.arcs
 line width = 3
-title = links line width=3
+color = RdYlGn
+title = links line width=3 color RdYlGn
 height = 3
 
 [spacer]
diff --git a/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_plot.png b/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_plot.png
index d270e499..423655b1 100644
Binary files a/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_plot.png and b/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_plot.png differ
diff --git a/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_tracks.ini b/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_tracks.ini
index 07fd5821..de004eac 100644
--- a/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_tracks.ini
+++ b/pygenometracks/tests/test_data/master_tracks.ini
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ height = 2
 # setting:
 # color = bed_rgb
 color = darkblue
-#if color is a valid colormap name (like RbBlGn), then the score is mapped
+#if color is a valid colormap name (like RdYlGn), then the score is mapped
 # to the colormap. If the color is simply a color name, then this color is used and the score is not considered.
 # For the colormap option, the the min_value and max_value for the score can be provided, otherwise
 # the maximum score and minimum score found are used.
diff --git a/pygenometracks/tests/test_plot_tracks.py b/pygenometracks/tests/test_plot_tracks.py
index c36bb5ff..2f21728b 100644
--- a/pygenometracks/tests/test_plot_tracks.py
+++ b/pygenometracks/tests/test_plot_tracks.py
@@ -100,11 +100,29 @@
 overlay previous = yes
 number of bins = 100
 
-[test arcs]
+[spacer]
+height = 1
+
+[tads 3]
+file = tad_classification.bed
+title = TADs color=#cccccc; border color=red (next track: overlay previous=share-y links; type = loops)
+file_type = domains
+border color = red
+color = #cccccc
+height = 3
+
+[test arcs overlay]
 file = test.arcs
 color = red
+line width = 10
+links type = loops
+overlay previous = share-y
+
+[test arcs]
+file = test.arcs
 line width = 3
-title = links line width=3
+color = RdYlGn
+title = links line width=3 color RdYlGn
 height = 3
 
 [spacer]
diff --git a/pygenometracks/tracks/BedTrack.py b/pygenometracks/tracks/BedTrack.py
index 3fedd388..f158bfa2 100644
--- a/pygenometracks/tracks/BedTrack.py
+++ b/pygenometracks/tracks/BedTrack.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class BedTrack(GenomeTrack):
 # setting:
 # color = bed_rgb
 color = darkblue
-#if color is a valid colormap name (like RbBlGn), then the score is mapped
+#if color is a valid colormap name (like RdYlGn), then the score is mapped
 # to the colormap. If the color is simply a color name, then this color is used and the score is not considered.
 # For the colormap option, the the min_value and max_value for the score can be provided, otherwise
 # the maximum score and minimum score found are used.
diff --git a/pygenometracks/tracks/LinksTrack.py b/pygenometracks/tracks/LinksTrack.py
index c18275d2..2ebff117 100644
--- a/pygenometracks/tracks/LinksTrack.py
+++ b/pygenometracks/tracks/LinksTrack.py
@@ -1,26 +1,37 @@
 from . GenomeTrack import GenomeTrack
 from intervaltree import IntervalTree, Interval
+import matplotlib
 import numpy as np
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+from matplotlib.patches import Arc, Polygon
+
+DEFAULT_LINKS_COLOR = 'blue'
 
 
 class LinksTrack(GenomeTrack):
-    SUPPORTED_ENDINGS = ['.arcs', '.arc', '.link', '.links']
+    SUPPORTED_ENDINGS = ['.arcs', '.arc', '.link', '.links', '.bedpe']
     TRACK_TYPE = 'links'
     OPTIONS_TXT = GenomeTrack.OPTIONS_TXT + """
 # the file format for links is (tab separated)
-#   chr1 start1 end1 chr2 start2 end2 score
+#   chr1 start1 end1 chr2 start2 end2 (score ...)
+# The score field is optional
+# The fields after the score field will be ignored
 # for example:
 #   chr1 100 200 chr1 250 300 0.5
-# depending on the links type either and arc or a 'triangle' can be plotted. If an arc,
-# a line will be drawn from the center of the first region (chr1: 150, tot the center of the other region (chr1:275).
+# depending on the links type either an 'arc' or a 'triangle' or a 'loop' can be plotted.
+# If an arc, a line will be drawn from the center of the first region (chr1: 150),
+# to the center of the other region (chr1: 275).
 # if a triangle, the vertix of the triangle will be drawn at the center between the two points (also the center of
 # each position is used)
-# links whose start or end is not in the region plotted are not shown.
-# color of the lines
-color = red
-# for the links type, the options are arcs and triangles, the triangles option is convenient to overlay over a
+# if a loop, a rectangle highlighting the intersection between the 2 regions will be shown
+# the triangles, and loops options are convenient to overlay over a
 # Hi-C matrix to highlight the matrix pixel of the highlighted link
+# For these tracks do not hesitate to put large line width like 5 or 10.
 links type = arcs
+# color of the lines
+# if color is a valid colormap name (like RdYlGn),
+# then the score is mapped to the colormap.
+color = red
 # if line width is not given, the score is used to set the line width
 # using the following formula (0.5 * square root(score)
 # line width = 0.5
@@ -36,8 +47,6 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwarg):
         # circos:
         # chr1 100 200 chr1 250 300 0.5
         # where the last value is a score.
-        if 'line width' not in self.properties:
-            self.properties['line width'] = 0.5
         if 'line style' not in self.properties:
             self.properties['line style'] = 'solid'
         if 'links type' not in self.properties:
@@ -46,17 +55,25 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwarg):
         valid_intervals = 0
         interval_tree = {}
         line_number = 0
+        has_score = True
+        max_score = float('-inf')
+        min_score = float('inf')
         with open(self.properties['file'], 'r') as file_h:
             for line in file_h.readlines():
                 line_number += 1
                 if line.startswith('browser') or line.startswith('track') or line.startswith('#'):
                     continue
                 try:
-                    chrom1, start1, end1, chrom2, start2, end2, score = line.strip().split('\t')
+                    chrom1, start1, end1, chrom2, start2, end2 = line.strip().split('\t')[:6]
                 except Exception as detail:
                     self.log.error('File not valid. The format is chrom1 start1, end1, '
-                                   'chrom2, start2, end2, score\nError: {}\n in line\n {}'.format(detail, line))
+                                   'chrom2, start2, end2\nError: {}\n in line\n {}'.format(detail, line))
                     exit(1)
+                try:
+                    score = line.strip().split('\t')[6]
+                except IndexError:
+                    has_score = False
+                    score = np.nan
 
