https://www.egtre.info/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Doughnut+City&feedformat=atomEGTRE - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T00:19:01ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.41.0https://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55160Belgium - General Information2024-02-19T11:29:53Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Trams/LRT-Systems */ use Kustram DeLijn site</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway, and the Kusttram, overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line, which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/content/kusttram/ ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55159Belgium - General Information2024-02-19T11:28:22Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Electrification */ commas</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway, and the Kusttram, overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line, which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/plan/coastal-tram ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55158Belgium - General Information2024-02-19T11:27:45Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Electrification */ add Kusttram</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway and the Kusttram overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line, which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/plan/coastal-tram ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55157Belgium - General Information2024-02-19T11:26:40Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Trams/LRT-Systems */ Correct Kusttram link</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line, which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/plan/coastal-tram ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=55155Luxembourg - General Information2024-02-18T19:38:50Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Future changes */ add new Luxtram extensions approved in Feb 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
Two further extensions of the Luxtram network were approved in February 2024. A line to the Kirchberg Plateau, Pfaffenthal -<br />
Kirchberg station and the new K2 neighbourhood, with first phase open in 2027. The HO line, branching off from near Gare Centrale, to serve the future "Nei Hollerich" neighbourhood and its Hollerich interchange station, with first phase open in 2028.<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=55154Luxembourg - General Information2024-02-18T19:38:12Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent (latest first) changes */ move new Luxtram to Future changes</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=55153Luxembourg - General Information2024-02-18T19:37:06Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent (latest first) changes */ tidy punctuation</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Two further extensions of the Luxtram network were approved in February 2024. A line to the Kirchberg Plateau, Pfaffenthal -<br />
Kirchberg station and the new K2 neighbourhood, with first phase open in 2027. The HO line, branching off from near Gare Centrale, to serve the future "Nei Hollerich" neighbourhood and its Hollerich interchange station, with first phase open in 2028.<br />
<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=55152Luxembourg - General Information2024-02-18T19:36:10Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent (latest first) changes */ add details of latest 2 new Luxtram lines approved in Feb 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Two further extensions of the Luxtram network were approved in February 2024. A line to the Kirchberg Plateau, Pfaffenthal -<br />
Kirchberg station and the new K2 neighbourhood with first phase open in 2027. The HO line, branching off from near Gare Centrale, to serve the future "Nei Hollerich" neighbourhood and its Hollerich interchange station with first phase open in 2028.<br />
<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=55151Luxembourg - General Information2024-02-18T19:26:46Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent (latest first) changes */ further extension Luxtram network approved Feb 2024.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Two further extensions of the Luxtram network were approved in February 2024.<br />
<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55150Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T19:04:10Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent and future changes */ Add capitals to RFC heading</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line, which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55149Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:57:04Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Infrastructure */ add comma</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line, which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55148Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:55:41Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Electrification */ tidy up dual voltage</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line which was converted to 25 kV AC on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55145Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:52:49Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Electrification */ add 660/750 V DC for town tramway systems</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Town tramway overhead systems are 600 V DC apart from Brussels which is 750 V DC.<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line was converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55144Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:35:32Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent and future changes */ planned not scheduled</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line will be converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was planned for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55143Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:31:59Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent and future changes */ Liège standard gauge tramway</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line will be converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] standard gauge tramway in Liège was scheduled for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024, so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55142Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:30:41Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent and future changes */ typo</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line will be converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] tramway in Liège was scheduled for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024 so full opening could come at the start of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55141Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:30:10Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent and future changes */ Liège tramway putative completion and starting dates</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line will be converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
Opening of new 12 km [7 mile] tramway in Liège was scheduled for April 2024, but now full system testing is scheduled for some two months from October 2024 so full opening could come at the star of 2025. <br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55140Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:21:36Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Trams/LRT-Systems */ add Liège tramway for 2025</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line will be converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi, Gent and Liège [in 2025]. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Belgium_-_General_Information&diff=55139Belgium - General Information2024-02-18T18:20:24Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Trams/LRT-Systems */ add link to Liège Gleisplan PDF Trackmap</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) <br />
companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to &quot;Chemins de fer Belges&quot; and &quot;Belgische spoorwegen&quot;. On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS. <br />
<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.<br />
<br />
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north <br />
of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which <br />
Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where <br />
French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially <br />
bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the <br />
area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official <br />
language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be <br />
aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change <br />
significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway <br />
personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on <br />
recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in <br />
Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become <br />
rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally <br />
issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either <br />
language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket <br />
purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 88; alpha B<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
====SNCB/NMBS====<br />
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]<br />
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]<br />
* For a map view of the planned route for any train enter either a station or the train number for the desired date from [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times this link] in "Monitor traffic in real time" further down the page from the JP.<br />
<br />
====Regional public transport companies====<br />
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]<br />
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
[https://trainmap.belgiantrain.be/ Train Map] <br />
<br />
'''Note:''' The train map comes with a warning that '''The train positions are calculated based on timetables, real time info and prognoses.''' It is suspected there may not be much real time info other than the departures from stations.<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or<br />
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services<br />
<br />
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.<br />
<br />
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page, either the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] or the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site]. These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The <i>Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel</i>, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.<br />
<br />
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:<br />
**[http://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/DRR_AnnexesC_Cartes_15.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is DRR_C-03.<br />
** A route plan identifying Timetable line numbers [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets can be accessed from this page] <br />
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]<br />
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines. <br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map]. Updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.<br />
<br />
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.<br />
<br />
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. <br />
<br />
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx MOBIB].<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.infrabel.be/en Infrabel]<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://infrabel.be/en/networkstatement Network Statement page].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
The Antwerpen, Gent, Kusttram Tramways and the Charleroi Metro system are metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:<br />
* Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles<br />
* Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont<br />
* (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille<br />
* Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy<br />
<br />
Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.<br />
<br />
The Rochefort-Jemelle - Kleinbettingen section of the Namur - Luxembourg line will be converted to 25kV on 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/NS_AppendicesE_TechnicalDocuments_17.zip Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.<br />
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem<br />
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)<br />
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs<br />
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] : Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment<br />
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)<br />
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] : Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated) <br />
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i><br />
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109<br />
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche <br />
<br />
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way) <br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]: Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)<br />
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)<br />
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The latter two are the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.<br />
<br />
Track plans are available for [https://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] at the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu Gleisplanweb] The [https://treinfanaat.jouwweb.nl/informatie/sporenplannen Treinfanaat] Site has a plan for Antwerpen from Sporenplannen.<br />
<br />
==Trams/LRT-Systems==<br />
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi and Gent. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].<br />
Track plans for the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi], [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Gent Gent], <br />
[https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] and [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Luettich.pdf Liège] systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. For engineering TEC Charleroi works see the [https://www.letec.be/#/ TEC website].<br />
<br />
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
<br />
On 11 December 2022, Charleroi Sud station was renamed Charleroi Central in order to better reflect its status as the town's main station.<br />
<br />
The overhead electrification between Hatrival (north of Libramont) and the Belgium/Luxembourg border (south of Arlon) is being switched from 1,500 V dc to 25 kV 50 Hz in August 2022. This entails temporary closure of the line until 28 August 2022.<br />
<br />
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including<br />
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and<br />
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent<br />
<br />
In July 2019, CFL stopped operating across the border from Rodange to Virton due to the GSM-R systems on their 2200 series units not being acceptable in Belgium. Media reports suggest there are no plans to introduce any replacement. This means the loss of passenger services in Belgium from Y Aubange to the border with Luxembourg.<br />
<br />
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.<br />
<br />
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.<br />
<br />
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB had no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts. However, this has been thrown into doubt by reports in December 2019 that SNCB wishes to close a number of lines where track and electrification equipment are in need of renewal. These include:<br />
<br />
*42 Rivage - Gouvy<br />
<br />
*43 Angleur - Marloie<br />
<br />
*44 Spa - Pepinster<br />
<br />
*82 Aalst - Burst<br />
<br />
*94 Froyennes - Baisieux (France)<br />
<br />
*96 Mons - Quévy<br />
<br />
*97 St Ghislain - Quiévrain<br />
<br />
*130A Charleroi - Erquelinnes<br />
<br />
*132 Charleroi - Couvin<br />
<br />
*140 Charleroi - Fleurus<br />
<br />
These closures are apparently not mentioned in the 2020-2023 transport plan and indeed that plan includes improvements to service frequency on some of these routes. Assuming this remains the case when the plan is approved then closure in the short term would appear unlikely.<br />
<br />
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY ---> <br />
<br />
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.<br />
<br />
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.<br />
<br />
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.<br />
<br />
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one <br />
hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) <br />
between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:<br />
*Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)<br />
*Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).<br />
*Suburban (S, local services around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi)<br />
Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections <br />
between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled <br />
outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at <br />
peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (ICT).<br />
<br />
Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split <br />
en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label <br />
to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address <br />
announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the <br />
internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.<br />
<br />
Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually <br />
the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers <br />
are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. <br />
Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, <br />
types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , <br />
HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in <br />
tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power <br />
(&quot;DMT&quot;) etc.<br />
<br />
===Signal post numbering===<br />
*in controlled area: <b>F37</b> = signal <b>F</b> of <i>blok</i> (= block post or signal box) <b>37</b>.<br />
*automatic signals on open line: <b>A806</b> = signal on track <b>A</b> at km<b> 80,6</b>; <b>BX753</b> = signal on track <b>B</b> for trains running in &quot;wrong&quot; (right-hand) direction at km<b> 75,3</b>, where the <b>X</b> denotes &quot;wrong&quot; direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.<br />
===Passenger train numbering===<br />
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.<br />
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.<br />
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.<br />
*International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Belgium}}<br />
[[Category:General Information]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Links&diff=54923Links2024-02-04T20:53:11Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Metros and Trams */ tidy up</p>
<hr />
<div>This page provides some links found useful by the compilers of the Guide. No responsibility is accepted for information provided on these web sites. There are many sites specialising in railway-related links, some of these are included. Some of the items duplicate links in the main body of the<br />
Guide.<br />
<br />
==Enthusiast Societies==<br />
[http://www.ibse.de Interessengemeinschaft zur Bereisung von Straßenbahn und Eisenbahnstrecken e.V.] (IBSE) is a German railway enthusiast <br />
group which operates special trains and has a monthly newsletter &quot;IBSE - Telegramm&quot;.<br />
<br />
==Timetable Information==<br />
<br />
[http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en DB Travel Service] - includes train service details for much of Europe.<br />
<br />
[http://www.poezda.net/en/ CIS railway timetable information].<br />
<br />
See also [http://www.railfaneurope.net/ The European Railway Server].<br />
<br />
For downloadable versions of public timetables see the Timetable section of each country's General Information page.<br />
<br />
[http://www.fahrplan-online.de/index_en.php3 Fahrplan on line] is a very useful starting point to find timetables (rail and other forms of public transport) throughout the world.<br />
<br />
==Professional==<br />
<br />
[https://uic.org/ International Union of Railways].<br />
<br />
==Signalling and Track==<br />
<br />
[https://www.sh1.org/eisenbahn/index.htm An English language description of German railway signalling].<br />
<br />
[https://www.segnalifs.it/ Signalling in Italy, also Slovenia].<br />
<br />
[http://espacerails.free.fr/reel/index.php?page=signal&amp;%20bloc_droit=non Railway signalling in France] (if a message about Cookies appears, go to [http://espacerails.free.fr espacerails.free.fr] then select &quot;Réel&quot; then &quot;L'Environnement - Signalisation Ferroviaire&quot;).<br />
<br />
[https://mapa-metro.com/en/ Links to metro track map web sites].<br />
<br />
[http://www.sporenplan.nl On-line track plans of Dutch Railways, also including parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland].<br />
<br />
[https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/carte-reseau-ferre-en-france Official maps and diagrams of the French rail network].<br />
<br />
[https://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-en.php Railroad Gauge Width Literature] - a list of railway gauges used or being used worldwide.<br />
<br />
[http://www.wienerlinien.at/wl/wlinien/jsp/content/item_detail.jsp?ctt=2&chnid=-1073753104&prgid=12427&rid=-1073753101&oid=12443 Detailed distances for the Vienna area S-Bahn services]. U-Bahn, tram and bus distances are also available using the other links on the same page.<br />
<br />
==<div id="MTT">Metros and Trams</div>==<br />
<br />
[https://www.urbanrail.net The UrbanRail.Net website] holds diagrammatic maps and descriptions of the world’s metro and tram systems.<br />
<br />
[https://www.lrta.org/ The Light Rail Transit Association website] has &quot;a complete listing of [https://www.lrta.info/archive/world/worldind.html Light Rail, Light Railway, Tramway &amp; Metro systems throughout the World]&quot;.<br />
<br />
[https://blickpunktstrab.net/ The Blickpunkt Straßenbahn website] contains listings for [https://blickpunktstrab.net/bs_liste_index_e.html/ tramways, metros etc.] throughout the world (mostly German language).<br />
<br />
The [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index-e.php gleisplanweb.de] site has track maps of tramway, light rail and subway networks for Germany and many other European countries.<br />
<br />
[https://mapa-metro.com/en/ The Mapa-Metro Site] has information, including system diagrams, for metros in Europe and the rest of the world. However, the site does not seem to have been updated since 2010.<br />
<br />
Some metro track maps for Russia, and former satellites, are available at [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/trackmaps/ Popov Metro maps] captioned in Cyrillic.<br />
<br />
The Monorail Society website has details of Monorails and <i>Schwebebahnen</i> <br />
in [https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Europe.html Europe] and elsewhere.<br />
<br />
==Heritage and Minor Railways==<br />
<br />
[https://www.easymapmaker.com/map/HRA-members UK Heritage Railways].<br />
<br />
[https://www.facs-patrimoine-ferroviaire.fr/ FACS] gives details of many French minor railways and the limited number of special trains in France.<br />
<br />
[https://gyermekvasut.hu/ The official website] of the Children's Railway near Budapest in Hungary.<br />
<br />
==Archive==<br />
<br />
[http://bahnarchiv.de/ Archive of railway information for Germany (German language)].<br />
<br />
==Other Links==<br />
<br />
[http://www.railfaneurope.net/ The European Railway Server] - links to virtually every railway site in Europe, including timetable information.<br />
<br />
[http://bueker.net/trainspotting/index.php Trainspotting Bükkes] has an interesting series of articles on Electrification Systems, Border Crossings and has maps of some European countries and cities.<br />
<br />
[https://www.funiculars.net Bruse's Funiculars] - funicular railways around the world - pictures, articles, maps, technical descriptions and much <br />
more.<br />
<br />
[https://www.railserve.com/ Rail''Serve'': The Internet Railroad Directory] - over 9,000 rail-related links.<br />
<br />
[https://www.railroaddata.com/rrlinks/ RailroadData.com] - over 5,000 rail-related links.<br />
<br />
[http://www.terra.es/personal/ara.del/trens/europa/europa.htm www.terra.es/personal/ara.del/trens/europa/europa.htm] - links to official (and some non-official) European and other world-wide railway sites.<br />
<br />
[http://www.cwrr.com/nmra/ National Model Railroad Association's Directory] of World Wide Rail Sites.<br />
<br />
[https://www.trainnet.org/IRL/rwlinks.htm International Railway Links from TrainNet.org] <br />
<br />
Useful info and links for Spain at the [https://www.ffe.es/principal_en.asp La Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles] site.</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Links&diff=54922Links2024-02-04T20:52:44Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Metros and Trams */ add gleisplanweb.de site</p>
<hr />
<div>This page provides some links found useful by the compilers of the Guide. No responsibility is accepted for information provided on these web sites. There are many sites specialising in railway-related links, some of these are included. Some of the items duplicate links in the main body of the<br />
Guide.<br />
<br />
==Enthusiast Societies==<br />
[http://www.ibse.de Interessengemeinschaft zur Bereisung von Straßenbahn und Eisenbahnstrecken e.V.] (IBSE) is a German railway enthusiast <br />
group which operates special trains and has a monthly newsletter &quot;IBSE - Telegramm&quot;.<br />
<br />
==Timetable Information==<br />
<br />
[http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en DB Travel Service] - includes train service details for much of Europe.<br />
<br />
[http://www.poezda.net/en/ CIS railway timetable information].<br />
<br />
See also [http://www.railfaneurope.net/ The European Railway Server].<br />
<br />
For downloadable versions of public timetables see the Timetable section of each country's General Information page.<br />
<br />
[http://www.fahrplan-online.de/index_en.php3 Fahrplan on line] is a very useful starting point to find timetables (rail and other forms of public transport) throughout the world.<br />
<br />
==Professional==<br />
<br />
[https://uic.org/ International Union of Railways].<br />
<br />
==Signalling and Track==<br />
<br />
[https://www.sh1.org/eisenbahn/index.htm An English language description of German railway signalling].<br />
<br />
[https://www.segnalifs.it/ Signalling in Italy, also Slovenia].<br />
<br />
[http://espacerails.free.fr/reel/index.php?page=signal&amp;%20bloc_droit=non Railway signalling in France] (if a message about Cookies appears, go to [http://espacerails.free.fr espacerails.free.fr] then select &quot;Réel&quot; then &quot;L'Environnement - Signalisation Ferroviaire&quot;).<br />
<br />
[https://mapa-metro.com/en/ Links to metro track map web sites].<br />
<br />
[http://www.sporenplan.nl On-line track plans of Dutch Railways, also including parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland].<br />
<br />
[https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/carte-reseau-ferre-en-france Official maps and diagrams of the French rail network].<br />
<br />
[https://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-en.php Railroad Gauge Width Literature] - a list of railway gauges used or being used worldwide.<br />
<br />
[http://www.wienerlinien.at/wl/wlinien/jsp/content/item_detail.jsp?ctt=2&chnid=-1073753104&prgid=12427&rid=-1073753101&oid=12443 Detailed distances for the Vienna area S-Bahn services]. U-Bahn, tram and bus distances are also available using the other links on the same page.<br />
<br />
==<div id="MTT">Metros and Trams</div>==<br />
<br />
[https://www.urbanrail.net The UrbanRail.Net website] holds diagrammatic maps and descriptions of the world’s metro and tram systems.<br />
<br />
[https://www.lrta.org/ The Light Rail Transit Association website] has &quot;a complete listing of [https://www.lrta.info/archive/world/worldind.html Light Rail, Light Railway, Tramway &amp; Metro systems throughout the World]&quot;.<br />
<br />
[https://blickpunktstrab.net/ The Blickpunkt Straßenbahn website] contains listings for [https://blickpunktstrab.net/bs_liste_index_e.html/ tramways, metros etc.] throughout the world (mostly German language).<br />
<br />
The [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index-e.php gleisplanweb.de] site has track maps of tramway, light rail and subway networks for Germany many other European countries.<br />
<br />
[https://mapa-metro.com/en/ The Mapa-Metro Site] has information, including system diagrams, for metros in Europe and the rest of the world. However, the site does not seem to have been updated since 2010.<br />
<br />
Some metro track maps for Russia, and former satellites, are available at [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/trackmaps/ Popov Metro maps] captioned in Cyrillic.<br />
<br />
The Monorail Society website has details of Monorails and <i>Schwebebahnen</i> <br />
in [https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Europe.html Europe] and elsewhere.<br />
<br />
==Heritage and Minor Railways==<br />
<br />
[https://www.easymapmaker.com/map/HRA-members UK Heritage Railways].<br />
<br />
[https://www.facs-patrimoine-ferroviaire.fr/ FACS] gives details of many French minor railways and the limited number of special trains in France.<br />
<br />
[https://gyermekvasut.hu/ The official website] of the Children's Railway near Budapest in Hungary.<br />
<br />
==Archive==<br />
<br />
[http://bahnarchiv.de/ Archive of railway information for Germany (German language)].<br />
<br />
==Other Links==<br />
<br />
[http://www.railfaneurope.net/ The European Railway Server] - links to virtually every railway site in Europe, including timetable information.<br />
<br />
[http://bueker.net/trainspotting/index.php Trainspotting Bükkes] has an interesting series of articles on Electrification Systems, Border Crossings and has maps of some European countries and cities.<br />
<br />
[https://www.funiculars.net Bruse's Funiculars] - funicular railways around the world - pictures, articles, maps, technical descriptions and much <br />
more.<br />
<br />
[https://www.railserve.com/ Rail''Serve'': The Internet Railroad Directory] - over 9,000 rail-related links.<br />
<br />
[https://www.railroaddata.com/rrlinks/ RailroadData.com] - over 5,000 rail-related links.<br />
<br />
[http://www.terra.es/personal/ara.del/trens/europa/europa.htm www.terra.es/personal/ara.del/trens/europa/europa.htm] - links to official (and some non-official) European and other world-wide railway sites.<br />
<br />
[http://www.cwrr.com/nmra/ National Model Railroad Association's Directory] of World Wide Rail Sites.<br />
<br />
[https://www.trainnet.org/IRL/rwlinks.htm International Railway Links from TrainNet.org] <br />
<br />
Useful info and links for Spain at the [https://www.ffe.es/principal_en.asp La Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles] site.</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Italy_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes&diff=54921Italy - Tram services over obscure routes2024-02-04T20:34:24Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Torino: GTT */ Tourist tram is route is line 7</p>
<hr />
<div>=Introduction=<br />
{{TSUL_Introduction}}<br />
<br />
==Milan: ATM==<br />
As at Summer 2022 the two previous years Tourist Routes had ceased operating and the evening Tram Ristorante that normally should cover some rare curves was now €80pp [running daily, plus additionally but not in August for Sunday lunch] with details including a [https://www.atm.it/it/AltriServizi/TempoLibero/Documents/ATMosfera%20MAP.pdf route map].<br />
<br />
==Padova: FS BusItalia==<br />
During maintenance work in August 2022 the Piazzale Stazione stop (directly in front of the FS station) was in use for trams to Capolinea Sud. The normal stop at Stazione FS and the section to Capolinea Nord were out of use 1-13/8/22. Timetables, showing amendments, are available at [https://www.fsbusitalia.it/content/fsbusitalia/eng/veneto/timetables-and-lines.html FS BusItalia Follow the Urban timetables of Padova link, and then the Tram link]<br />
<br />
==Torino: GTT==<br />
No information is to hand, apart from GTT run a service operated by vintage trams so its Line 7 route as <br />
[https://www.gtt.to.it/cms/risorse/avvisi/pdf/7.pdf shown here as at January 2024] may involve some unusual track. Services run every 60 minutes on Sundays and public holidays: 11 trips per day between 9.30 – 19.30, and normal tickets are valid. <br />
<br />
At least part of the recently closed railway tunnel north from Torino Dora towards Corso Grosseto is planned to be re-used by Torino's route 12 tram to connect Juventus’ Allianz football stadium in the northwest of the city with Corso Lepanto in the south.<br />
<br />
==Venezia: ACTV==<br />
The two lines of the Venezia tramway meet at Mestre Centro, but the stops on the two routes are approximately 50 m apart. Trams to provide the T2 service run to and from the Favaro depot at the northeastern end of T1 in service and do call at the normal T1 stop at Mestra Centro, rather than the T2 stop. <br />
The 6 through services each way on Feriale and 3 on Festivo are easily spotted in the timetables, although not all are marked with the note (A) indicating through to Favaro. Timetables, are available at [https://actv.avmspa.it/it/content/linee-urbane-0 ACTV Venezia T1 and T2 timetables, the PDF download button is to the right]<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Italy}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Tram services over obscure routes]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=54884Luxembourg - General Information2024-01-30T22:32:31Z<p>Doughnut City: /* National Railway Operator */ CFL English site link</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Luxembourg_-_General_Information&diff=54883Luxembourg - General Information2024-01-30T22:28:45Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Trams/LRT Systems */ Gleisplan track plan now January 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Luxembourg<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Luxembourgeois ([http://www.cfl.lu CFL]).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Luxembourgish (''Letzebuergesch''), French and German<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 82; alpha L<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://horaires.cfl.lu/bin/query.exe/fn Liaisons - recherche]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/timetable Pocket Timetables]. Under "Pocket timetables", select the option required:<br />
* National<br />
* International<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
CFL no longer produces a printed timetable. However, timetable leaflets are available for each line and for bus services and international trains.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/works Work Sites]<br />
<br />
There is another link for disruptions.<br />
<br />
[https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/disturbances Disruptions]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/bus/ Horaires et Lignes - Bus]<br />
<br />
===Tram Information===<br />
[https://www.mobiliteit.lu/fr/horaires-et-lignes/tram/ Horaires et Ligne - Tram]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall. Page 19 shows railways in southern half of Luxembourg. <br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-DE | Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland]] by Schweers + Wall - has a page including the Trier - Wasserbillig area.<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a schematic track diagram. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Benelux Map].Last updated January 2023<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Since 29 February 2020, all public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge to use at all times which includes CFL trains in second class. The [https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket CFL Tickets] web page gives details of all remaining ticket types including domestic First Class tickets, (and note as at October 2022 that an all-day 1st class day ticket was available for €6).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
The Administration des Chemins de Fer ([https://acf.gouvernement.lu/en.html/ ACF]) is the national authority for the railways and tramways.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://acf.gouvernement.lu/fr/sillon/Document-de-reference-du-reseau.html Documents de Référence du Réseau (DDR)] > Network Statements for DRR 2023 and DDR 2024 (english versions).<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
All CFL passenger routes are electrified at 25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;50&nbsp;Hz as defined in The Railway Administration (ACF) 2020 Network Statement.<br />
<br />
The Luxtram tramway system operates at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right (except for the Sterpenich - Luxembourg section which is used by SNCB and has left hand running).<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Detailed distances for each line are given in the Network Statement Appendix 2A: The Luxembourg Rail Network<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
*[https://www.train1900.lu/?lang=en L'Association des Musee et Tourisme Ferroviaires (AMTF) ''(Train 1900)''] (standard gauge, 8 km length): Pétange (close to CFL station) to Bois de Rodange with reversal at Fond de Gras. A connection with the CFL network at Pétange sees occasional through excursion trains.<br />
* [https://minieresbunn.lu/fr/ Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] (700&nbsp;mm gauge): a preserved mining line, from Fond de Gras via Doihl and through a 1400 m long tunnel to Lasauvage. Thence are two branches: to Saulnes [France] and to Lasauvage Eglise. Part (including the tunnel) is electrified at 500&nbsp;V&nbsp;dc while other sections are worked by steam or diesel.<br />
* [https://www.mnm.lu/ Musée National de Mines de Fer] (700&nbsp;mm gauge 4.2&nbsp;km circuit): a preserved mining line at Rumelange.<br />
* [https://www.ardoise.lu/?lang=en Slate Museum Industrial Train Tour] (narrow gauge, less than 1 km length); a tourist line at the national slate museum at Martelange Haut. Trains normally run in the afternoon on Sundays and Holidays in summer subject to weather and availability.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT Systems ==<br />
Luxtram - see [http://www.luxtram.lu/ Luxtram] (in French or German) or [https://wikimonde.com/article/Tramway_de_Luxembourg Wikimonde] (in French) websites.<br />
<br />
A track plan for the Luxembourg Luxtram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Luxemburg Gleisplanweb site], and was current at January 2024.<br />
<br />
Planning has started on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, with a planned opening date in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Recent ''(latest first)'' changes===<br />
Further extensions of Luxtram at both ends are under construction, with indicated completion dates of mid-2024 for the first part of the extension south to the Cloche d'Or area and the beginning of 2025 for the extension east to Findel airport<br />
<br />
A 4 metre section of the roof of the 236 metre single track Schieburg tunnel, on Line 10 north from Luxembourg to Gouvy and Liège, collapsed during maintenance work at the end of August 2022, closing it to all traffic.<br />
The reopening was almost a year later on 24 July 2023 after repair and reinforcement of the roof of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
The fourth section of the new Luxtram tram network, going south between Gare Centrale and Lycée Bouneweg, opened to the public from midday 11 September 2022.<br />
<br />
As part of the creation of an intermodal hub an additional platform and two further through tracks have been added at Ettelbruck station. This also allows Diekirch branch trains to proceed as far as Ettelbruck to wait for trains off the branch there. This project was completed in 2022.<br />
<br />
CFL officially inaugurated two new platforms, four new platform tracks (nos. 11-14) and a new footbridge at Luxembourg Gare Centrale on 12 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The third section of the new Luxtram tram network, also with catenary-free contactless running, going south between Stäreplaz and Gare Centrale opened on 13 December 2020. <br />
<br />
All public transport (Second Class only) in Luxembourg became free to use from 29 February 2020 in an effort to ease road congestion. Free Second Class public transport for under 20s started on 1 August 2018. <br />
<br />
The new parallel viaduct at Pulvermühle (just north of Luxembourg Gare Centrale), allowing Lines 10 and 30 to be split, and the associated double tracking of the line through to Sandweiler-Contern were inaugurated on 11 June 2019.<br />
<br />
A new cross border service, routed via Trier West, was planned at the end of 2019 as part of a Luxembourg - Wasserbillig - Wittlich service on Line 30. However, works to upgrade stations of the Trierer Weststrecke, and provide new ones, have been heavily delayed so the earliest regular passenger service will start is now 2024. An improved service started running on Line 30 in December 2019, but it is routed via Trier Hbf at present.<br />
<br />
The second section of the new Luxtram tram network, with catenary-free contactless running, west from Rout Bréck–Pafendall to Stäreplaz/Etoile opened on 27 July 2018.<br />
<br />
Conversion of line 5, Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen - frontier, from 3 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz ac was completed in autumn 2018.<br />
<br />
On 10 December 2017 new stations opened at Howald (on the Bettembourg line) and at Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg (on the Wasserbillig line, affording connection by funicular with the new tram line (see below)).<br />
<br />
From 20 July 2017 the CFL Luxembourg rail network was equipped with the ETCS level 1 European train control system, See [https://groupe.cfl.lu/en-gb/project/detail/european-train-control-system CFL ETCS Level 1].<br />
<br />
The first section of the new Luxtram tram network opened through Kirchberg on 10 December 2017 between Luxexpo and Rout Bréck–Pafendall (where there is a funicular link to the CFL Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station). <br />
<br />
From 4 April 2016 the service from Thionville to Longwy over the Bettembourg avoiding line was withdrawn. <br />
<br />
From 17 February 2016 Rodange - Athus [BE] [ - Virton] was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT BELGIUM ENTRY ---><br />
<br />
Double tracking of the line from Hollerich to Pétange completed in December 2012.<br />
<br />
The extension of the line across the border from Dudelange to Volmerange-les-Mines in France opened to public traffic on 15 December 2003.<br />
<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
Work is underway (at December 2023) on the following projects:-<br />
* Gare Centrale is undergoing a long-term rebuilding programme to increase capacity, started in 2006, including adding two extra platforms and four new tracks. One new track (no. 11) was opened at the December 2019 timetable change and the remaining three (nos. 12, 13 & 14) opened on 12 December 2021. Further work remodelling the southern approaches started in 2022. The extension project completion is due in 2025 with gradual commissioning of Luxembourg Station in its new form.<br />
* A new line is to be built from Howald to Bettembourg. The first phase, covering construction of the new line and temporary connections to the existing line at Howald and Bettembourg, was approved in February 2016. It is planned for technical and commercial commissioning to gradually take place from 2027 onwards.<br />
* two new 'peripherique' stations are to be constructed at Dommeldange and Cessange.<br />
<br />
Planning started in 2020 on a new fast tram line between Luxembourg via Esch-sur-Alzette to Belval and Belvaux, with a planned opening date to Leudelange in 2026. Further sections are planned to open at 2 year intervals; reaching Esch-sur-Alzette by 2032 with Belval and Belvaux being reached in 2035.<br />
<br />
See [https://transports.public.lu/fr/mobilite/transport-en-commun/tram/pour-en-savoir-plus-tram-rapide.html Le Tram Rapide] (In French).<br />
<br />
A proposal for SuperBus feeder routes in France could threaten the outer end of Line 60c: Esch-sur-Alzette - Audun le Tiche with closure in 2028.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
CFL provides the only passenger service to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange les Mines (France).<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Luxembourg}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Italy_-_General_Information&diff=54809Italy - General Information2024-01-27T19:54:41Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Openings */ Torino – Germagnano re-opened on 20 January 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Italy (Italia)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. ([http://www.fsitaliane.it FS], sometimes also FSI).<br />
<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
FS is a company wholly owned by the Italian government.<br />
It operates through a large number of subsidiaries, though only two are mostly responsible for train operations. <br />
*[https://www.trenitalia.com/ Trenitalia S.p.A.], generally known just as Trenitalia (TI), has operational and commercial responsibility for most passenger train operations.<br />
*Mercitalia Logistics, and its various subsidiaries, operates freight trains as well as shunting in some yards.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A, trading as [https://www.italotreno.it/ Italo] is an open-access operator of high-speed services, principally Torino, Milano and Venezia to Roma, Napoli and Salerno.<br />
*Most regional services in Lombardia (whether on RFI or Ferrovienord tracks) are managed by [https://www.trenord.it/ Trenord], a joint venture between Trenitalia and FNM (see Private Railways).<br />
*Most regional services in Emilia Romagna (whether on RFI or FER tracks) are managed by [https://www.trenitaliatper.it/ Trenitalia Tper], a joint venture owned 70% by Trenitalia and 30% by TPER (the former local operator).<br />
*Day trains between Paris and Milano are operated by both SNCF and Trenitalia in competition.<br />
*International day trains via Brennero are jointly operated by DB, ÖBB and Trenord.<br />
*Other international day and night trains to Austria and neighbouring countries are operated by ÖBB.<br />
<br />
Some smaller railway companies, including SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH, Trentino Trasporti, Trasporto Unico Abruzzese, Ente Autonomo Volturno S.r.l., and Ferrovie del Gargano, work passenger services over RFI lines.<br />
They mostly provide local services in the vicinity of their own lines.<br />
An increasing number of operators work freight trains in Italy.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Italian. German is widely spoken in the Alto Adige (Süd Tirol) region, and some French in the Valle d'Aosta.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* FS: numeric 83; alpha I <br />
* Società del Gruppo FNM: numeric 64; alpha FNM<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
*FS: The [https://www.lefrecce.it/Channels.Website.WEB/#/?lang=en Trenitalia journey planner] used to steer the user towards more expensive high speed services wherever possible. However it is now possible to select 'Main solutions', 'Frecce' (high speed services), 'Intercity' or 'Regional'. Choosing Regional for a main line journey may provide the option of using the slower but often considerably cheaper RV (''Regionale Veloce'') trains for a journey between two cities.<br />
*The "Biglietto Veloce/Fast Ticket" machines provided at most stations are a very useful means of (re)planning a journey 'on the hoof' if travellers need to change their plans.<br />
*Lombardia: Use the [https://www.trenord.it Trenord] journey planner for services in Lombardia, especially as it allows to buy tickets for services around Milano which are not sold on the Trenitalia journey planner.<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
* [http://www.viaggiatreno.it/ ViaggiaTreno]; Direct links to PC and mobile versions:<br />
**PC/laptop: [http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilita/index.jsp ViaggiaTreno PC]<br />
**Mobile: [http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilitamobile/home.jsp ViaggiaTreno mobile]<br />
***[http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilitamobile/pages/certificato/stampatreno.jsp Train lateness print] (for delay repay, works only for trains in the last 7 days)<br />
*[https://www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Live-departures-Arrivals-Monitor.html Live Departures/Arrivals Monitor] This site provides a real-time view of the public information displays for the selected station<br />
*[https://trainstats.altervista.org/ Trainstats] (in Italian only) This unofficial site allows to check the past punctuality of trains, searching by [https://trainstats.altervista.org/cercatreno.php train number] or [https://trainstats.altervista.org/cercarel.php origin and destination]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*FS: Timetables, titled as ''In Treno'', are shown as valid June to December or December to June, but since 2020 have been revised and reissued every 1–6 weeks. This allows variations due to engineering work to be included, but long-distance trains may be shown as running only for a few months even though they are a fairly permanent feature of the timetable. National and regional timetables can be downloaded from the [https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/orario_ferroviario.html Orario Ferroviario page] of the Trenitalia website. New timetables are not normally available until the day they become valid or only a few days in advance.<br />
<br />
*FS: Stations' arrivals and departure boards, showing also the scheduled platforms, can be downloaded from the [https://www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Online-timetables.html Quadri Orario online page]; note that the page is mostly in Italian: enter the name of the station in "Indica la stazione \ il comune", click on "Vai" and in the next page choose "Scarica il formato PDF del Quadro Orario" to download the departure board (the arrival board can also be downloaded by first clicking on "Arrivi" on the left)<br />
<br />
*Trenord: Timetables for individual local routes in the Lombardia region can be downloaded from the [https://www.trenord.it/linee-e-orari/circolazione/orario-ferroviario/ Trenord website] - scroll down the page for the list of tables. This information is also provided in the Trenitalia timetable.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
With effect from 15 June 2014 "In Treno Tutt'Italia", which is the official Trenitalia timetable, was discontinued in printed format. <br />
<br />
A printed timetable for Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca services called "Orario Le Frecce" is available, at no cost, from ticket offices.<br />
<br />
The only comprehensive paper timetable, "Orario Veltropalagi", ceased being published in June 2019.<br />
<br />
===<span id="ANRT"></span>Additional Notes on reading the Timetable===<br />
Two useful symbols exist which show the booked route for trains not calling at a station: in the middle of the train column, a vertical bar "|" means that the train passes through the station without stopping, whereas a middle dot "·" means that the train does not pass through that station but instead takes a different route.<br />
<br />
Long-distance trains, particularly overnight ones, can be subject to numerous variations in schedule, so may appear multiple times in tables.<br />
Notes indicating dates on which each schedule applies can be very complicated and sometimes contradictory, showing a train both running and not running on the same night.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information and Strikes===<br />
Engineering Work (''Lavori''): Scroll down the [https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/Infomobilita/notizie-infomobilita.html.html Infomobilità page] and open the "Infolavori" headings for details of the major upcoming engineering work, split by region.<br />
At the page [https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/lavori_e_modifichealservizio/ricerca.html Modifiche Programmate alla Circolazione], it is possible to search for all timetable changes between defined dates, also filtering by region.<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Scioperi''): [http://www.trenitalia.com www.trenitalia.com] and click on the following headings: "''Infomobilità''" > "''In caso di sciopero''" to display information on forthcoming strikes. A certain minimum number of trains, essentially for travel to and from work/school, and guaranteed by law ("''Servizi essenziali in caso di sciopero (legge 12 giugno 1990, n.146)''") to run on strike days, are also listed in this section.<br />
<br />