                 try:
                     start1 = int(start1)
@@ -70,12 +87,20 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwarg):
 
                 assert start1 <= end1, "Error in line #{}, end1 larger than start1 in {}".format(line_number, line)
                 assert start2 <= end2, "Error in line #{}, end2 larger than start2 in {}".format(line_number, line)
-                try:
-                    score = float(score)
-                except ValueError as detail:
-                    self.log.error("Error reading line: {}. The score is not valid {}. "
-                                   "\nError message: {}".format(line_number, detail))
-                    exit(1)
+
+                if has_score:
+                    try:
+                        score = float(score)
+                    except ValueError as detail:
+                        self.log.warning("Warning: reading line: {}. The score is not valid {} will not be used. "
+                                         "\nError message: {}".format(line_number, score, detail))
+                        score = np.nan
+                        has_score = False
+                    else:
+                        if score < min_score:
+                            min_score = score
+                        if score > max_score:
+                            max_score = score
 
                 if chrom1 != chrom2:
                     self.log.warn("Only links in same chromosome are used. Skipping line\n{}\n".format(line))
@@ -89,7 +114,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwarg):
                     end1, end2 = end2, end1
 
                 # each interval spans from the smallest start to the largest end
-                interval_tree[chrom1].add(Interval(start1, end2, score))
+                interval_tree[chrom1].add(Interval(start1, end2, [start1, end1, start2, end2, score]))
                 valid_intervals += 1
 
         if valid_intervals == 0:
@@ -98,12 +123,55 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwarg):
         file_h.close()
         self.interval_tree = interval_tree
 
-        if 'color' not in self.properties:
-            self.properties['color'] = 'blue'
+        if 'line width' not in self.properties and not has_score:
+            self.log.warning("*WARNING* for section {}"
+                             " no line width has been set but some "
+                             "lines do not have scores."
+                             "line width has been set to "
+                             "0.5".format(self.properties['section_name']))
+            self.properties['line width'] = 0.5
 
         if 'alpha' not in self.properties:
             self.properties['alpha'] = 0.8
 
+        if 'color' not in self.properties:
+            self.properties['color'] = DEFAULT_LINKS_COLOR
+        self.colormap = None
+        # check if the color given is a color map
+        if not matplotlib.colors.is_color_like(self.properties['color']):
+            # check if the color is a valid colormap name
+            if self.properties['color'] not in matplotlib.cm.datad:
+                self.log.warning("*WARNING* color: '{}' for section {}"
+                                 " is not valid. Color has "
+                                 "been set to "
+                                 "{}".format(self.properties['color'],
+                                             self.properties['section_name'],
+                                             DEFAULT_LINKS_COLOR))
+                self.properties['color'] = DEFAULT_LINKS_COLOR
+            else:
+                if not has_score:
+                    self.log.warning("*WARNING* for section {}"
+                                     " a colormap was chosen but some "
+                                     "lines do not have scores."
+                                     "Color has been set to "
+                                     "{}".format(self.properties['section_name'],
+                                                 DEFAULT_LINKS_COLOR))
+                    self.properties['color'] = DEFAULT_LINKS_COLOR
+                else:
+                    self.colormap = self.properties['color']
+
+        if self.colormap is not None:
+            if 'min_value' in self.properties:
+                min_score = self.properties['min_value']
+            if 'max_value' in self.properties:
+                max_score = self.properties['max_value']
+
+            norm = matplotlib.colors.Normalize(vmin=min_score,
+                                               vmax=max_score)
+
+            cmap = matplotlib.cm.get_cmap(self.properties['color'])
+            self.colormap = matplotlib.cm.ScalarMappable(norm=norm, cmap=cmap)
+
     def plot(self, ax, chrom_region, region_start, region_end):
         """
         Makes and arc connecting two points on a linear scale representing
@@ -135,10 +203,12 @@ def plot(self, ax, chrom_region, region_start, region_end):
             if 'line width' in self.properties:
                 self.line_width = float(self.properties['line width'])
             else:
-                self.line_width = 0.5 * np.sqrt(interval.data)
+                self.line_width = 0.5 * np.sqrt(interval.data[4])
 