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) provides basic details of [https://www.mit.gov.it/come-fare-per/trasporti/calendario-scioperi-trasporti forthcoming transport strikes] with a chronological [http://scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi table] of forthcoming strike.<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Note that bus services listed in the timetable may use a nearby bus station or bus stop rather than calling at the FS station. This is not always made clear in the timetable and it is advisable to check at the station. The relevant bus stop can be identified by a "''fermata FS''" sign.<br />
<br />
BusItalia operates buses in some regions;<br />
<br />
[https://www.fsbusitalia.it/ BusItalia]<br />
<br />
It also operates some rail services in Umbria around Perugia;<br />
<br />
[https://www.fsbusitalia.it/content/fsbusitalia/it/umbria/orari-linee-umbria/orari-servizi-ferroviari-umbria.html BusItalia - Servizi ferroviari]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-IT-SI | Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia / Eisenbahnatlas Italien und Slowenien]] by Schweers + Wall.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-2 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Book 2: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*The [https://www.touringclub.it/ Touring Club Italiano] publishes extremely attractive 1:200.000 sheet maps and atlases which depict railways to a very high standard. They are generally accurate, though some railways that have closed or are still under construction appear as if open. The three-volume road atlas includes 1:80.000 enlargements of the major urban areas, on which railways are depicted well. Touring Club Italiano publications are not sold at many stations, but can be obtained from good bookshops in Italy (or outlets such as Stanfords in London).<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a small number of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/italy.html Italy Map], with enlargements for [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/milan.html Milano], [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/rome.html Roma] and [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/naples.html Napoli].<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Italy|Maps and Plans - Italy]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
===Ordinary Tickets and Reservations===<br />
Reservations are compulsory on National service trains - defined as Frecciarossa Alta Velocità [Red Arrow High Speed], Frecciargento Alta Velocità [Silver Arrow High Speed], Frecciabianca [White Arrow], Intercity (''IC''), Intercity Notte [night] (''ICN''), EuroCity (''EC'') and EuroCity Notte (''ECN'').<br />
Overnight trains offer Excelsior Wagon Lit (sleeping) cars and National Couchettes (CC and WL). Boarding these trains without a ticket will incur payment of a surcharge in addition to the ticket price. It may not be possible to obtain a reservation on a particular train when using an Interrail pass or a ticket at a discounted fare. The number of seats made available for holders of such tickets may be limited and there may even be none at all on busy trains. Reservations are not possible on Regional trains but since 28 October 2023, any Regional ticket purchased in advance on line that does not have a barcode is clearly marked "Not Valid for Travel" and needs to be validated on the day of travel using the the link in the confirmation of purchase e-mail. <br />
<br />
Tickets and reservations issued in Italy must be validated before use by stamping them in "''obliteratrici''", green machines (or possibly yellow for the older remaining ones) at stations: it is not possible to buy or stamp them on board a train. Having an unstamped ticket or none at all will require payment of the full ticket price plus a fine. However it is not unusual for these machines to be broken or out of service ("''fuori servizio''"). In that event it is acceptable for travellers to self-validate the ticket, using indelible ink to write on it the date, time and departure station, and tearing the ticket slightly. It is not necessary to validate tickets (i) bought on line with a barcode showing a specific train (time and date) or (ii) which include a reservation and can only be used on a specified train.<br />
<br />
Tickets for Trenitalia regional trains are valid for only one day and for only four hours from the time of validation - but see ''Italia in Tour'' below. Passengers can continue to their destination on the same train if still travelling when the four hours expire. If a ticket was purchased in advance it can be changed for one valid on a different date, but this must be done before its validity starts; there may be a charge for this.<br />
<br />
FS introduced in March 2019 a combined train+bus ticket between Roma Termini and Ciampino Airport, linked to the ATRAL bus company. This avoids the unreliability of the direct coach services and was at the time of introduction cheaper than the coach.<br />
<br />
Passengers holding international return tickets issued in Italy are required to have them stamped by the train conductor upon re-entering the country. Tickets may be used any time up to two months from date of sale, but are valid for a much shorter period from time of stamping. Those for journeys less than 200 km are valid for 6 hours from the time of stamping; those for 200 km or more for 24 hours.<br />
<br />
===Ticket Offices===<br />
Many smaller stations no longer have staffed booking offices or may be staffed for only a limited period. Ticket machines may be provided but not always; it may be necessary to purchase tickets from a neighbouring tobacconist (''Tabacchi''), bar or similar establishment, which may be some distance from the station. A list of these is usually posted at the station. Ticket machines too may be broken or out of service. Some ticket machines give change in coins but others give only a credit slip, printed on a blank ticket. These credits can be exchanged for cash at any FS booking office or used to purchase further tickets. This can be somewhat time consuming as the transaction has to be keyed into the system, evidence of identity (such as a passport) presented and a receipt signed.<br />
<br />
Tickets for other railways are rarely if ever available from FS ticket offices. If the railway does not have its own ticket office, tickets are normally available from a neighbouring tobacconist (''Tabacchi''), bar or similar establishment. Prospective travellers are strongly advised to look at the railway's website for a list of such establishments, as there may well be no indication on the premises that they sell these tickets.<br />
<br />
===Passes===<br />
Trenitalia offers a very useful 3-day and 5-day pass valid on almost all Trenitalia regional trains; see below for exceptions. Go to the [https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html Trenitalia website]. Select ''Advanced Search'' to the left of the <b>SEARCH</b> box and then ''Other Services'' at the bottom of the page. Select the ''Promo (only Regional trains)'' button. ''Italia in Tour'' 3- and 5- day passes can be purchased for an adult or child (''ragazzo''). However, note that this ticket is not valid on '''any''' train in Lombardia or the province of Bolzano, and is valid '''only''' on trains operated by Trenitalia or TrenitaliaTper. This information is correct as at November 2023, but the conditions could change, so it is strongly advised to check [https://www.trenitalia.com/content/dam/tcom/allegati/trenitalia_2014/area_clienti/trasporto-regionale/promo/Promo_Italia_in_Tour.pdf the current conditions]. Note that these are only in Italian.<br />
<br />
A useful regional ticket is available for the Lombardia region [https://www.regione.lombardia.it/wps/portal/istituzionale/HP/DettaglioServizio/servizi-e-informazioni/Cittadini/Muoversi-in-Lombardia/biglietti-e-agevolazioni/Io-viaggio/io-viaggio-ovunque-in-lombardia-biglietti-giornaliero-settimanale/io-viaggio-ovunque-in-lombardia-biglietti-giornaliero-settimanale Regione Lombardia io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia - biglietti]. Select ● ''"Descrizione”'' to obtain details of the ticket ● ''“Quando”'' for when it is available (1, 2, 3 or 7 consecutive days) or ● ''“Como Accedere”'' for details of how to buy it. Under "'''Allegati'''", ''“Mappa del Servizio Ferroviario Regionale”'' gives a PDF map showing the area covered by the ticket and ''“Travel card to get around Lombardia on public transport”'' gives brief details in English. '''Note''': the 1-3 day COP (CHIP ON PAPER) tickets issued by ticket machines must be validated using the 'contactless' validators and '''not''' the old ones which print the station name and date/time on the ticket.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*[http://www.rfi.it/ RFI S.p.A.], generally known as Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is responsible for infrastructure.<br />
*TAV S.p.A. is responsible for development of high speed routes; TAV denotes Treno Alta Velocita. <br />
*Italferr, the Italian State Railways Group engineering firm, operates in the Italian and international markets in the field of railway transport engineering.<br />
*[http://www.grandistazioni.it Grandi Stazioni S.p.A.] is responsible for fourteen major stations. 40% of the company is owned by Eurostazioni SpA, a joint venture of SNCF, Pirelli, Benneton and Caltagirone.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The [https://www.rfi.it/en/railway-infrastructure-access-/Network-statement.html Network Statement] page gives access to downloadable Network Statements. These give very general information. Specific information about the network is provided on a website with restricted access.<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. Some private lines are narrow gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3kV dc. The majority of the Torino – Novara – Milano – Bologna – Firenze and Roma – Napoli high speed lines are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz, as is Milano – Verona – Padova - still under construction. <br />
Milan Metro Lines 2 and 3 are overhead electrified at 1500 V dc, Lines 1, 4 and 5 are 750 V dc fourth/third/third rail.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The best source of information on distances is the "''Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia''". See [[#Printed Maps|Printed Maps]].<br />
<br />
Distances for individual FS lines are also available at https://normativaesercizio.rfi.it/Default.aspx<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
<br />
'''ARST S.p.A''': Passenger services on narrow-gauge lines in Sardegna. Operating throughout the year: Sassari - Sorso; Sassari - Alghero; Nuoro - Macomer; Cagliari - Isili. (950mm gauge). See [https://egtre.info/wiki/Italy_(Sardegna)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#TreninoVerde| Sardegna obscure services] for details of summer services over some other lines. [https://arst.sardegna.it/index.html arst.sardegna.it/index.html]<br />
<br />
'''Ente Autonomo Volturno E.A.V. S.r.l''' has brought together various operators in the Napoli area. S Maria Capua Vetere - Piedimonte Matese, Cancello - Benevento; Circumvesuviana lines south and east of Napoli (950mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc); Linee Flegree lines Napoli - Licola and Torregaveta; Metro Arcobaleno. [https://www.eavsrl.it/web/ www.eavsrl.it/web] <br />
<br />
'''Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.''': Bari - Bitonto - Barletta (via Palese and via Aerostazione); Fesca S Girolama - Cecilia (all electrified). Passenger services to Barletta were suspended following a serious collision in 2016 and although doubling of single track sections completed by 3 April 2023, trains still only run from Bari to Andria Sud with buses to/from Barletta as the line through Andria is being dropped into tunnel. That work is due to be completed by 30 June 2024. [http://www.ferrovienordbarese.it www.ferrovienordbarese.it]<br />
<br />
'''Ferrovia Circumetnea''': Catania Borgo - Randazzo - Riposto (950mm gauge). Also operates the Catania Metro (standard gauge, electrified). [http://www.circumetnea.it www.circumetnea.it]<br />
<br />
'''Ferrovia del Gargano S.r.l.''': San Severo - Peschici (electrified); Foggia - Lucera [http://www.ferroviedelgargano.com www.ferroviedelgargano.com]<br />
<br />
'''Ferrovia Genova Casella S.r.l.''': Genova Piazza Manin - Casella (metre gauge, electrified) [http://www.ferroviagenovacasella.it www.ferroviagenovacasella.it]<br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane''': Bari Centrale - Gravina in Puglia - Avigliano Luciana; Potenza Citta - Avigliano Citta; Altamura – Matera Sud (950 mm gauge). There has been no through rail service between Gravina in Puglia and Avigliano Lucania for many years, see Recent changes for what sections are operating. [http://www.fal-srl.it www.fal-srl.it]<br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.''': Passenger train services operate between Catanzaro Lido, Catanzaro Città and Soveria Mannelli, and Marzi via Rogliano to Cosenza with a FdC bus replacement from Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano [Note: calling at Marzi but not at the station]. No train service apart from a steam tourist operation between Moccone and San Nicola Silvana Mansio on the closed line to S Giovanni in Fiore. FdC buses cover services on the closed lines from Gioia Tauro to Sinopoli and Cinquefrondi, [http://www.ferroviedellacalabria.it www.ferroviedellacalabria.it]<br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie del Sud Est e Servizi Automobolistici S.r.l.''': Bari - Martina-Franca - Taranto; Mungivacca - Casamassima - Putignano; Martina-Franca - Lecce; Novoli - Gallipoli - Casarano; Nardo - Casanaro - Gagliano-Leuca; Lecce - Gagliano-Leuca; Nardo - Zollino; Maglie – Otranto [http://www.fseonline.it www.fseonline.it]. The railway has been a subsidiary of Trenitalia since August 2016.<br />
<br />
'''Gruppo Torinese Trasporti GTT S.p.A.''': Torino Dora - Ceres (electrified); Settimo - Rivarolo Canavese (electrified); Rivarolo Canavese – Pont Canavese (service suspended); Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway). Since 1 January 2021 the Rivarolo Canavese service has been operated by Trenitalia. [https://www.gtt.to.it/cms/ www.gtt.to.it]<br />
<br />
'''Rete Ferroviaria Toscana (RTF) S.p.A.''': Sinalunga - Arezzo - Pratovecchio Stia (electrified). The service is operated by Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano S.p.A. [http://www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it]<br />
<br />
'''SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A/SAD Nahverkehr GmbH''': Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals; Maria Himmelfahrt/L'Assunta - Klobenstein/Collalbo (electrified tramway). The company operates local trains on RFI lines in the Bozen/Bolzano area. [https://www.sad.it/it www.sad.it/it] <br />
<br />
'''Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale s.r.I.''': Udine - Cividale del Friuli. The company also operates a limited service over RFI and ÖBB lines between Trieste and Villach. [http://www.ferrovieudinecividale.it www.ferrovieudinecividale.it]<br />
<br />
'''Società Sistemi Territoriali S.p.A.''': Venezia Mestre – Adria [http://www.sistemiterritorialispa.it www.sistemiterritorialispa.it]<br />
<br />
'''Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviare S.p.A.''': Domodossola - Camedo [- Locarno (CH)] (metre gauge, electrified 1200V dc). In recent years the trading name Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli has been used. [http://www.vigezzina.com www.vigezzina.com]<br />
<br />
'''Società Unica Abruzzese di Trasporto (TUA) S.p.A.''': Operates passenger services over its own new railway between Lanciano and San Vito-Lanciano and over the Teramo - Giulianova - Pescara and Pescara - San Vito-Lanciano - Vasto FS lines. Services on its other routes (including the lengthy line to Castel di Sangro) have been replaced by buses or withdrawn entirely. [https://www.tuabruzzo.it/ www.tuabruzzo.it]<br />
<br />
'''Trenitalia TPER''' is a joint venture between Trenitalia and Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna. It operates passenger services over the lines of [http://www.fer.it/ Ferrovie Emilia Romagna]: Casalecchio Garibaldi - Vignola (electrified); Bologna Centrale - Portomaggiore (electrified); Ferrara - Codigoro; Ferrara - Poggio Rusco (electrified); Parma - Suzzara - Poggio Rusco; Guastalla - Reggio Emilia - S Lazzaro; Reggio Emilia - Ciano d'Enza; Reggio Emilia - Sassuolo; Modena - Sassuolo (electrified). It also operates local trains over RFI lines in Emilia Romagna region and the ''Marconi Express'' people mover between Bologna Aeroporto and Bologna Centrale station. [https://www.tper.it/ www.tper.it]<br />
<br />
'''Trenord S.r.l''' is a joint venture between [https://www.ferrovienord.it/it/ Ferrovienord S.p.A.] and Trenitalia, which operates regional services in Lombardia. FNM (previously Ferrovie Nord Milano) owns the following lines: Milano Nord Cadorno - Asso; Milano Bovisa - Laveno Mombello Nord; Saronno - Como Nord Lago; Saronno - Novara; Saronno - Seregno; Busto Arsizio - Malpensa Aeroporto (all electrified); Brescia - Edolo; Bornato-Calino - Rovato. [http://www.trenord.it www.trenord.it]<br />
<br />
'''Trentino Trasporti S.p.A''': Trento - Mezzana (metre gauge, electrified). The company operates some of the local trains on the RFI line between Trento and Bassano del Grappa. [http://www.ttspa.it www.ttspa.it]<br />
<br />
'''Umbria TPL e Mobilità S.p.A.''': Terni - Perugia - Sansepolcro; Train services were replaced by buses in September 2017, pending upgrading the network, and resumed on 25 October 2018 between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni and Città di Castello on the Sansepolcro line. [http://www.umbriamobilita.it www.umbriamobilita.it] (Website under construction).<br />
Train services between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna resumed on 13 September 2022. These reinstated rail services are operated by [https://www.fsbusitalia.it/content/fsbusitalia/it/umbria/orari-linee-umbria/orari-servizi-ferroviari-umbria.html BusItalia] . <br />
<br />
Many private railways operate through services onto FS lines, and there are a few private lines over which FS trains regularly operate.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
<br />
* Ceva - Ormea [http://www.piemontevic.com/viaggi-treno-storico-valle-tanaro.html www.piemontevic.com/viaggi-treno-storico-valle-tanaro.html]<br />
* Palazzolo-sull'Oglio - Paratico-Sarnico [http://www.ferrovieturistiche.it www.ferrovieturistiche.it]<br />
* Asciano - Monte-Antico [http://www.ferrovieturistiche.it www.ferrovieturistiche.it]<br />
* Moccone – S Nicola-Silvana Mansio [http://www.trenodellasila.it/ www.trenodellasila.it/]<br />
* Sulmona - Isernia (but often only to Roccaraso) [http://www.lerotaie.com/ www.lerotaie.com]<br />
* <span id="SANMARINO"></span>San Marino - [https://it-it.facebook.com/groups/618068994884889/ Treno Bianco Azzurro]. Occasional operation over ~800 m restored section of the Rimini - San Marino 950 mm gauge 3 kV dc electrified interurban line.<br />
<br />
See also [[Italy_(Sardegna)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#TreninoVerde| Ferrovie della Sardegna]]<br />
<br />
[https://blog.tuttotreno.it/5361-viaggiare-con-i-treni-depoca/ This blog] gives an exhaustive list of excursions, some of which may well run over lines with no regular passenger service.<br />
<br />
[https://www.fondazionefs.it/content/fondazionefs/en/itineraries.html The Fondazione FS] website lists their excursions, some of which may well run over lines with no regular passenger service.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Catania, Genova, Milano, Napoli, Roma, Torino. Track plans for the Milano and Torino systems are available on the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro.tramway.rer.funiculaire site].<br />
<br />
The opening of the new 15 km Milano Metro line M4 has been delayed with sections opening in 2022, 2023 and 2024.<br />
<br />
Some Trenitalia suburban services are referred to as "Metro" and this may give rise to confusion, particularly in Napoli.<br />
<br />
The Roma Metro company also operates the lengthy rural line to Viterbo via Catalano.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Bergamo, Brescia, Cagliari, Catania, Firenze, Genova, Klobenstein/Collalbo, Messina, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Roma, Sassari, Torino, Trieste [which has been plagued by reliability issues and has been closed since 16 August 2016] <br />
<br />
Some links are available on the [http://sinfin.net/railways/world/italy.html Sinfin.net site].<br />
<br />
See also [[Italy_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Italy - Tram services over obscure routes]].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
===General===<br />
The absorption of the Ferrovie Sud Est by the Ferrovie dello Stato Group was agreed on 23 May 2016 owing to the excessive debts of the former.<br />
<br />
Most main lines in Italy are electrified and work continues on electrification of secondary routes.<br />
Work under way includes the line to Campobasso, the line to Aosta, the lines from Catanzaro Lido to Sibari and Lamezia Terme Centrale, and various routes in the Salerno area and in the Veneto region.<br />
The SAD line to Malles Venosta is also being electrified, as are FER lines in Emilia-Romagna.<br />
<br />
===Openings===<br />
<br />
Due to the mountainous nature of much of Italy, most lines are very scenic. However, the original railways were very slow, due to sharp curves and steep gradients. For much of the 20th century, cut offs and completely new main lines were built to speed up services. Foremost among these is the Roma - Firenze direttissima. Unlike high-speed lines in France and Germany, this does not have special signalling and can be used by most trains without modification. The high speed trunk line from Torino to Salerno is now complete, with the openings on 13 December 2009 between Novara and Milano, Milano and Bologna, Bologna and Firenze and between Napoli and Salerno, and the extension of the Roma - Napoli line from Gricignano into Napoli. The direct connection between the Roma - Napoli and Napoli - Salerno high speed lines, avoiding Napoli Centrale, became available for traffic on 13 October 2013.<br />
<br />
The Bologna Passante, taking the high speed under Bologna Centrale, opened on 22 June 2012. The AV station on the Passante opened with limited facilities in December 2012 and fully in 2013. The next section of the High Speed Line from Milano to Venezia, from Treviglio to Brescia, opened in December 2016. The high speed line west of Brescia to Padova is still under construction. Contracts have been awarded for design and construction of a high speed line from Napoli to Frasso Telesino, between Caserta and Benevento. This is seen as the first stage of a high speed route to Bari. There is an ambitious plan for a new line, in a long tunnel under Mont Cenis, to link Torino with Lyon and the French high speed network, but this is many years from realisation.<br />
<br />
Many other cut-offs and new lines are under construction, but work may proceed slowly and some projects are suspended periodically. Routes that include sections which have been rebuilt and diverted significantly in recent years include: Verona to Brennero, Gemona del Friuli to Tarvisio, Ventimiglia to Genova, Parma to La Spezia, parts of the Adriatic coast line, Bari to Taranto, Messina to Palermo and the railway into Siracusa from the north. <br />
<br />
Recent urban developments have been construction of metros in Torino and Catania, a tram system in Sassari and a new railway, the ''Passante'', in tunnel under the centre of Milano. The ''Passante'' runs from Certosa to Porta Vittoria and has a connection from the FNM line at Nord Bovisa Politecnico. Some trains continue to Pioltello Limito and others from Porta Vittoria via a reinstated curve to Milano Rogoredo. Full opening of the ''Passante'' in 2008 was accompanied by a reorganisation of local train services around Milano, including re-introduction of regular trains between Milano S Cristoforo and Milano Lambrate via Porta Romana. FNM operates many local services in Lombardia in a joint venture with Trenitalia known as ''Trenord''.<br />
<br />
Other recent openings and re-openings (excluding realignment and rebuilding of main lines) are:<br />
* Torino – Germagnano re-opened on 20 January 2024, with a new mostly underground section connecting Torino Rebaudengo Fossata and Venaria<br />
* Bari – Bitritto opened 8 January 2024<br />
* Asti - Castagnole delle Lanze - Alba and Casale Monferrato - Mortara both re-opened on 11 September 2023.<br />
* The next 2 km of Milan Metro line M4, from Dateo to San Babila, opened on 4 July 2023.<br />
* The first 5 km of Milan Metro line M4, from Dateo to Linate City Airport, opened on 26 November 2022.<br />
* The former Ferrovia Centrale Umbra (FCU) branch from Perugia Ponte S Giovanni to Perugia S Anna re-opened on 13 September 2022, after some 5 years of closure for rebuilding, with diesel trains operated by BusItalia, but completion of electrification is to take some months longer.<br />
<br />
* A 7 km section of the Roma ring, between Valle Aurelia to Vigna Clara, reopened on 13 June 2022 after 32 years.<br />
<br />
* Genzano - San Nicola (FAL) re-opened on 31 December 2020 but to note by at least 12 December 2021 this was operating as an isolated section as both Genzano to Gravina in Puglia, [which had only re-opened on 24 January 2018], and long term suspended San Nicola to Avigliano Lucania were bustituted! From FAL website News articles this may have been from 30 April 2020 and as at August 2023 there is no information on their website of any planned re-opening dates. <br />
<br />
* Termoli - Campobasso: Re-opened 9 August 2020 following upgrading.<br />
<br />
* Cagnano Verano - Peschichi-Calenella (FdG): Re-opened 25 July 2020 following level crossing upgrading.<br />
<br />
* In Naples Tram line 1 resumed operation between Poggioreale and via Cristoforo Colombo on 31 January 2020. The rest of Tram Line 1 and Lines 2 & 4 are still suspended due to construction of Metro Line 6.<br />
<br />
* Castiglione Cosentino avoiding line: One train pair daily from and to Sibari from 16 September 2019. <br />
<br />
* The electrification of the Bari - Casamassima - Putignano line 1 bis was inaugurated on 12 September 2019. <br />
<br />
* Savigliano - Saluzzo: 7 January 2019 (but service withdrawn in 2020 as a result of Covid-19)<br />
<br />
* Palermo - Punta Raisi: Re-opened 9 December 2018, following substantial reconstruction, including a new tunnel in Palermo.<br />
<br />
* The section of former Ferrovia Centrale Umbra (FCU) between Perugia Ponte S Giovanni and Città di Castello reopened on 25 October 2018.<br />
<br />
* Through trains from Slovenia to Trieste Centrale via Villa Opicina resumed on 9 September 2018. <br />
<br />
* Varese - Stabio (Switzerland) and Porto Ceresio opened for passenger service on 7 January 2018<br />
<br />
The Ferrovie della Calabria reportedly awarded a contract in July 2014 for the construction of a new 5 km line between Dulcino and Catanzaro Germaneto (the FS station outside the city). <br />
<br />
The Ferrovie della Calabria awarded a contract in March 2019 for the reconstruction of the 32km between Marzi and Soveria Mannelli, the 'missing link' in the Cosenza - Catanzaro line, which has been closed since 2010 owing to three landslides between Parenti and Celsita. Reopening is planned for mid-2024.<br />
<br />
In December 2016 funds were allocated for completion of the line from Ferrandina (between Potenza and Metaponto) and Matera, where construction work started in 1985. RFI launched a 310 million Euro tender in 2022 to complete the line. Under the proposed schedule the line should be open by 2026.<br />
<br />
In December 2022 RFI awarded a €428m contract for construction of an 8 km line to Venezia Marco Polo Airport. It will have a triangular junction with the Venezia Mestre – Trieste main line and then follow the alignment of the airport access motorway.<br />
<br />
In June 2023 RFI awarded a contract for the renovation of the remaining closed sections of the FCU lines closed in 2017, namely Perugia - Terni and Città di Castello - San Sepolcro. The lines should reopen in 2026.<br />
<br />
===Closures===<br />
<br />
After a period of stability, there were significant line closures from 2006, mainly because of infrastructure in poor condition and no funds for maintenance. A few lines have closed and been re-opened, but most have remained closed. In most cases a substitute bus service has been provided, but some of these have later been withdrawn. In recent years the rate of closure has slowed somewhat.<br />
<br />
Lines can be closed for extended periods for electrification work.<br />
Current and forthcoming electrification closures include:<br />
*226 Montebelluno - Feltre: February to September 2023<br />
*226 Feltre - Belluno: Summer 2023<br />
*227 Montebelluno - Treviso: Summer 2023<br />
*113 Ivrea - Aosta: 2024 to 2026<br />
*313 Isernia - Campobasso: Expected to reopen June 2025<br />
*330 Mercato S Severino - Avellino - Benevento: Probably reopening to Avellino in 2024 and to Benevento in 2025<br />
*418 Merano/Meran – Malles/Mals: closing for various periods, electrification to be completed by 2025<br />
<br />
In addition:<br />
*226 Ponte nelle Alpi-Polpet - Calalzo-Pieve is closed March to December 2023 (but open for a period during the summer) for engineering work<br />
*114 Bozzolo – Mantova closed on 14 January 2023 for line doubling, and should reopen in December 2026<br />
*172 Bergamo – Ponte San Pietro is closing on 5 February for line doubling between Bergamo and Curno, and should reopen in December 2026<br />
<br />
Services over the ''Ferrovie del Sardegna'' lines Laconi - Sorgono and Seui - Arbatax were withdrawn from 24 June 2016, but were reinstated in 2017 except between Seui and Gairo. However, there have been no trains between Laconi and Sorgono since 2018. After several years of limited services on parts of the Bosa Marina line there were no trains in 2022.<br />
<br />
The trains between Sassari and Alghero were replaced by buses from October 2018, because of defects with the signalling system. It reopened on 23 November 2019.<br />
<br />
Train service withdrawals in 2023:<br />
* The Ferrovie della Calabria service between Catanzaro Città and Soveria Mannelli was suspended from 15 July 2023 to allow modernisation work to start. This section should reopen December 2026<br />
<br />
Train service withdrawals in 2022:<br />
<br />
*434 Bologna Rovieri - Bologna Centrale: Closed December 2022 and to be replaced by an underground line planned to open in 2025<br />
*The last 11.6 km, Milan - Limbiate, section of the city's Interurban Tramway closed on 30 September 2022, due to ongoing infrastructure safety concerns. Conversion to a double track light rail line is scheduled for 2024-2028, with 10 new low floor trams ordered for delivery in 2024. <br />
*280 Firenze Cascine - Firenze Porta al Prato (12 September) <br />
*The Ferrovie della Calabria service between Catanzaro Lido and Catanzaro Città was suspended from 20 April 2022 to allow reconstruction work to start. Work on the section between Catanzaro Lido and Catanzaro Sala will include doubling and a new underground station at Santa Maria and will utilise part of the old standard gauge alignment between these stations. Reopening was originally planned for July 2023 but has slipped to 2024.<br />
<br />
Train service withdrawals in 2021:<br />
*330 Benevento - Avellino - Mercato San Severino (12 December)<br />
<br />
Train service withdrawals in 2020:<br />
*106 Savigliano - Saluzzo (last in the 28 June timetable, but not the 8 August reissue)<br />
*259 Cecina - Volterra Saline-Pomerance; Train service substituted by buses in summer 2020, for a line upgrade, but were not reinstated in autumn 2020. Replacement buses continue to run.<br />
<br />
Train service withdrawals in 2018:<br />
*409 Rovato Borgo - Bornato Calino<br />
*4 Bologna Corticella - Bologna S Ruffillo (8 December): Use of this section of the Bologna Cintura by a few Frecciarossa trains ceased, following earlier completion of a link from the Padove line to the low level platforms at Bologna Centrale. This also brought to an end passenger use of the connection to the high speed line to Firenze from Bologna S Ruffillo.<br />
*172 Seregno - Carnate-Usmate (8 December)<br />
<br />
FAL Services between (Gravina in Puglia -) Genzano and Pietragalla (- Potenza) (''Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane'') were substituted by buses from 24 June 2013 or earlier for engineering work which was then expected to last 6 or more months. From 15 December 2014 the section affected was extended from Pietragalla to Avigliano Lucania, with the line south of there served only by trains between Potenza and Avigliano Città. See openings for considerably later than suggested re-commencement dates... <br />
<br />
Following the introduction of high-speed services between Milano and Napoli there is far less use of connections on and off the Firenze - Roma ''direttissima''. The ''direttissima'' is being resignalled to ERTMS standards and there are plans to convert it from 3,000 volts dc to 25 kV ac, at least between Arezzo and Orte. This may well result in no further passenger use of connections to the old main line at Chiusi Nord, Chiusi Sud, Orvieto Nord, Orvieto Sud and Orte Nord.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[Italy - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Following a serious, head-on collision on the Ferrotramviaria line between Bari and Barletta, from September 2016 a 50 km/hr speed limit was imposed on some local (non-FS) lines which do not have an adequate block working system. From August 2016 there were no passenger trains between Ruvo di Puglia and Andria, pending signalling improvements. Ruvo di Puglia and Corato re-opened on 4 March 2019 and later to Andria Sud. Onwards to Barletta remains bustituted as the tracks through Andria are being dropped into tunnel. <br />
<br />
Theft is a particular problem at main stations. Luggage should be closely watched at all times and precautions taken against pickpockets. Some thieves are very young and many operate in groups. A common technique is to create a distraction, such as engaging a traveller in conversation, to draw attention from robbery by accomplices. Crime can also be a problem on overnight trains, which may also be very crowded. It is sensible to book a couchette, at modest cost, as these provide more space and greater security.<br />
<br />
Railway police will be found at all but local stations. They, or other Trenitalia staff, may raise objections to photography or waiting for trains on platforms, rather than in waiting rooms, and seem particularly keen to prevent anyone crossing the tracks where a subway ("sottopassagio") is provided. At some main stations access to platforms is confined to those with travel tickets, and tickets are sometimes checked at platform barriers.<br />
<br />
At places served by private railways and Trenitalia interchange arrangements vary considerably. In certain cases there is significant integration and co-ordination of operations, but at some places connections seem unplanned and merely by chance, so trains may not wait for the other operator’s late running service. Private railways may use the FS station, but often have their own platforms and booking office (often private railway tickets are obtained from the station bar or café). Their services may not be listed on the Trenitalia arrivals and departures posters. There are entirely separate stations at a few places. Through tickets are usually available between private railways and Trenitalia, but some private railways do not issue return tickets for local journeys.<br />
<br />
Departure information at stations, especially in the South, can be sparse and incorrect. Services operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est may vary from the published timetable, particularly south of Lecce. Trains depart at the advertised times, but passengers may be required to change trains at junctions where a through service is shown and, conversely, some connections may work as through trains.<br />
<br />
There is a passenger and goods train ferry between Villa S Giovanni and Messina connecting the mainland system with railways on the island of Sicilia. Sardegna is no longer served by train ferry from Civitavecchia on the mainland to Golfo Aranci as the link span and associated trackwork at Civitavecchia were dismantled in Summer 2015. It had been used only for rolling stock transfers for a number of years previously. Any railway vehicles needing to be transferred to Sardegna are conveyed from Villa S Giovanni or Messina.<br />
<br />
The Italian for "motor coach" is "pullman", so any reference to travel by pullman is to a trip by road. Although "carrozza" usually means a railway carriage, a journey advertised to be by carrozza (rather than by train) will use a horse-drawn road vehicle.<br />
<br />
===<span id="VATICAN"></span>Vatican City===<br />
RFI owns the 1.27 km Vatican Railway, the world's shortest international railway, built by FS in accordance with the Lateran Treaty of 1929 and opened on 2 October 1934. Until recent years the railway had been used only very rarely by special trains, and with only four Papal trains ever - in 1962, 1979, 2002 and 2011. However, it was electrified as far as the Vatican gate in October 2013, which made it considerably easier to operate through trains from the FS network as it was no longer necessary to provide diesel haulage over this short branch. A special tourist train from the Vatican City to Albano Laziale was introduced in September 2015. See route [[Italy_(Lazio)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#RSP-CDV|Roma S Pietro - Città del Vaticano]] for further details.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Italy}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Netherlands_-_General_Information&diff=54763Netherlands - General Information2024-01-23T19:22:48Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Future changes */ Neuenhaus (DE)</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Netherlands (Nederland)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[https://www.ns.nl/en Nederlandse Spoorwegen] (NS) is the principal passenger carrier, which operates through various subsidiary companies, including:<br />
* NS Reizigers - Domestic passenger services <br />
* [https://www.nsinternational.com/en ''NS International''] - International passenger services.<br />
<br />
[https://www.eurostar.com/''Eurostar''] services to the Netherlands are operated by a stand-alone company owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%); NS is not a partner. <br />
<br />
[https://www.europeansleeper.eu/''European Sleeper''] is a Dutch private company offering night services from Brussels via Amsterdam to Berlin and Prague.<br />
<br />
There is no longer a national freight operator. The former NS freight operation has been sold and is a subsidiary of DB (see below). Open access freight operators have a considerable market share. Current freight operators in The Netherlands as at 2023 are DB Cargo Nederland (German), Lineas Nederland (Belgian), LTE Netherlands (Austrian), Captrain (French) and RTB Cargo German) amoungst others.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Dutch<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
Numeric 84; alpha NL<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
As of 14 December 2014, every station should be served twice an hour.<br />
<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
* PC and smartphone: [https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information Travel Information].<br />
* Iphone application: [https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/ns/id370362301 Reisplanner].<br />
* Android application: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ns.android.activity&utm_source=ns&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=rpxpagina Reisplanner]<br />
* Windows application: [https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9wzdncrdmbbm Treinplanner]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
* [https://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Actuele spoorkaart Nederland]<br />
*[https://treinenradar.nl/ Treinenradar Live]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
By December 2023, NS no longer produces timetables in pdf format on its website.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
''Rover'' offers a paper [https://www.ovshop.nl/shop/rover-spoorboekje-2024/ ''Spoorboekje''] for 2023-2024. NS discontinued paper timetables after the 2009-2010 edition. Rover took the publication over from Treinreiziger.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/current-situation-on-the-tracks The current situation on the tracks].<br />
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/maintenance-on-the-tracks/ An overview of scheduled works in the upcoming months that will effect services].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Information===<br />
Real time train running information is available on the [http://treinenradar.nl/ ''Treinenradar''], [https://treinposities.nl/ ''Treinposities''] and [http://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Spoorkaart] websites. Moreover, public transport Apps like OV9292 and NS Reisplanner offer real time journey information.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A basic diagrammatic [https://www.treinreiziger.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Spoorkaart-2021-v2.pdf Rail Map 2021] by Treinreiziger.nl<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*NS provided until 2022 a map with all passenger train service numbers and frequencies. It's no longer available. <br />
*Prorail provides a [https://www.prorail.nl/siteassets/homepage/reizen/documenten/spoorkaart-2020-webversie.pdf detailed geographical map].<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line maps and schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Map of Benelux network] Last updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Netherlands|Maps and Plans - Netherlands]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
As of 2023, paying public transport journeys by debit card (check-in and check-out) has been introduced. Once every 24 hours the journeys are collected. However, buying tickets from vending machines is still possible. Transport companies offer reduced fairs via their mobile applications (Android and iOS). More information via [https://ovpay.nl/en OVpay]<br />
<br />
All railway stations are equipped with ticket machines which all accept debit and credit cards (V PAY, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express). However, some foreign Visa debit cards are not accepted. Some machines accept coins as well. All machines offer domestic tickets and some provide international tickets to Belgium, and a selection of destinations in Germany. All tickets contain a chip to validate your ticket. Booking offices at small stations have almost all been closed. A surcharge is payable at booking offices when buying a ticket which is available from a ticket machine.<br />
<br />
The smart card [https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/ OV Chipkaart] is the normal ticket on public transport and can be bought at any ticket machine. Machines that add value to an OV Chipkaart accept debit cards issued outside the Netherlands. However, only a few machines (such as at some tobacconists) accept credit cards. Paper tickets continue to be issued from machines and booking offices for rail journeys.<br />
<br />
Information on tickets and passes can be found on the NS [https://www.ns.nl/producten/en/losse-kaartjes-toeslagen Individual tickets & supplements] page. A supplement is required to travel on the HSL between Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport unless the passenger has a valid international ticket (which includes Interrail). The supplement can be purchased from vending machines; there are red validation machines for such supplements on the platforms.<br />
<br />
'''Note''': ALL tickets from machines MUST be touched in and out with ALL operators used in the correct order, when changing operators en-route. Travellers may be fined if they do not do this.<br />
<br />
NS-Zonetaxi (formerly known as treintaxi) tickets include a taxi from/to the railway station for a fixed fare. The service is available in most mid-size towns, but not in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Den Haag and Rotterdam. When riding on single or return tickets, trein-taxi tickets should be bought at the departure station. For the return trip by taxi, tickets are best bought in advance, but the taxi driver sells tickets with a small surcharge.<br />
<br />
Although more local services are to be franchised over the next few years, a uniform ticketing system, including NS and all franchisees, is being retained.<br />
<br />
''Special offers:''<br />
At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport both NS and GVB Amsterdam sell tickets for public transport connections to Amsterdam. [http://www.treinreiziger.nl/ Treinreiziger] offers news about the Dutch railwaysystem, including the availabillity of discounted tickets.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.prorail.nl/ ProRail] owns and manages the NS infrastructure and is responsible for traffic control and capacity allocation, under the authority of the minister of transport. On 1 July 2015 the operation of the ''Betuweroute'' was transferred to ProRail and the previous owners, Keyrail, ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
[https://www.ilent.nl/ Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport], part of the Ministry of Transport, is responsible for safety and rolling stock certification.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The Prorail Website gives access to various [http://www.prorail.nl/vervoerders/network-statement NS Network Statement] documents.<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
1500 V dc. New high-speed lines and the Betuwe trunk freight line between Rotterdam and Zevenaar (- Emmerich (Germany)) are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz; Zevenaar - Emmerich was converted to 25 kV in 2016 so that freight trains have to change voltage only once, although it caused passenger trains to have to change voltage twice. The Hanzelijn is not officially a high-speed line, so is 1500 V dc. Large-scale conversion to 25 kV 50 Hz in the long term was envisaged but this was abandoned in the late 1990s as too expensive. In 2014 Prorail started a feasibility study into upgrading to 3000 V dc.<br />
Metros and Tramways are 750 V dc, with third rail used on the Amsterdam and Rotterdam metros.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right, but most lines are reversibly signalled. The following lines have left-hand running:<br />
* the high speed line from Rotterdam Lombardijen (where there is a flying crossover) to the Belgian border <br />
* the fast lines between Utrecht Centraal and Bilthoven; there is a flying crossover west of Bilthoven <br />
* from Roosendaal to the Belgian border <br />
* from Maastricht to the Belgian border<br />
<br />
There are connections between the high speed line and the old line to Breda where they run parallel south of Lage Zwaluwe, at which the two lines are handed in opposite directions. This results in the two southbound lines (which are adjacent) being linked merely by a long crossover whereas the connection between the northbound lines crosses over all four tracks on a flyover.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_spoorlijnen_in_Nederland Wikipedia] gives distances for all lines in the Netherlands. Click on the line wanted, and on the right distances for stations are given. [http://www.sporenplan.nl/html_nl/sporenplan/ns/ns_nummer/start.html Sporeneplan] provides an alternative source. Click on the line wanted to reach a schematic line plan, alongside which distances for stations (named in abbreviated code) are given. ''Neither is an official page and can be out of date.'' '''If any user can point to an official source for distance information the compilers would be glad to hear.'''<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Private operators have franchises to work a number of local passenger services over Prorail lines, thus:<br />
* Arriva Nederland: Leeuwarden - Harlingen, Leeuwarden - Stavoren, Leeuwarden - Groningen, Groningen - Roodeschool/Eemshaven/Delfzijl, Groningen - Veendam/Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D), Apeldoorn - Zutphen, Zutphen - Winterswijk, Winterswijk - Arnhem, Arnhem - Tiel, Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond - Maastricht/Heerlen, Maastricht Randwijck - Heerlen - Kerkrade/Aachen (D).<br />
* Blauwnet (Arriva/Keolis): Enschede - Almelo - Mariënberg, Kampen - Zwolle - Emmen, Zutphen - Hengelo - Oldenzaal.<br />
* Breng: Doetinchem - Arnhem.<br />
* Q-Buzz (R-Net): Dordrecht - Geldermalsen; Gouda - Alphen aan den Rijn.<br />
* Valleilijn (Connexxion): Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen. <br />
<br />
In addition cross-border services are worked by the following operators: <br />
* eurobahn: Hengelo - Bielefeld (D) (RB61); Venlo - Düsseldorf - Hamm (D) (RE13)<br />
* DB Regio: Enschede - Gronau - Münster / Dortmund (D) <br />
* VIAS Rail: Arnhem - Düsseldorf (D) (RE19) <br />
* NMBS: local services Roosendaal - Antwerpen (B); Maastricht - Luik / Liège (B)<br />
<br />
The German based Bentheimer Eisenbahn (BE) owns and operates its trunk line from Bentheim to the border at Laarwald and a further 2 km on to Coevorden. The line is freight only; there has never been any significant border crossing passenger traffic, but freight has regained importance in recent times. Coevorden effectively serves as a German rail bridgehead into the Netherlands, traffic mainly consisting of containers that are subsequently road-hauled into the northern provinces. There are plans to introduce passenger services between Coevorden and Neuenhaus (D), operated by BE, by 2024.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
A list of Tourist & Museum Railways and Tramways in English is available on the [http://www.railmusea.nl/en Historisch Railvervoer Nederland (HRN)] website.<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://grenzland-draisine.eu/ Grenzland Draisine]: based at Kranenburg in Germany, on the former Kleve [DE] - Nijmegen [NL] line, the ''Grenzenlose'' trip to Groesbeek (5.5 km one way) covers a portion in the Netherlands <br />
*[https://www.spoorfietsen.nl Spoorfietsen]: Hengelo - Twekkelo (a short stretch of Hengelo - Boekelo line, latterly serving AKZO factory)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
[https://www.gvb.nl/en Amsterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/ Rotterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travelling-with-the-ret.html RandstadRail].<br />
<br />
Track plans for all metro systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht.<br />
<br />
Track plans for all tram systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].<br />
<br />
See also [[Netherlands_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Netherlands - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
In the period June - December 2024 the Eurostar Service Amsterdam/Rotterdam - London will be cancelled due to infrastrudture works. <br />
In the direction London - Rotterdam/Amsterdam the Eurostar Service might continue.<br />
<br />
The direct ICE service Amsterdam - Basel will cease to exist by 15 July 2024.<br />
<br />
The outcome of a feasibility study to resume passenger services between Veendam and Stadskanaal will be published in the course of 2024. <br />
<br />
The Bentheimer Eisenbahn from Bad Bentheim (DE) to Coevorden, which was reopened in 2019 as far as Neuenhaus (DE), is to be reopened through to Coevorden. An invitation to tender has been issued for a start date in either June or December 2026.<br />
<br />
Works for the electrification of Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond will start by mid 2025 and should be finished by late 2027. <br />
<br />
The new 'Friesenbrücke' bridge, facilitating the passenger traffic Groningen - Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D) should be constructed by late 2024.<br />
<br />
Long term projects:<br />
On 10 October 2017, the coalition government agreed plans to reopen and electrify Weert - Hamont.<br />
On 5th of October 2023, the outcome of a feasabillity study has been published, which prefers to establish a 3KV trainconnection Weert - Antwerpen run by NMBS. No decission has been taken yet.<br />
<br />
The "Iron Rhine" freight line between Roermond and Dalheim (Germany) is planned to reopened for traffic between Antwerpen and the Ruhr. However this has been delayed by a dispute between the Dutch and Belgian governments, which has gone to arbitration.<br />
<br />
===Recent changes===<br />
<br />
On 25 May 2023, [https://www.europeansleeper.eu/en European Sleeper] started to operate a night service from Brussel/Bruxelles via Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Berlin. In 2024 this service will be extended to Praha.<br />
<br />
RET Metro line B has been extended by 2.6 km from Hoek van Holland Haven to a new Hoek Van Holland Strand station, 0.9 km beyond the previous NS Strand station. Regular services commenced on 31 March 2023.<br />
<br />
Landgraaf - Herzogenrath (Germany) has been upgraded for cargo traffic in September 2022, while Arriva EMUs are running between Aachen Hbf and Maastricht since the electrification in 2018. The planned through Arriva service between Aachen and Liège has been delayed and until further notice NMBS continue to operate a separate train service between Maastricht and Liège.<br />
<br />