             if self.properties['links type'] == 'triangles':
                 self.plot_triangles(ax, interval)
+            elif self.properties['links type'] == 'loops':
+                self.plot_loops(ax, interval.data)
             else:
                 self.plot_arcs(ax, interval)
 
@@ -156,10 +226,30 @@ def plot(self, ax, chrom_region, region_start, region_end):
         self.log.debug('title is {}'.format(self.properties['title']))
 
     def plot_y_axis(self, ax, plot_ax):
-        pass
+        if self.colormap is not None and self.properties['overlay previous'] == 'no':
+            self.colormap.set_array([])
+
+            cobar = plt.colorbar(self.colormap, ax=ax, fraction=1,
+                                 orientation='vertical')
+
+            cobar.solids.set_edgecolor("face")
+            cobar.ax.tick_params(labelsize='smaller')
+            cobar.ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
+            # adjust the labels of the colorbar
+            ticks = cobar.ax.get_yticks()
+            labels = cobar.ax.set_yticklabels(ticks.astype('float32'))
+            (vmin, vmax) = cobar.mappable.get_clim()
+            for idx in np.where(ticks == vmin)[0]:
+                # if the label is at the start of the colobar
+                # move it above avoid being cut or overlapping with other track
+                labels[idx].set_verticalalignment('bottom')
+            for idx in np.where(ticks == vmax)[0]:
+                # if the label is at the end of the colobar
+                # move it a bit inside to avoid overlapping
+                # with other labels
+                labels[idx].set_verticalalignment('top')
 
     def plot_arcs(self, ax, interval):
-        from matplotlib.patches import Arc
 
         diameter = (interval.end - interval.begin)
         radius = float(diameter) / 2
@@ -167,22 +257,69 @@ def plot_arcs(self, ax, interval):
         if radius > self.max_height:
             self.max_height = radius
         ax.plot([center], [diameter])
+        if self.colormap:
+            # translate score field
+            # into a color
+            rgb = self.colormap.to_rgba(interval.data[4])
+        else:
+            rgb = self.properties['color']
         ax.add_patch(Arc((center, 0), diameter,
-                         diameter, 0, 0, 180, color=self.properties['color'],
+                         diameter, 0, 0, 180, color=rgb,
                          linewidth=self.line_width, ls=self.properties['line style']))
 
     def plot_triangles(self, ax, interval):
-        from matplotlib.patches import Polygon
         x1 = interval.begin
         x2 = x1 + float(interval.end - interval.begin) / 2
         x3 = interval.end
         y1 = 0
         y2 = (interval.end - interval.begin)
+        if self.colormap:
+            # translate score field
+            # into a color
+            rgb = self.colormap.to_rgba(interval.data[4])
+        else:
+            rgb = self.properties['color']
 
-        triangle = Polygon(np.array([[x1, y1], [x2, y2], [x3, y1]]), closed=False,
-                           facecolor='none', edgecolor=self.properties['color'],
+        triangle = Polygon(np.array([[x1, y1], [x2, y2], [x3, y1]]),
+                           closed=False,
+                           facecolor='none', edgecolor=rgb,
                            linewidth=self.line_width,
                            ls=self.properties['line style'])
         ax.add_artist(triangle)
         if y2 > self.max_height:
             self.max_height = y2
+
+    def plot_loops(self, ax, loop):
+        """
+              " <- 2
+        3->  "  " <- 1
+               " <- 0
+            """
+        width1 = loop[1] - loop[0]
+        width2 = loop[3] - loop[2]
+        x0 = (loop[1] + loop[2]) / 2
+        y0 = loop[2] - loop[1]
+
+        x1 = x0 + width2 / 2
+        y1 = y0 + width2
+
+        x2 = (loop[0] + loop[3]) / 2
+        y2 = loop[3] - loop[0]
+
+        x3 = x0 - width1 / 2
+        y3 = y0 + width1
+
+        if self.colormap:
+            # translate score field
+            # into a color
+            rgb = self.colormap.to_rgba(loop[4])
+        else:
+            rgb = self.properties['color']
+
+        rectangle = Polygon(np.array([[x0, y0], [x1, y1], [x2, y2], [x3, y3]]),
+                            facecolor='none', edgecolor=rgb,
+                            linewidth=self.line_width,
+                            ls=self.properties['line style'])
+        ax.add_artist(rectangle)
+        if y2 > self.max_height:
+            self.max_height = y2