The last museum trains to use the Blauwkapel Kruispunt, where the line northwards from the ''Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum'' at Utrecht Maliebaan station makes a flat crossing with the Utrecht - Amersfoort line, ran on 14 May 2022. The north - south link at Blauwkapel has since been removed. This does not affect the shuttle trains between Utrecht Centraal station and the museum, which continue to run. <br />
<br />
By December 2021 Zürich - Amsterdam NightJet services were introduced, complementing the Wien - Amsterdam services which started on 25 May 2021.<br />
<br />
The (Rotterdam -) Schiedam Centrum - Hoek van Holland ''Hoekse Lijn'' line closed to passengers as an NS line on 1 April 2017 and reopened as RET Metro line B between Nesselande and Hoek van Holland on 30 September 2019, thus bringing a new connection into use between Schiedam Centrum metro station and Schiedam Nieuwland. Until the line onwards to Hoek van Holland Strand was opened on 31 March 2023, RET trains temporarily used the old Hoek van Holland International Boat Train platforms.<br />
<br />
The former passenger connection between the Metro and the ProRail/NS network has been retained for freight. From 28 November 2019, cargo trains have run to Vlaardingen Oost, where there is a connection to the Vulcaanhaven oil terminals.<br />
<br />
The new station of Lansingerland-Zoetermeer on the NS Den Haag to Gouda line opened on 9 December 2018 and the extension to tram line 4 (RandstadRail4) from Zoetermeer Javalaan to the new station opened on 19 May 2019.<br />
<br />
The 'Intercity Direct' service between Amsterdam and Brussel/Bruxelles (the successor to the former Benelux service) was diverted via the HSL Zuid and Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018, thus opening for passenger traffic the curve southwards from Breda towards the Belgian border.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[Netherlands - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Many trains worked by multiple units split en route to serve more than one destination. External displays may show the destination of each portion; newer train sets are provided with internal displays as well. The number of each unit is displayed prominently in each carriage and when trains divide public address announcements usually refer to these to inform passengers where each unit is going.<br />
<br />
The freight line to Terneuzen is accessible only from Gent in Belgium.<br />
<br />
'''New trains'''<br />
<br />
NS has ordered 79 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for use on the HSL by 2023. <br />
<br />
NS has ordered 20 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for services to Brussels by 2025.<br />
<br />
'''Wifi'''<br />
<br />
Most stations have free internet access via KPN hotspots. NS Intercity trains have free internet by 'Wifi in de trein' provided by T-mobile; other operators like Arriva and Veolia offer free wifi in their trains. However loco hauled services are not provided with wifi.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Netherlands}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Netherlands_-_General_Information&diff=54762Netherlands - General Information2024-01-23T19:21:30Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Future changes */ Bad Bentheim to Coevorden to reopen with a tender for start date in June or December 2026.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Netherlands (Nederland)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[https://www.ns.nl/en Nederlandse Spoorwegen] (NS) is the principal passenger carrier, which operates through various subsidiary companies, including:<br />
* NS Reizigers - Domestic passenger services <br />
* [https://www.nsinternational.com/en ''NS International''] - International passenger services.<br />
<br />
[https://www.eurostar.com/''Eurostar''] services to the Netherlands are operated by a stand-alone company owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%); NS is not a partner. <br />
<br />
[https://www.europeansleeper.eu/''European Sleeper''] is a Dutch private company offering night services from Brussels via Amsterdam to Berlin and Prague.<br />
<br />
There is no longer a national freight operator. The former NS freight operation has been sold and is a subsidiary of DB (see below). Open access freight operators have a considerable market share. Current freight operators in The Netherlands as at 2023 are DB Cargo Nederland (German), Lineas Nederland (Belgian), LTE Netherlands (Austrian), Captrain (French) and RTB Cargo German) amoungst others.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Dutch<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
Numeric 84; alpha NL<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
As of 14 December 2014, every station should be served twice an hour.<br />
<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
* PC and smartphone: [https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information Travel Information].<br />
* Iphone application: [https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/ns/id370362301 Reisplanner].<br />
* Android application: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ns.android.activity&utm_source=ns&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=rpxpagina Reisplanner]<br />
* Windows application: [https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9wzdncrdmbbm Treinplanner]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
* [https://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Actuele spoorkaart Nederland]<br />
*[https://treinenradar.nl/ Treinenradar Live]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
By December 2023, NS no longer produces timetables in pdf format on its website.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
''Rover'' offers a paper [https://www.ovshop.nl/shop/rover-spoorboekje-2024/ ''Spoorboekje''] for 2023-2024. NS discontinued paper timetables after the 2009-2010 edition. Rover took the publication over from Treinreiziger.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/current-situation-on-the-tracks The current situation on the tracks].<br />
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/maintenance-on-the-tracks/ An overview of scheduled works in the upcoming months that will effect services].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Information===<br />
Real time train running information is available on the [http://treinenradar.nl/ ''Treinenradar''], [https://treinposities.nl/ ''Treinposities''] and [http://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Spoorkaart] websites. Moreover, public transport Apps like OV9292 and NS Reisplanner offer real time journey information.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*A basic diagrammatic [https://www.treinreiziger.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Spoorkaart-2021-v2.pdf Rail Map 2021] by Treinreiziger.nl<br />
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*NS provided until 2022 a map with all passenger train service numbers and frequencies. It's no longer available. <br />
*Prorail provides a [https://www.prorail.nl/siteassets/homepage/reizen/documenten/spoorkaart-2020-webversie.pdf detailed geographical map].<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line maps and schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Map of Benelux network] Last updated January 2023<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Netherlands|Maps and Plans - Netherlands]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
As of 2023, paying public transport journeys by debit card (check-in and check-out) has been introduced. Once every 24 hours the journeys are collected. However, buying tickets from vending machines is still possible. Transport companies offer reduced fairs via their mobile applications (Android and iOS). More information via [https://ovpay.nl/en OVpay]<br />
<br />
All railway stations are equipped with ticket machines which all accept debit and credit cards (V PAY, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express). However, some foreign Visa debit cards are not accepted. Some machines accept coins as well. All machines offer domestic tickets and some provide international tickets to Belgium, and a selection of destinations in Germany. All tickets contain a chip to validate your ticket. Booking offices at small stations have almost all been closed. A surcharge is payable at booking offices when buying a ticket which is available from a ticket machine.<br />
<br />
The smart card [https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/ OV Chipkaart] is the normal ticket on public transport and can be bought at any ticket machine. Machines that add value to an OV Chipkaart accept debit cards issued outside the Netherlands. However, only a few machines (such as at some tobacconists) accept credit cards. Paper tickets continue to be issued from machines and booking offices for rail journeys.<br />
<br />
Information on tickets and passes can be found on the NS [https://www.ns.nl/producten/en/losse-kaartjes-toeslagen Individual tickets & supplements] page. A supplement is required to travel on the HSL between Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport unless the passenger has a valid international ticket (which includes Interrail). The supplement can be purchased from vending machines; there are red validation machines for such supplements on the platforms.<br />
<br />
'''Note''': ALL tickets from machines MUST be touched in and out with ALL operators used in the correct order, when changing operators en-route. Travellers may be fined if they do not do this.<br />
<br />
NS-Zonetaxi (formerly known as treintaxi) tickets include a taxi from/to the railway station for a fixed fare. The service is available in most mid-size towns, but not in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Den Haag and Rotterdam. When riding on single or return tickets, trein-taxi tickets should be bought at the departure station. For the return trip by taxi, tickets are best bought in advance, but the taxi driver sells tickets with a small surcharge.<br />
<br />
Although more local services are to be franchised over the next few years, a uniform ticketing system, including NS and all franchisees, is being retained.<br />
<br />
''Special offers:''<br />
At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport both NS and GVB Amsterdam sell tickets for public transport connections to Amsterdam. [http://www.treinreiziger.nl/ Treinreiziger] offers news about the Dutch railwaysystem, including the availabillity of discounted tickets.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[http://www.prorail.nl/ ProRail] owns and manages the NS infrastructure and is responsible for traffic control and capacity allocation, under the authority of the minister of transport. On 1 July 2015 the operation of the ''Betuweroute'' was transferred to ProRail and the previous owners, Keyrail, ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
[https://www.ilent.nl/ Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport], part of the Ministry of Transport, is responsible for safety and rolling stock certification.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The Prorail Website gives access to various [http://www.prorail.nl/vervoerders/network-statement NS Network Statement] documents.<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
1500 V dc. New high-speed lines and the Betuwe trunk freight line between Rotterdam and Zevenaar (- Emmerich (Germany)) are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz; Zevenaar - Emmerich was converted to 25 kV in 2016 so that freight trains have to change voltage only once, although it caused passenger trains to have to change voltage twice. The Hanzelijn is not officially a high-speed line, so is 1500 V dc. Large-scale conversion to 25 kV 50 Hz in the long term was envisaged but this was abandoned in the late 1990s as too expensive. In 2014 Prorail started a feasibility study into upgrading to 3000 V dc.<br />
Metros and Tramways are 750 V dc, with third rail used on the Amsterdam and Rotterdam metros.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Right, but most lines are reversibly signalled. The following lines have left-hand running:<br />
* the high speed line from Rotterdam Lombardijen (where there is a flying crossover) to the Belgian border <br />
* the fast lines between Utrecht Centraal and Bilthoven; there is a flying crossover west of Bilthoven <br />
* from Roosendaal to the Belgian border <br />
* from Maastricht to the Belgian border<br />
<br />
There are connections between the high speed line and the old line to Breda where they run parallel south of Lage Zwaluwe, at which the two lines are handed in opposite directions. This results in the two southbound lines (which are adjacent) being linked merely by a long crossover whereas the connection between the northbound lines crosses over all four tracks on a flyover.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_spoorlijnen_in_Nederland Wikipedia] gives distances for all lines in the Netherlands. Click on the line wanted, and on the right distances for stations are given. [http://www.sporenplan.nl/html_nl/sporenplan/ns/ns_nummer/start.html Sporeneplan] provides an alternative source. Click on the line wanted to reach a schematic line plan, alongside which distances for stations (named in abbreviated code) are given. ''Neither is an official page and can be out of date.'' '''If any user can point to an official source for distance information the compilers would be glad to hear.'''<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Private operators have franchises to work a number of local passenger services over Prorail lines, thus:<br />
* Arriva Nederland: Leeuwarden - Harlingen, Leeuwarden - Stavoren, Leeuwarden - Groningen, Groningen - Roodeschool/Eemshaven/Delfzijl, Groningen - Veendam/Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D), Apeldoorn - Zutphen, Zutphen - Winterswijk, Winterswijk - Arnhem, Arnhem - Tiel, Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond - Maastricht/Heerlen, Maastricht Randwijck - Heerlen - Kerkrade/Aachen (D).<br />
* Blauwnet (Arriva/Keolis): Enschede - Almelo - Mariënberg, Kampen - Zwolle - Emmen, Zutphen - Hengelo - Oldenzaal.<br />
* Breng: Doetinchem - Arnhem.<br />
* Q-Buzz (R-Net): Dordrecht - Geldermalsen; Gouda - Alphen aan den Rijn.<br />
* Valleilijn (Connexxion): Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen. <br />
<br />
In addition cross-border services are worked by the following operators: <br />
* eurobahn: Hengelo - Bielefeld (D) (RB61); Venlo - Düsseldorf - Hamm (D) (RE13)<br />
* DB Regio: Enschede - Gronau - Münster / Dortmund (D) <br />
* VIAS Rail: Arnhem - Düsseldorf (D) (RE19) <br />
* NMBS: local services Roosendaal - Antwerpen (B); Maastricht - Luik / Liège (B)<br />
<br />
The German based Bentheimer Eisenbahn (BE) owns and operates its trunk line from Bentheim to the border at Laarwald and a further 2 km on to Coevorden. The line is freight only; there has never been any significant border crossing passenger traffic, but freight has regained importance in recent times. Coevorden effectively serves as a German rail bridgehead into the Netherlands, traffic mainly consisting of containers that are subsequently road-hauled into the northern provinces. There are plans to introduce passenger services between Coevorden and Neuenhaus (D), operated by BE, by 2024.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
A list of Tourist & Museum Railways and Tramways in English is available on the [http://www.railmusea.nl/en Historisch Railvervoer Nederland (HRN)] website.<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on the following sections of line:<br />
*[https://grenzland-draisine.eu/ Grenzland Draisine]: based at Kranenburg in Germany, on the former Kleve [DE] - Nijmegen [NL] line, the ''Grenzenlose'' trip to Groesbeek (5.5 km one way) covers a portion in the Netherlands <br />
*[https://www.spoorfietsen.nl Spoorfietsen]: Hengelo - Twekkelo (a short stretch of Hengelo - Boekelo line, latterly serving AKZO factory)<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
[https://www.gvb.nl/en Amsterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/ Rotterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travelling-with-the-ret.html RandstadRail].<br />
<br />
Track plans for all metro systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht.<br />
<br />
Track plans for all tram systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].<br />
<br />
See also [[Netherlands_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Netherlands - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
===Future changes===<br />
<br />
In the period June - December 2024 the Eurostar Service Amsterdam/Rotterdam - London will be cancelled due to infrastrudture works. <br />
In the direction London - Rotterdam/Amsterdam the Eurostar Service might continue.<br />
<br />
The direct ICE service Amsterdam - Basel will cease to exist by 15 July 2024.<br />
<br />
The outcome of a feasibility study to resume passenger services between Veendam and Stadskanaal will be published in the course of 2024. <br />
<br />
The Bentheimer Eisenbahn from Bad Bentheim (DE) to Coevorden, which was reopened in 2019 as far as Neuenhaus, is to be reopened through to Coevorden. An invitation to tender has been issued for a start date in either June or December 2026.<br />
<br />
Works for the electrification of Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond will start by mid 2025 and should be finished by late 2027. <br />
<br />
The new 'Friesenbrücke' bridge, facilitating the passenger traffic Groningen - Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D) should be constructed by late 2024.<br />
<br />
Long term projects:<br />
On 10 October 2017, the coalition government agreed plans to reopen and electrify Weert - Hamont.<br />
On 5th of October 2023, the outcome of a feasabillity study has been published, which prefers to establish a 3KV trainconnection Weert - Antwerpen run by NMBS. No decission has been taken yet.<br />
<br />
The "Iron Rhine" freight line between Roermond and Dalheim (Germany) is planned to reopened for traffic between Antwerpen and the Ruhr. However this has been delayed by a dispute between the Dutch and Belgian governments, which has gone to arbitration.<br />
<br />
===Recent changes===<br />
<br />
On 25 May 2023, [https://www.europeansleeper.eu/en European Sleeper] started to operate a night service from Brussel/Bruxelles via Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Berlin. In 2024 this service will be extended to Praha.<br />
<br />
RET Metro line B has been extended by 2.6 km from Hoek van Holland Haven to a new Hoek Van Holland Strand station, 0.9 km beyond the previous NS Strand station. Regular services commenced on 31 March 2023.<br />
<br />
Landgraaf - Herzogenrath (Germany) has been upgraded for cargo traffic in September 2022, while Arriva EMUs are running between Aachen Hbf and Maastricht since the electrification in 2018. The planned through Arriva service between Aachen and Liège has been delayed and until further notice NMBS continue to operate a separate train service between Maastricht and Liège.<br />
<br />
The last museum trains to use the Blauwkapel Kruispunt, where the line northwards from the ''Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum'' at Utrecht Maliebaan station makes a flat crossing with the Utrecht - Amersfoort line, ran on 14 May 2022. The north - south link at Blauwkapel has since been removed. This does not affect the shuttle trains between Utrecht Centraal station and the museum, which continue to run. <br />
<br />
By December 2021 Zürich - Amsterdam NightJet services were introduced, complementing the Wien - Amsterdam services which started on 25 May 2021.<br />
<br />
The (Rotterdam -) Schiedam Centrum - Hoek van Holland ''Hoekse Lijn'' line closed to passengers as an NS line on 1 April 2017 and reopened as RET Metro line B between Nesselande and Hoek van Holland on 30 September 2019, thus bringing a new connection into use between Schiedam Centrum metro station and Schiedam Nieuwland. Until the line onwards to Hoek van Holland Strand was opened on 31 March 2023, RET trains temporarily used the old Hoek van Holland International Boat Train platforms.<br />
<br />
The former passenger connection between the Metro and the ProRail/NS network has been retained for freight. From 28 November 2019, cargo trains have run to Vlaardingen Oost, where there is a connection to the Vulcaanhaven oil terminals.<br />
<br />
The new station of Lansingerland-Zoetermeer on the NS Den Haag to Gouda line opened on 9 December 2018 and the extension to tram line 4 (RandstadRail4) from Zoetermeer Javalaan to the new station opened on 19 May 2019.<br />
<br />
The 'Intercity Direct' service between Amsterdam and Brussel/Bruxelles (the successor to the former Benelux service) was diverted via the HSL Zuid and Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018, thus opening for passenger traffic the curve southwards from Breda towards the Belgian border.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[Netherlands - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Many trains worked by multiple units split en route to serve more than one destination. External displays may show the destination of each portion; newer train sets are provided with internal displays as well. The number of each unit is displayed prominently in each carriage and when trains divide public address announcements usually refer to these to inform passengers where each unit is going.<br />
<br />
The freight line to Terneuzen is accessible only from Gent in Belgium.<br />
<br />
'''New trains'''<br />
<br />
NS has ordered 79 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for use on the HSL by 2023. <br />
<br />
NS has ordered 20 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for services to Brussels by 2025.<br />
<br />
'''Wifi'''<br />
<br />
Most stations have free internet access via KPN hotspots. NS Intercity trains have free internet by 'Wifi in de trein' provided by T-mobile; other operators like Arriva and Veolia offer free wifi in their trains. However loco hauled services are not provided with wifi.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Netherlands}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_Germany_-_Netherlands&diff=54761Border Crossings: Germany - Netherlands2024-01-23T19:13:01Z<p>Doughnut City: /* (Bad Bentheim -) Laarwald BE - Coevorden BE */ Work commenced to re-open to passengers for hourly service 2026.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Vetschau DB - Simpelveld NS (- Schin op Geul)==<br />
[D] This is part of the line used by passenger trains between Aachen and Maastricht until they were diverted to run to Heerlen via Herzogenrath. The junction at Aachen West has been removed. Zuid Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij now runs tourist steam trains between Schin op Geul and Kerkrade via Simpelveld, in addition to a branch service from Simpelveld over the border to Vetschau.<br />
<br />
==(Aachen -) Herzogenrath DB - Landgraaf NS (- Heerlen)==<br />
[E*] This crossing replaced Aachen West - Simpelveld [Maastricht] on 31 May 1992 - see previous item. With the electrification of Herzogenrath to Landgraaf in 2018, since January 2019 an Aachen - Heerlen - Maastricht passenger service has been operated by Arriva with EMUs. These units are able to operate off the Dutch, German and Belgian electrification systems, thus permitting a future extension of the service to Liège. The changeover between DB and NS systems is at Haanrade, just west of the border. A second track has been brought into use between Landgraaf and Heerlen in September 2022 which permits a half-hourly cross-border service to run. The idea to run a second hourly service that starts back in Eindhoven and will initially run only to Herzogenrath because of pathing problems on the Herzogenrath to Aachen line has been postponed. NS is not interested to run Intercity trains towards Aachen. Instead, the extra capacity will be used to divert cargo trains once works will be caried out to upgrade the Zevenaar - Emmerich - Oberhausen route with a 3rd track.<br />
<br />
==(Mönchengladbach -) Dalheim DB - Roermond NS==<br />
[D] This line, the so-called "Iron Rhine Route", has a passenger service operated by VIAS Rail GmbH between Mönchengladbach and Dalheim, but has been out of use since 1991 between Dalheim and Roermond. Proposals for reopening for freight trains between Belgium and Germany have been on the table for many years, without much progress having been made.<br />
<br />
==(Mönchengladbach -) Kaldenkirchen DB - Venlo NS==<br />
[E*] Eurobahn works ''RE13'' passenger services to Venlo; there are no through services unless the route via Emmerich is blocked, when this line may be used as a diversionary route to Utrecht. Voltage switching is provided in the Venlo station area.<br />
<br />
==(Kleve -) Kranenburg DB - Groesbeek NS - Nijmegen==<br />
Line closed. However, Grenzland Draisine, based at Kranenburg, offers the ''Grenzenlose'' trip to Groesbeek (5.5 km one way). See [[Netherlands_-_General_Information#Tourist_Lines|Netherlands - Tourist_Lines]]. The line regularly appears in lists of reopening candidates, but no definite plans have materialised.<br />
<br />
==Emmerich DB - Zevenaar NS (- Arnhem or Kijfhoek)==<br />
[E*] ''ICE'' services, worked by multi-system ''ICE3M'' units, run non-stop between Arnhem and Oberhausen. Until 31 January 2022, Abellio Rail NRW ran the ''RE19'' local service between Arnhem and Düsseldorf with tri-system Stadler Flirt EMUs. From 1 February 2022, with the withdrawal of Abellio from all Nordrhein-Westfalen services, ''RE19'' has been operated by VIAS Rail GmbH.<br />
<br />
The freight-only 25 kV ac ''Betuweroute'' from Kijfhoek yard joins the Arnhem line just east of Zevenaar station, and Zevenaar Oost - Emmerich was converted from 1.5 kV dc to 25 kV ac in 2016. Therefore all electric trains which run to and from Arnhem must be able to operate under three electrification systems (1.5kV dc, 15kV 16.7Hz ac and 25kV 50Hz ac), but those to and from the ''Betuweroute'' need only be compatible with the two ac voltages.<br />
<br />
Freight services are generally worked throughout by modern multi-system electric locomotives.<br />
<br />
==Borken DB - Winterswijk NS==<br />
Line closed.<br />
<br />
==Gronau (Westf) DB - Glanerbrug NS (- Enschede)==<br />
[D] This railway re-opened for advertised passenger traffic in November 2001. DB works to Enschede with DMUs. The infrastructure between the border and Enschede is owned by NS, although there is no through running connection between this line and the rest of the NS network at Enschede. There is therefore no freight traffic.<br />
<br />
==Bad Bentheim DB - Oldenzaal NS (- Hengelo)==<br />
[E*] NS works the two-hourly ''IC'' services between Amsterdam and Berlin with electric locomotives as far as Bad Bentheim, where various tracks have switchable catenary. ''Eurobahn'' operates an hourly Hengelo - Bad Bentheim - Bielefeld service using multi-system electric units.<br />
<br />
==(Bad Bentheim -) Laarwald BE - Coevorden BE==<br />
[D] The Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG owns and operates this freight line. Work has commenced to re-open the line to passengers aiming for an hourly service in 2026.<br />
<br />
==(Leer -) Weener DB - Nieuweschans NS (- Groningen)==<br />
[D] Temporarily closed.<br />
<br />
Passenger services between Leer and Groningen are operated by Arriva. This line was rebuilt in 2001; previously, this line was temporarily closed whenever a particularly large new vessel was being delivered from the Meyer Werft shipyard [http://www.meyerwerft.com www.meyerwerft.com] at Papenburg, because this required the main span of the railway bridge over the River Ems at Weener to be removed.<br />
<br />
The lifting span of the Ems bridge was destroyed when hit by a ship on 3 December 2015. Direct passenger services between Leer and Groningen are currently operated by bus whilst trains run as far as Weener. As a replacement, Deutsche Bahn are constructing a long swing bridge, one of the largest in Europe with a length of 160 m. It would provide a 71 m channel for shipping, wider than the 46 m of the old bridge thus enabling larger cruise ships to be built at the shipyard, and planned to open in 2024.<br />
<br />
Once the bridge has reopened a direct Bremen – Groningen service is planned, to be known as the "Wunderline". Initially a journey time of 2h30 is foreseen, reducing to 2h15 with line improvements. These include double-tracking the section between the border and Ihrhove as well as other sections within Germany.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox Germany}}<br />
{{Navbox Netherlands}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|Germany - Netherlands]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_France_-_Italy&diff=54318Border Crossings: France - Italy2024-01-07T17:26:39Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Modane SNCF - Bardonecchia FS (- Torino) */ tidy format</p>
<hr />
<div>==Modane SNCF - Bardonecchia FS (- Torino)==<br />
[E*] FS works to Modane, with locomotives operating at reduced power under SNCF 1500V catenary. There are plans for FS locomotives to work freight to and from St Jean de Maurienne, and both SNCF and FS have acquired dual-voltage or multi-system locomotives for use on freight between Lyon and Torino. Multi-system TGVs operate between Paris and Milano which since 15 June 2002 had been the only cross border passenger services, but Trenitalia reintroduced limited local services, initially at weekends only in Autumn 2017, and high-speed services between Milano and Paris from 18 December 2021.<br />
<br />
The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin/Torino. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before effecting repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. Meanwhile SNCF Voyageurs is to introduce a bespoke daily return service from the 10 January 2024, operating a TGV from Paris and Lyon to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. From here passengers will be transferred by coach to Oulx on the Italian side, and reboard a train to Turin/Torino and Milan/Milano.<br />
<br />
==(Breil-sur-Roya -) Vievola SNCF - Limone FS (- Cuneo)==<br />
[D] FS works through between (Ventimiglia -) Breil-sur-Roya and Cuneo. Although FS diesel railcars ALn663.1195-1204 are fitted with SNCF VACMA signalling equipment for operation to Nice, FS services no longer run there. Although the line is in France, there are few SNCF workings between Breil-sur-Roya and Tende, and none north thereof.<br />
<br />
==Breil-sur-Roya SNCF - Olivetta S Michele FS (- Ventimiglia)==<br />
[D] FS works to Breil-sur-Roya.<br />
<br />
==(Nice -) Menton-Garavan SNCF - Ventimiglia FS==<br />
[E*] SNCF works to Ventimiglia. The line from Marseille is electrified at 25kV 50Hz, but Ventimiglia station itself is 1500V dc. This system can be used by both the SNCF dual-system locomotives that operate in the area and FS 3kV dc stock.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox France}}<br />
{{Navbox Italy}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|France - Italy]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_France_-_Italy&diff=54317Border Crossings: France - Italy2024-01-07T17:25:50Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Modane SNCF - Bardonecchia FS (- Torino) */ add 27 August rockfall closure until end of 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Modane SNCF - Bardonecchia FS (- Torino)==<br />
[E*] FS works to Modane, with locomotives operating at reduced power under SNCF 1500V catenary. There are plans for FS locomotives to work freight to and from St Jean de Maurienne, and both SNCF and FS have acquired dual-voltage or multi-system locomotives for use on freight between Lyon and Torino. Multi-system TGVs operate between Paris and Milano which since 15 June 2002 had been the only cross border passenger services, but Trenitalia reintroduced limited local services, initially at weekends only in Autumn 2017, and high-speed services between Milano and Paris from 18 December 2021.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin/Torino. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before effecting repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. Meanwhile SNCF Voyageurs is to introduce a bespoke daily return service from the 10 January 2024, operating a TGV from Paris and Lyon to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. From here passengers will be transferred by coach to Oulx on the Italian side, and reboard a train to Turin/Torino and Milan/Milano.<br />
<br />
==(Breil-sur-Roya -) Vievola SNCF - Limone FS (- Cuneo)==<br />
[D] FS works through between (Ventimiglia -) Breil-sur-Roya and Cuneo. Although FS diesel railcars ALn663.1195-1204 are fitted with SNCF VACMA signalling equipment for operation to Nice, FS services no longer run there. Although the line is in France, there are few SNCF workings between Breil-sur-Roya and Tende, and none north thereof.<br />
<br />
==Breil-sur-Roya SNCF - Olivetta S Michele FS (- Ventimiglia)==<br />
[D] FS works to Breil-sur-Roya.<br />
<br />
==(Nice -) Menton-Garavan SNCF - Ventimiglia FS==<br />
[E*] SNCF works to Ventimiglia. The line from Marseille is electrified at 25kV 50Hz, but Ventimiglia station itself is 1500V dc. This system can be used by both the SNCF dual-system locomotives that operate in the area and FS 3kV dc stock.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox France}}<br />
{{Navbox Italy}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|France - Italy]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54316France - General Information2024-01-07T17:19:01Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ correct date order...</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi.<br />
* The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before effecting repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. Meanwhile SNCF Voyageurs is to introduce a bespoke daily return service from the 10 January 2024, operating a TGV from Paris and Lyon to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. From here passengers will be transferred by coach to Oulx on the Italian side, and reboard a train to Turin and Milan. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024.<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54315France - General Information2024-01-07T17:17:33Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ format</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi.<br />
* The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before effecting repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. Meanwhile SNCF Voyageurs is to introduce a bespoke daily return service from the 10 January 2024, operating a TGV from Paris and Lyon to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. From here passengers will be transferred by coach to Oulx on the Italian side, and reboard a train to Turin and Milan. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024.<br />
* Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54314France - General Information2024-01-07T17:17:03Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ correct date order...</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi.<br />
* The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before effecting repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. Meanwhile SNCF Voyageurs is to introduce a bespoke daily return service from the 10 January 2024, operating a TGV from Paris and Lyon to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. From here passengers will be transferred by coach to Oulx on the Italian side, and reboard a train to Turin and Milan. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024.<br />
Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54313France - General Information2024-01-07T17:16:03Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ SNCF Modane shuttle from january 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi.<br />
* The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before effecting repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. Meanwhile SNCF Voyageurs is to introduce a bespoke daily return service from the 10 January 2024, operating a TGV from Paris and Lyon to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. From here passengers will be transferred by coach to Oulx on the Italian side, and reboard a train to Turin and Milan. <br />
. <br />
* Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024<br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54311France - General Information2024-01-07T17:13:53Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide August 2023</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi.<br />
* The Maurienne Valley line from Chambery to Modane was closed by a landslide at La Praz cliff, on 27 August 2023, stopping traffic through the Frejus Tunnel from Lyon to Turin. Work to clear the rubble, inspect and assess the damage before then effect repairs is now expected to take until the end of 2024. <br />
. <br />
* Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024<br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54310France - General Information2024-01-07T17:00:56Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ tidy</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi.<br />
* Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024<br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=54309France - General Information2024-01-07T17:00:14Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ ligne de Cévennes closed 15/12/2023 with reopening 25/5/2024.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
France (France)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[http://www.sncf.fr/en_EN/flash/ SNCF Mobilités], a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for<br />
* SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)<br />
* Fret SNCF (freight)<br />
* KEOLIS (International operations).<br />
<br />
Since 1 January 2020 SNCF is a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.<br />
<br />
===Other Operators===<br />
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).<br />
'''The links to Thalys now direct to Eurostar, with which it has been amalgamated.'''<br />
* [https://www.renfe.com/es/en RENFE] set up an office in Lyon (possibly under the name of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales), which gained in early June 2023 the right to operate trains to Lyon and Marseille. these are expected to start operation imminently.<br />
Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as<br />
* ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland)<br />
* ICE/TGV services between Stuttgart/Frankfurt and Paris are run jointly by DB and SNCF, using the name ''Alleo'';. however, that is not a marketing name, and services are marketed in the partners' own names.<br />
* [https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html ''Trenitalia France''] operates between Paris, Lyon and Milano.<br />
* ''Eurostar'' is operated by [https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/our-company Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the share previously owned by the UK government) (40%) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).<br />
<br />
Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Cargo subsidiary) are starting to appear depite French reluctance to embrace the spirit of the relevant European legislation. Voies Ferrées Locales et Industrielles (VFLI) is a SNCF subsidiary (with more flexibility of staff deployment) which contracts for the operation of certain secondary lines as well as some open access operation.<br />
<br />
==Languages==<br />
French. Breton is spoken in Brittany, but the visitor is likely to be aware of this only in the form of signs as most people speak French. There is limited use of Basque in the Pyrenees and German in Alsace.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
*SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.<br />
*Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
Only some of this material is available in languages other than French<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires?rfrr=Homepage_header_Consulter%20les%20horaires SNCF website]<br />
<br />
===Actual Train Times===<br />
Real time train information is no longer available<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
*''InOui'' (formerly ''TGV'') (long distance high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF - you will need to rely on journey planners or the printed [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]<br />
*''OuiGo'' (long distance low-fare high speed services): no downloadable timetable material is published by SNCF nor do these trains feature in SNCF journey planners - go to the [https://www.ouigo.com/ ''OuiGo''] <br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services): There is no central site with timetables available; timetable fiches are available on the regional ''TER'' sites so you need to know the ''Région'' in which the line you are looking for is located. To assist, a map of the ''Régions'' showing major towns is [https://www.map-france.com/regions/ here]:<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rhone-alpes/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bourgogne-franche-comte/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bourgogne-Franche-Comté] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Bretagne] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/centre-val-de-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Centre-Val de Loire] <br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Grand Est]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Hauts-de-France]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Normandie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Nouvelle-Aquitaine]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Occitanie]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/pays-de-la-loire/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Pays de la Loire]<br />
** [https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]<br />
*Corsica: [https://www.train-corse.com/en/schedules/ Horaires]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services ''in some Régions'' (where available, they mirror those available as downloads - see above). Otherwise, use the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable].<br />
<br />
===Real Time Train Tracker===<br />
There appears to now be only a single website showing real-time train positions:<br />
* [https://carto.graou.info/ Carto.graou] provides real time information on train movements<br />
<br />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)]. <br />
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.<br />
<br />
Note that it is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months: potential travellers should check carefully for such temporary closures<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Bus services tend to be sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-FR-1 | Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord]] by Schweers + Wall, with key in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale.<br />
*''Nouvelle Géographie Ferroviaire de la France: Tome 2: L'Organisation Régionale du Trafic'' by Gérard Blier (La Vie du Rail, 1993) (ISBN 2-902808-43-7) contains a large number of maps and track layout diagrams.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau their website]. [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/carte/atlas-reseau-ferre-francais ''L'Atlas du réseau ferré français''] is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. There is also a downloadable version.<br />
* A SNCF website [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/CARTE%20RFN%202020_WEB_0.pdf 2020 map] also showing freight lines with line and timetable numbers<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [https://cartometro.com/?r=cmf Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.<br />
* Ferrocarta's [https://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area <br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview dated 2018, but no longer being updated<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.---><br />
<br />
Tickets purchased in France need to be validated before boarding the train by inserting them in a yellow machine (''composteur'') at the platform entrance. This stamps them with the station name, date and time.<br />
<br />
Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''InOui'' (formerly TGV), ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain trains within the much reduced ''Intercités'' brand. However, subject to space being available, it is possible to change reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in time for Eurostar). If travel plans are not definite, it is best to reserve on a later train and change this for an earlier one if desired. Passengers without a reservation on trains for which reservation is obligatory (or on the wrong train) have to pay a penalty charge. It is possible to make reservations up to the time of departure (or check-in), including from intermediate stations, because reserved seats are not labelled; "vacant" seats may be claimed by passengers joining the train later in the journey. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'', ''iDTGV'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. ''Izy'', ''OuiGo'' and ''iDTGV'' are only bookable on the internet.<br />
<br />
Passengers boarding a train without a ticket or a valid reservation (when one is required) should advise the conductor immediately and a modest charge will be levied for purchasing a ticket on the train. Waiting until the conductor comes round the train to check tickets will result in a much higher penalty charge being payable. If a passenger has purchased a ticket in advance on line for later collection from a ticket machine and is unable either to print the ticket from the machine or obtain it from a booking office, they must purchase a ticket immediately on boarding the train and reclaim the cost later. Refusal to pay on the grounds that a ticket has already been paid for is not permitted, even if supported by evidence that the ticket machine is out of order, and could render the passenger liable to prosecution.<br />
<br />
A large number of local services and connections to ''LGV'' stations are operated by buses. Rail tickets are valid on bus services shown in the three regional railway timetables unless there is a note to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Regional express (RER) suburban services in the Paris area are operated jointly by SNCF and RATP. Tickets such as InterRail and FIP are not valid on RER lines owned by RATP, but can be used on RATP trains working over SNCF lines. Holders of such tickets can obtain from booking offices free of charge a special pass (''contremarque'') to open the automatic gates at platform entrances.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/en SNCF Réseau], a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/ The Network].<br />
An alternative link to the 2022 Network Statement is [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/guide-document-reference-reseau-2022 here].<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
Standard. The following SNCF lines are metre gauge: Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg, St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (which the ''Région'' are proposing should be taken into their control), and Salbris to Valençay.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Main lines from Paris to Le Mans, Hendaye, Toulouse, Marseille and Modane, together with many associated routes are 1500V dc. Other standard gauge lines are 25kV 50Hz. All high speed lines (''LGV - Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') are 25kV 50Hz, except for the Contournement LGV de Tours (Montlouis to Monts Indre et Loire) which can be used by conventional trains and is, therefore, 1500V dc. Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains to La Tour-de-Carol-Enveitg is 850 volts dc third rail and St Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is 750 volts dc third rail. All 750 volts dc third rail operation has been eliminated from the SNCF Paris suburban network.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.<br />
<br />
On the high speed line between Figueres-Vilafant and Perpignan, right-hand running applies for about 10km north of the Perthus tunnel whereupon the northbound line flies over the southbound line to change to left-hand running.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://vigie22.free.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_de_chemin_de_fer_de_France Wikipedia's ''Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France''] contains much useful information, line by line. Note specially that for each line is a box at the right hand side of the page: follow the link "Schéma de la ligne" at the foot of the box to reveal a schematic plan of the line, including distances of stations and junctions <i>(if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available)</i>. A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France here].<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/tramway-du-mont-blanc Tramway du Mont Blanc] (Le Fayet - Nid d'Aigle; 12.4 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc) <br />
*[http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace Montenvers Mer de Glace] (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)<br />
*[http://www.train-corse.com/ Chemin de fer de la Corse] (metre gauge; from January 2012 operated by a local authority-controlled company, in which SNCF has a minority holding)<br />
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)<br />
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.<br />
*[http://www.rhune.com/ Le Petit Train de la Rhune] (St Ignace - La Rhune; metre gauge, rack-worked, electrified 3000V 50Hz three-phase; the only surviving line of the Voies Ferrées Départmentales du Midi; now operated by Etablissement Public des Stations d´altitude (EPSA))<br />
*[https://www.captrain.fr/ Captrain] (formerly VFLI) own and operate the remaining lines of the former Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; although the last coal mine closed in 2004 there are still extensive lines serving other industries in the area such as the petrochemical site at Carling <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
*[http://www.rdt13.fr/ RDT13] (Régie Départmentale des Transports des Bouches-du-Rhône) (several standard gauge freight lines near Arles and Tarascon, as well as the short remaining section of the CF de l'Hérault; owned by La Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence) <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i><br />
<br />
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines== <br />
Two useful lists of tourist lines are provided by the ''Union des Exploitants de Chemins de Fer Touristiques et de Musées'' (a grouping of preserved and tourist lines) [https://www.unecto.fr/ (UNECTO)] and by the magazine [http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm ''Voie Etroite'']. Similar information is often published in spring issues of French railway magazines. Many lines operate quite infrequently, usually at weekends during the summer season.<br />
A useful British website is [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/touristfr/index.html ''Sinfin'']<br />
<br />
A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_chemins_de_fer_touristiques_de_France Wikipedia].<br />
<br />
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the <br />
[https://veloraildefrance.com/ Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[https://www.unecto.fr UNECTO list].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.<br />
<br />
Either the [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/fr/france.htm UrbanRail] or the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro] website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans - for most or all tram systems in France, supplemented by [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France] which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. [http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops, including trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.<br />
<br />
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
====Historical and General Background====<br />
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s. Since then, local authorities were drawn into the prime role in planning and funding local transport and most (but not all) are keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing local authority boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force (some such services have ceased to be inter-regional with the subsequent introduction of the "super-''Régions''"). <br />
A committee to recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) (mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains) duly reported - subsequently followed by the abandonment of most overnight routes and the transfer of ''Intercité'' daytime routes to sponsorship by the "super-''Régions''" (alongside their existing TER services) - for details (in French) see January 2017 [https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/trains-dequilibre-du-territoire-tet statement] by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.<br />
<br />
On 26 February 2018, following publication of two reports it had commissioned, the Macron government announced major reforms of the French rail industry, particularly to tackle to burgeoning capital debt of SNCF Réseau and the escalating cost of supporting SNCF (now 22% more per year than a decade previously). The inevitable suggestion of the Spinetta report was that up to 9000 km of secondary lines should be closed (being used by only 2% of passenger journeys). The government's response was that such closures would not be centrally driven but that the future of such lines and services would be for the "super-''Régions''" to decide.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====<br />
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:<br />
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes. <br />
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.<br />
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)<br />
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)<br />
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).<br />
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)<br />
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)<br />
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)<br />
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012) ([https://www.railcoop.fr/ligne-bordeaux-lyon/ Railcoop] intend to reopen this section in summer 2024 as part of a proposed Lyon - Limoges - Bordeaux service if they have enough funding in place. If a reopening date is confirmed, this entry will be moved to '''Sections which ...do have some firm reopening date''', below)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)<br />
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)<br />
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)).<br />
* ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) closed after the 2012 season because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====<br />
<br />
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)<br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix was renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, reopening on 9 February 2024, and Objat to Brive was also to be renewed in 2023)<br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place, although Occitanie ''Région'' has stated its intention to reopen the line)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)<br />
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)<br />
* Thionville - Bouzonville (April 2016 - although notionally replaced by bus temporarily, there has been no restoration of train service, which can only be presumed to have been definitively withdrawn) <!---Lorraine fiche L03---><br />
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)<br />
* Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening<!---Auvergne fiche 11--->)<br />
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) operations from Loudéac, over an SNCF freight line to Saint-Brieuc which currently sees neither traffic nor maintenance, were suspended from spring 2017 having last operated in October 2016. However in 2021 they are operating a service on a separate section of this former through line to Auray, between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors; see '''Other developments - Implemented''' below.<br />
<br />
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====<br />
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening: <br />
<br />
* The ligne de Cévennes is closed through the Gorges d'Allier following a rockfall at Monistrol-d'Allier on 15 December 2023. It is anticipated that the line will be closed until 25 May 2024 while the cliff face is stabilised and secured before the line is cleared and repaired. A substitute bus service has been introduced between Langeac and Langogne, with connections to the intermediate stations at Chapeauroux, Alleyras and Monistrol-d'Allier by pre-booked taxi<br />
<br />
* Toulouse Tramway - Line T2 closed for 3 years from 5 June 2023 for construction of a new metro station and line upgrades. <br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should have been completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works have extended closure until December 2024<br />
* Alès - Bessèges (closed from July 2012; Occitanie région has announced its intention of financing track renewal with reopening, originally targeted for 2024, now expected in 2028)<br />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services were replaced by bus in December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Apach - Thionville - Metz service has continued to run. Reinstatement of a full seven-day service is expected in December 2024).<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (closed from December 2017; financing for reconstruction was agreed in January 2022 with reopening now targeted for 2032 (if at all))<br />
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2022, but "local reports" have in the past suggested the following lines may be under threat - mainly because of deferred maintenance, poor passenger numbers, or from their crossing Regional boundaries - or all three causes:<br />
<br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buëch [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure <br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches <br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy <br />
* Chartres - Courtalain <br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel<br />
* Laon - Hirson <br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon <br />
* Lamballe - Dinan <br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]<br />
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i><br />
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''<br />
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)<br />
<br />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as [http://www.egtre.info/wiki/France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#Other_sparse_services Other sparse services].</b><br />
<br />
The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. Similarly threatened was [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende. It remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines, however despite repairs to the Neussargues - St Chély d'Apcher section of the Béziers line (in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) having been undertaken, ongoing threats to this line continue to circulate.<br />
<br />
The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line had seen services reduced to two Trenitalia round trips (but with more trains over the French section Tende - Breil-sur-Roya [- Nice]). The two cross-border sections, previously the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, have been threatened; however end-to-end services have been increased to three trains each way per day.<br />
<br />
<!---The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines <i>Saarbahn</i> rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.---><br />
Calvi station [Corsica] had been threatened with re-location on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.<br />
<br />
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, these appear to have run only between Amagne and Attigny. The local communes have acquired the line, but in the short term, at least, trains may only operate as far as Voncq. The future of the line between Voncq and Challerange is under consideration.<br />
<br />
The threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF Réseau.<br />
<br />
===Line openings===<br />
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<!--- while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names ''InOui'' or ''OuiGo'') ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here DEAD LINK]--->. The French [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] has a useful map and chronology.<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') opened 10 December 2017 for freight and 7 July 2018 for passengers. This is 60 km long, with 20 km of connecting lines and is accessible to "classic" traffic rather than restricted to TGVs. The line should eventually extend to Perpignan to connect with the line to Figueres (ES) and Barcelona.<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux and from Le Mans to Rennes - the latter (apparently deferred from a May 2017 target date, although trial running did start at the end of November 2016) also includes a line avoiding Le Mans. From the July date, the existing southern exit from ''LGV Atlantique'', at Monts near Tours, ceased to be regularly used. <br />
* The phase 2 extension of ''LGV Est'' between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.<br />
* A direct curve to the west of Mulhouse between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt opened for passengers in December 2013, being used by those TGVs between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard TGV without a Mulhouse call. A new higher speed connection (Raccordement de Perrigny) between the Chagny and Belfort main lines, just south of Dijon, opened (apparently on the same date) for use by TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond - except, of course, those booked to call at Lons-le-Saunier.<br />
* The first phase of the ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011. This included reopening to passengers of much of the Besançon - Devecey line (closed 11 May 1959), as a link to Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station, and construction of an east-facing curve to the LGV. Subsequent phases of ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'' will extend west to avoid Dijon and south towards Lyon, although these are now in doubt.<br />
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.<br />
* An isolated, international section of LGV between Perpignan and a new station 2 km west of Figueres [ES] also opened in December 2010, and was extended to Barcelona in January 2013. Through services to Barcelona started at the December 2013 timetable change. However, the consortium operating the line has gone into administration and the line passes to the French and Spanish governments, and thence to the two countries' railway infrastructure authorities.<br />
<br />
The 27 June 2013 report of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines <!--- follow DEAD LINKS [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/gpso-en-aquitaine-et-midi-pyrenees link]. Details of projects are at the [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires?published_at_min=&published_at_max=&field_categorie_de_projet_tid%5B%5D=123&=Trouver SNCF Réseau website]--->.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
<br />
* Angers Tramway - Lines B and C opened on 8 July 2023, adding 8.4 km to the network.<br />
* A deviation through a relocated Donges station to avoid the refinery there opened on the (Nantes –) Savenay – St. Nazaire line on 7 October 2022. The old route closed on 23 September.<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise reopened on 12 September 2022 after a two-year closure.<br />
* Nîmes - Pont St. Esprit (on the Rhone West Bank line), including the triangular junction towards Avignon-Centre, reopened to passengers on 29 August 2022 (ceremony on 28 August).<br />
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Saint-Cyr (Tram Express 13) opened on 6 July 2022, mostly re-using the ''Grand Ceinture Ouest'' line as a tram-train, but with new tram-only sections at each end. A branch from Lisiêre-Pereire (the former St-Germain-en-Laye GC station) to Achères-Ville RER is due to open in 2027.<br />
* Chinon - Tours reopened on 12 February 2022, after a four month closure for a rebuilding project.<br />
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges reopened on 12 December 2021.<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant reopened on 30 August 2021.<br />
* La Roche-sur-Yon - La Rochelle reopened on 31 July 2021 as a single line with passing loops at Luçon and Marans, after a closure lasting 19 months. Maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h from 60 km/h.<br />
* St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples and St Pol-sur-Ternoise - Fouquereuil [- Béthune] both reopened on 26 April 2021.<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. The line closed again on 12 December 2017 for a complete refurbishment, including electrification and resignalling, and reopened to passengers once more on 29 March 2021. <br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains reopened in three stages during 2020: Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt on 6 April, as far as Prades-Molitg-les-Bains on 31 August and the remainder of the line to Villefranche on 23 November.<br />
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-les-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Tréport] from 1 September with the rest buses.<br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.<br />
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019. <br />
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.<br />
* Rennes - Retiers reopened 31 August 2019<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe: opened in conjunction with the ''LGV Atlantique Bretagne-Pays de la Loire'' (BPL) extension (see above) on 2 July 2017, this west <=> south link with the "classic" line from Le Mans to Nantes enables TER trains to run direct [Rennes - ] Laval - Angers [ - Nantes]. <br />
* Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of <i>Tangentielle Nord</i> tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo<br />
* Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/reprise-circulations-chartres-orleans plan]).<br />
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.<br />
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.<br />
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016. <br />
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.<br />
* The Thionville - Bif de Florange [- Hayange] curve regained a train from 3 April 2016 after a long period with no service, and from December 2016 all trains from the Longuyon line used this curve instead of that facing Metz.<br />
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. <br />
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen. <br />
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. <br />
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.<br />
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.<br />
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. <br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] ceased operating over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges in November 2023, following the sudden closure the line by SNCF Réseau, after resuming occasional excursions on 15 April 2017.<br />
* [https://lepetittraindelamure.com/ ''Le Petit Train de la Mure''] reopened a 15 km section of metre-gauge line in July 2021 between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard. This is just short of La Clapisse, where a rockfall closed the entire 33 km route of the ''Chemin de Fer de la Mure'' from St.Georges de Commiers after the 2010 season.<br />
* ''Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne'' ([http://www.cfcb-asso.org/ CFCB]) commenced operations in July 2021 between Pontivy and Lambel-Camors on the line to Auray. Services run on Sundays and Wednesdays in July and August. This is a separate, more southerly section of the former through line from Saint-Brieuc, on which CFCB services as far as Loudéac ceased in 2016; see '''Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening''', above.<br />
* [http://www.cftv.fr CFT Vermandois] resumed occasional excursions into Saint-Quentin SNCF station from 28 May 2017, after being debarred from using this short section from their depot in the town since 2013 ''(but check locally as some excursions are advertised from their depot instead)''.<br />
* [http://musee-mtvs.com/horaires/ MTVS] commenced operating ''Le Train à Vapeur du Beauvaisis'' on a 1.7km section of metre-gauge track at Crèvecoeur-le-Grand from 14 May 2017. This is laid on the track bed of the standard gauge line to St.-Omer-en-Chaussée, abandoned in 1990. Their longer-established short museum line adjacent to Valmondois SNCF station also continues to run - but only one of the two lines operates on any given date.<br />
* [http://train-de-puisaye.com/ ''Train Touristique du Pays de Puisaye-Forterre''] operated by l’Association des Autorails Touristiques de l’Yonne reopened the 3 km section [Toucy - ] Moutiers - Les Étangs de Moutiers from 14 July 2016, and hope to extend further towards St. Fargeau.<br />
* [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand and has started operations on 1.6 km of the former line to St-Omer-en-Chaussée; the next phase is to extend a further 1.3 km to Rotangy.<br />
* ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''[http://chemin-de-fer-touristique-du-pays-de-l-albret.blog4ever.com/ Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret]'' on 15 March 2015.<br />
<br />
====Other developments - Projected====<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hoped to reopen the section of the metre-gauge Blanc-Argent line between their present northern terminus, Luçay-le-Mâle, and Valençay ("temporarily" closed by SNCF from October 2009) with a seasonal Sunday service in 2018 but this has had to be postponed because (at late notice) SNCF want layout changes at Valençay.... <br />
* [http://www.cfhvs.fr/index.php/fr/le-projet-du-c-f-h-v-s/test CF Historique de la Voie Sacrée] have (re-)constructed 4.2km of metre gauge line through the forest of Massonge between Bar-le-Duc Fédération and Saint-Christophe (Vavincourt). The line (but not terminal station) is complete and heritage trains now commenced.<br />
* CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's ([http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer'']) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to [http://coni-fer.com/page/3767_les_travaux_conifer_train_touriste_doubs_voie_de_chemin_de_fer_touristique.php Combe-Motta]. The extension has not opened as yet (October 2023).<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* [https://www.cftsa08.fr/ CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes] hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under <b>Services which are particularly threatened</b>, above)<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:<br />
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)<br />
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort <br />
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte <br />
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)<br />
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line) <br />
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)<br />
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine<br />
* Digne - St.Auban<br />
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)<br />
* Cavaillon - Pertuis<br />
* Gardanne - Carnoules<br />
* Les Arcs - Draguignan<br />
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot<br />
* La Suze - La Flèche<br />
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)<br />
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)<br />
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues<br />
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)<br />
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)<br />
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon<br />
<br />
Some of these are at early stages of development and others show little or no tangible result. The ''Cour des comptes'' 2009 report (see previous sub-section) does not seem to have impacted on such aspirations. Some will have sunk (but others may progress) as the new "super-Régions" take responsibility for transport planning.<br />
<br />
There are plans to construct a significant deviation of the line between Nantes and St.Nazaire including a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there; work could start in 2018 for completion in 2021 - see [https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseocean.fr%2Factualite%2Floire-atlantique-deviation-de-la-voie-ferree-a-donges-le-scenario-se-precise-21-12-2016-213360&edit-text= press report].<br />
<br />
There has been revival of talk in Paris about a "new" link between central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, for a which various schemes have been in the offing since at least 2000; there is no prospect of an early opening - even when a route and financing have been decided.<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line<br />
* [http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes] hope to extend their Rivesaltes - Axat service in 2018; at present, trains extend about 2 km beyond Axat through the Gorges de l'Aude towards St.Martin-Lys but without any passenger stop there - they plan to reopen the whole 11km to Quillan, terminus of the SNCF line from Carcassonne.<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on <br />
Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from <br />
Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line <br />
capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (''cadencé'') - <br />
although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from <br />
December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of <br />
LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, <br />
usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new ''cadencé'' schedule <br />
should minimise these ''blancs travaux'' which caused long gaps between trains. <br />
There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track <br />
maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for <br />
exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work <br />
should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines <br />
reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - <br />
or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the <br />
current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller <br />
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about <br />
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on <br />
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!<br />
<br />
Strikes (''Grèves'') are not uncommon on French railways. These may be localised and information about them may not be widely circulated elsewhere. It is the practice to close sections of line for electrification or other reconstruction work for periods of several months, or eben longer; potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/informations-situation-perturbee <br />
<br />
If a station name begins 'La' or 'Le', this is ignored in alphabetic indices; for example La Bastide-St Laurent-les-Bains is listed under B, and Le Havre under H. Treatment of places named after saints, of which there are a large number in France, varies. SNCF disregards gender, so Ste Gemme (female) comes between St Gely and St Genest (male) in the station index. However, in indices to Michelin guides and maps, female saints (Ste) all follow the male ones (St).<br />
<br />
===<div id="MONACO"></div>Monaco===<br />
SNCF operates the 1.7 km of railway through Monaco, which does not have its own railway administration. Journeys between French stations and Monaco-Monte Carlo are regarded as domestic and are subject to SNCF conditions of carriage, not CIV.<br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=54307France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2024-01-07T16:51:01Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Other sparse services */ full stop</p>
<hr />
<div>=Introduction=<br />
==Timetable Information==<br />
It has not been possible to obtain access to the working timetable in recent years. The entries in this list therefore derive from:<br />
*services which can be adduced from public timetable information (such as occasional pre-planned engineering diversions where these are shown in the journey planners) for which an explanation is given<br />
*services where the same train / timings apply as in the last accessed working timetable and where it may therefore be ''assumed'' that the same "obscure" routing applies<br />
*services for which the routing has been confirmed subsequently.<br />
<br />
For some entries where the service is particularly sparse or difficult to deduce, individual trains are listed and the compilers will endeavour to update these entries with each timetable change. Entries marked FR24/ are based on the timetable 10 December 2023 to 14 December 2024, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 1982 the Départements in metropolitan France were grouped into 16 Régions, which were merged and renamed into 13 metropolitan Régions in 2016. SNCF continued to use the 1982 names for a while after 2016, but now use the new names.<br />
<br />
Regions are listed geographically, north to south, and there is a separate page giving details of obscure services in each.<br />
<br />
{| width="60%" | <br />
| [[France_(Hauts_de_France)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Hauts de France]] <br />
| Includes Lille and Amiens<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/001 <br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Normandie)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Normandie]] <br />
| Includes Caen and Rouen<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/051<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Île-de-France)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Île-de-France]]<br />
| Includes Paris<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/151<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Grand_Est)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Grand Est]] <br />
| Includes Metz, Strasbourg and Mulhouse<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/201<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Pays_de_Loire)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Pays de Loire]] <br />
| Includes Le Mans and Nantes <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/251<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Centre_-_Val_de_Loire)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Centre - Val de Loire]] <br />
| Includes Orléans and Tours<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/301<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Bourgogne_Franche_Comté)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Bourgogne Franche Comté]] <br />
| Includes Besançon and Dijon<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/351<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Nouvelle_Aquitaine)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Nouvelle Aquitaine]] <br />
| Includes Poitiers and Bordeaux<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/401<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Auvergne_Rhône_Alpes)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Auvergne Rhône Alpes]] <br />
| Includes Lyon, Chambéry and Valence <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/451<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Occitanie)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Occitanie]] <br />
| Includes Toulouse and Perpignan<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/501<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Provence_Alpes_Côte_d'Azur)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur]]<br />
| Includes Avignon and Marseille <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/551<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Lignes_à_Grande_Vitesse)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|(Lignes à Grande Vitesse)]]<br />
| Lignes à Grande Vitesse clockwise from north to west<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/601<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The following regions currently have no Obscure Services: Bretagne and Corse (Corsica)<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has one of the most complex patterns in Europe of dates on which some trains run, such that they can be very cumbersome to express in words. The entries thus show just the basic pattern, such as weekdays only or weekends only. The letter 'D' denotes a train whose dates of operation are seasonal or variable. Users should use the SNCF journey planner to determine on which dates a train runs.<br />
<br />
The timetable ''fiches'' do not normally cover the whole year. A new series usually comes into force in July, but not all régions seem to adhere to the same July date. These summer/autumn fiches are not normally available until June. <br />
Check also when reading the timetable ''fiches'' for dated entries, ''fiches'' being reissued after they have come into force (and hence not necessarily available at the time of compiling details of obscure services) and gaps in the period covered (which can give rise to a 'hidden' suspension of service). '''Owing to this complex situation users should not rely on details herein being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of strikes, engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl SNCF Grandes lignes], [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/idf Île de France] or the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/carte-et-tarifs-ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Detailed schematic plans of all LGVs can be found via [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France this list]; these plans should be consulted to identify all the various spurs on and off LGVs. ''TGV''s normally make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route, but overnight services may use classic lines for part of the journey, in order to allow for infrastructure maintenance. A ''TGV'' calling at two stations reasonably close together on a classic line may not use a parallel ''LGV''.<br />
<br />
Where reference is made to ''TGV'' services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'' and ''Ouigo'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites). In lists of trains herein, ''TGV Inoui'' services are shown as ''TGV'' and ''TGV Ouigo'' as ''TGO''.<br />
<br />
==Table Numbers/Fiches==<br />
No overall French public timetable in tabular form is now issued, so table numbers cannot be quoted. Lines are listed by local government ''Région'' so, for local services, the number of the ''TER fiche'' is quoted. These can be downloaded through the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/carte-et-tarifs-ter TER regional websites]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' then ''Fiches Horaires'' or ''Votre Fiche Horaires'' or ''Fiches Horaires à télécharger'' or ''Horaires / Travauz / Grèves''.<br />
<br />
Where a service is shown in the [https://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] this is indicated by 'ERT' and the table number.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
{{Map Refs ERA-E}} {{Map Refs ERA-R-1 }}” {{Map Refs SW-FR-1}}<br />
<br />
SNCF's most recent on-line [https://www.oui.sncf/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger destinations map] is diagrammatic and does not show lines used only by local trains: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Trams=<br />
See [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
=Other sparse services=<br />
<br />
Away from the LGVs and main lines to and from Paris, SNCF provide some of the least frequent services in Europe on their cross-country, secondary and tertiary lines. To list those with a poorer frequency than might be expected elsewhere would be tedious. However, the following lines have - on several working days of the week - no more than a single round trip, <i>or</i> have no service on some working days, <i>or</i> are restricted to seasonal or "dated" service. Careful study of the Régional TER fiches is therefore strongly recommended. "Better service" may still be limited compared to standards elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]].<br />
<br />
'''Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 332, fiche 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Bourgogne-Franche-Comté'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Bretagne'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 285<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only. Details are found in the [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/loisirs/lignes-touristiques Les Trains Touristiques] section of the TER Bretagne website.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Grand Est'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 915, fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Normandie'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 276a, fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Daily in July and August; more limited, mostly at weekends, in spring and autumn; no winter service<br />
|}<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Beauvais - Le Treport<br />
| ** Only three round train trips a day from 1 September 2020, with the rest buses.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nouvelle-Aquitaine'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 307, fiche 42<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| fiche 25<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| Limited weekday service; Since 10 December 2023, on Saturday three trains run through to Limoges with two returning. On Sunday there is a service in both directions.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Occitanie'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 332, fiche 31<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Pays de Loire'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 14<br />
| Chantonnay - Bressuire<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| FR19/455<br />
| Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian<br />
| There has been no use of this route since summer 2018<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant<br />
| Bus service pending track renewals <br />
|-<br />
| Grand Est<br />
| Saales - St Dié-des-Vosges<br />
| A reasonable train service was reinstated in November 2019 or earlier<br />
|-<br />
| Nouvelle Acquitaine<br />
| Hendaye - Irun (Spain)<br />
| Now included in Obscure Services<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne<br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| Bus since June 2018 on account of track washout<br />
|-<br />
| Grand Est<br />
| Thionville – Bouzonville<br />
| Bus since April 2016 with no resumption date announced so presumed closed<br />
|-<br />
| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Auvergne Région<br />
| Clermont-Ferrand - Volvic<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Centre Région<br />
| Reignac - Loches<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Limousin Région <br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| from 2 July 2017, more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Midi-Pyrénées Région<br />
| Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Rhône-Alpes Région<br />
| Brion-Montréal-La Cluse - Oyonnax - St.Claude<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays [Oyonnax - St.Claude section will close from December 2017]<br />
|-<br />
| Rhône-Alpes Région<br />
| Thiers - Montbrison<br />
| service withdrawn (part possibly temporarily) - see General Information section<br />
|}---><br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=54306France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2024-01-07T16:49:56Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Other sparse services */ typo correct</p>
<hr />
<div>=Introduction=<br />
==Timetable Information==<br />
It has not been possible to obtain access to the working timetable in recent years. The entries in this list therefore derive from:<br />
*services which can be adduced from public timetable information (such as occasional pre-planned engineering diversions where these are shown in the journey planners) for which an explanation is given<br />
*services where the same train / timings apply as in the last accessed working timetable and where it may therefore be ''assumed'' that the same "obscure" routing applies<br />
*services for which the routing has been confirmed subsequently.<br />
<br />
For some entries where the service is particularly sparse or difficult to deduce, individual trains are listed and the compilers will endeavour to update these entries with each timetable change. Entries marked FR24/ are based on the timetable 10 December 2023 to 14 December 2024, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 1982 the Départements in metropolitan France were grouped into 16 Régions, which were merged and renamed into 13 metropolitan Régions in 2016. SNCF continued to use the 1982 names for a while after 2016, but now use the new names.<br />
<br />
Regions are listed geographically, north to south, and there is a separate page giving details of obscure services in each.<br />
<br />
{| width="60%" | <br />
| [[France_(Hauts_de_France)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Hauts de France]] <br />
| Includes Lille and Amiens<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/001 <br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Normandie)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Normandie]] <br />
| Includes Caen and Rouen<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/051<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Île-de-France)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Île-de-France]]<br />
| Includes Paris<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/151<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Grand_Est)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Grand Est]] <br />
| Includes Metz, Strasbourg and Mulhouse<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/201<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Pays_de_Loire)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Pays de Loire]] <br />
| Includes Le Mans and Nantes <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/251<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Centre_-_Val_de_Loire)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Centre - Val de Loire]] <br />
| Includes Orléans and Tours<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/301<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Bourgogne_Franche_Comté)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Bourgogne Franche Comté]] <br />
| Includes Besançon and Dijon<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/351<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Nouvelle_Aquitaine)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Nouvelle Aquitaine]] <br />
| Includes Poitiers and Bordeaux<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/401<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Auvergne_Rhône_Alpes)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Auvergne Rhône Alpes]] <br />
| Includes Lyon, Chambéry and Valence <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/451<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Occitanie)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Occitanie]] <br />
| Includes Toulouse and Perpignan<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/501<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Provence_Alpes_Côte_d'Azur)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur]]<br />
| Includes Avignon and Marseille <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/551<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Lignes_à_Grande_Vitesse)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|(Lignes à Grande Vitesse)]]<br />
| Lignes à Grande Vitesse clockwise from north to west<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/601<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The following regions currently have no Obscure Services: Bretagne and Corse (Corsica)<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has one of the most complex patterns in Europe of dates on which some trains run, such that they can be very cumbersome to express in words. The entries thus show just the basic pattern, such as weekdays only or weekends only. The letter 'D' denotes a train whose dates of operation are seasonal or variable. Users should use the SNCF journey planner to determine on which dates a train runs.<br />
<br />
The timetable ''fiches'' do not normally cover the whole year. A new series usually comes into force in July, but not all régions seem to adhere to the same July date. These summer/autumn fiches are not normally available until June. <br />
Check also when reading the timetable ''fiches'' for dated entries, ''fiches'' being reissued after they have come into force (and hence not necessarily available at the time of compiling details of obscure services) and gaps in the period covered (which can give rise to a 'hidden' suspension of service). '''Owing to this complex situation users should not rely on details herein being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of strikes, engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl SNCF Grandes lignes], [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/idf Île de France] or the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/carte-et-tarifs-ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Detailed schematic plans of all LGVs can be found via [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France this list]; these plans should be consulted to identify all the various spurs on and off LGVs. ''TGV''s normally make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route, but overnight services may use classic lines for part of the journey, in order to allow for infrastructure maintenance. A ''TGV'' calling at two stations reasonably close together on a classic line may not use a parallel ''LGV''.<br />
<br />
Where reference is made to ''TGV'' services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'' and ''Ouigo'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites). In lists of trains herein, ''TGV Inoui'' services are shown as ''TGV'' and ''TGV Ouigo'' as ''TGO''.<br />
<br />
==Table Numbers/Fiches==<br />
No overall French public timetable in tabular form is now issued, so table numbers cannot be quoted. Lines are listed by local government ''Région'' so, for local services, the number of the ''TER fiche'' is quoted. These can be downloaded through the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/carte-et-tarifs-ter TER regional websites]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' then ''Fiches Horaires'' or ''Votre Fiche Horaires'' or ''Fiches Horaires à télécharger'' or ''Horaires / Travauz / Grèves''.<br />
<br />
Where a service is shown in the [https://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] this is indicated by 'ERT' and the table number.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
{{Map Refs ERA-E}} {{Map Refs ERA-R-1 }}” {{Map Refs SW-FR-1}}<br />
<br />
SNCF's most recent on-line [https://www.oui.sncf/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger destinations map] is diagrammatic and does not show lines used only by local trains: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Trams=<br />
See [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
=Other sparse services=<br />
<br />
Away from the LGVs and main lines to and from Paris, SNCF provide some of the least frequent services in Europe on their cross-country, secondary and tertiary lines. To list those with a poorer frequency than might be expected elsewhere would be tedious. However, the following lines have - on several working days of the week - no more than a single round trip, <i>or</i> have no service on some working days, <i>or</i> are restricted to seasonal or "dated" service. Careful study of the Régional TER fiches is therefore strongly recommended. "Better service" may still be limited compared to standards elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]].<br />
<br />
'''Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 332, fiche 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Bourgogne-Franche-Comté'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Bretagne'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 285<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only. Details are found in the [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/loisirs/lignes-touristiques Les Trains Touristiques] section of the TER Bretagne website.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Grand Est'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 915, fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Normandie'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 276a, fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Daily in July and August; more limited, mostly at weekends, in spring and autumn; no winter service<br />
|}<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Beauvais - Le Treport<br />
| ** Only three round train trips a day from 1 September 2020, with the rest buses.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nouvelle-Aquitaine'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 307, fiche 42<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| fiche 25<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| Limited weekday service; Since 10 December 2023, on Saturday three trains run through to Limoges with two returning. On Sunday there is a service in both directions<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Occitanie'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 332, fiche 31<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Pays de Loire'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 14<br />
| Chantonnay - Bressuire<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| FR19/455<br />
| Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian<br />
| There has been no use of this route since summer 2018<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant<br />
| Bus service pending track renewals <br />
|-<br />
| Grand Est<br />
| Saales - St Dié-des-Vosges<br />
| A reasonable train service was reinstated in November 2019 or earlier<br />
|-<br />
| Nouvelle Acquitaine<br />
| Hendaye - Irun (Spain)<br />
| Now included in Obscure Services<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne<br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| Bus since June 2018 on account of track washout<br />
|-<br />
| Grand Est<br />
| Thionville – Bouzonville<br />
| Bus since April 2016 with no resumption date announced so presumed closed<br />
|-<br />
| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Auvergne Région<br />
| Clermont-Ferrand - Volvic<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Centre Région<br />
| Reignac - Loches<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Limousin Région <br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| from 2 July 2017, more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Midi-Pyrénées Région<br />
| Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Rhône-Alpes Région<br />
| Brion-Montréal-La Cluse - Oyonnax - St.Claude<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays [Oyonnax - St.Claude section will close from December 2017]<br />
|-<br />
| Rhône-Alpes Région<br />
| Thiers - Montbrison<br />
| service withdrawn (part possibly temporarily) - see General Information section<br />
|}---><br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=54305France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2024-01-07T16:49:08Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Other sparse services */ update Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin for Saturday and Sunday services since 10/12/2023...</p>
<hr />
<div>=Introduction=<br />
==Timetable Information==<br />
It has not been possible to obtain access to the working timetable in recent years. The entries in this list therefore derive from:<br />
*services which can be adduced from public timetable information (such as occasional pre-planned engineering diversions where these are shown in the journey planners) for which an explanation is given<br />
*services where the same train / timings apply as in the last accessed working timetable and where it may therefore be ''assumed'' that the same "obscure" routing applies<br />
*services for which the routing has been confirmed subsequently.<br />
<br />
For some entries where the service is particularly sparse or difficult to deduce, individual trains are listed and the compilers will endeavour to update these entries with each timetable change. Entries marked FR24/ are based on the timetable 10 December 2023 to 14 December 2024, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 1982 the Départements in metropolitan France were grouped into 16 Régions, which were merged and renamed into 13 metropolitan Régions in 2016. SNCF continued to use the 1982 names for a while after 2016, but now use the new names.<br />
<br />
Regions are listed geographically, north to south, and there is a separate page giving details of obscure services in each.<br />
<br />
{| width="60%" | <br />
| [[France_(Hauts_de_France)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Hauts de France]] <br />
| Includes Lille and Amiens<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/001 <br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Normandie)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Normandie]] <br />
| Includes Caen and Rouen<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/051<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Île-de-France)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Île-de-France]]<br />
| Includes Paris<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/151<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Grand_Est)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Grand Est]] <br />
| Includes Metz, Strasbourg and Mulhouse<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/201<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Pays_de_Loire)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Pays de Loire]] <br />
| Includes Le Mans and Nantes <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/251<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Centre_-_Val_de_Loire)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Centre - Val de Loire]] <br />
| Includes Orléans and Tours<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/301<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Bourgogne_Franche_Comté)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Bourgogne Franche Comté]] <br />
| Includes Besançon and Dijon<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/351<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Nouvelle_Aquitaine)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Nouvelle Aquitaine]] <br />
| Includes Poitiers and Bordeaux<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/401<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Auvergne_Rhône_Alpes)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Auvergne Rhône Alpes]] <br />
| Includes Lyon, Chambéry and Valence <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/451<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Occitanie)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Occitanie]] <br />
| Includes Toulouse and Perpignan<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/501<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Provence_Alpes_Côte_d'Azur)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur]]<br />
| Includes Avignon and Marseille <br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/551<br />
|-<br />
| [[France_(Lignes_à_Grande_Vitesse)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services|(Lignes à Grande Vitesse)]]<br />
| Lignes à Grande Vitesse clockwise from north to west<br />
| Entries referenced from FRxx/601<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The following regions currently have no Obscure Services: Bretagne and Corse (Corsica)<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has one of the most complex patterns in Europe of dates on which some trains run, such that they can be very cumbersome to express in words. The entries thus show just the basic pattern, such as weekdays only or weekends only. The letter 'D' denotes a train whose dates of operation are seasonal or variable. Users should use the SNCF journey planner to determine on which dates a train runs.<br />
<br />
The timetable ''fiches'' do not normally cover the whole year. A new series usually comes into force in July, but not all régions seem to adhere to the same July date. These summer/autumn fiches are not normally available until June. <br />
Check also when reading the timetable ''fiches'' for dated entries, ''fiches'' being reissued after they have come into force (and hence not necessarily available at the time of compiling details of obscure services) and gaps in the period covered (which can give rise to a 'hidden' suspension of service). '''Owing to this complex situation users should not rely on details herein being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of strikes, engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl SNCF Grandes lignes], [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/idf Île de France] or the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/carte-et-tarifs-ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Detailed schematic plans of all LGVs can be found via [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Sch%C3%A9ma_de_ligne_ferroviaire_en_France this list]; these plans should be consulted to identify all the various spurs on and off LGVs. ''TGV''s normally make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route, but overnight services may use classic lines for part of the journey, in order to allow for infrastructure maintenance. A ''TGV'' calling at two stations reasonably close together on a classic line may not use a parallel ''LGV''.<br />
<br />
Where reference is made to ''TGV'' services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'' and ''Ouigo'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites). In lists of trains herein, ''TGV Inoui'' services are shown as ''TGV'' and ''TGV Ouigo'' as ''TGO''.<br />
<br />
==Table Numbers/Fiches==<br />
No overall French public timetable in tabular form is now issued, so table numbers cannot be quoted. Lines are listed by local government ''Région'' so, for local services, the number of the ''TER fiche'' is quoted. These can be downloaded through the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/carte-et-tarifs-ter TER regional websites]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' then ''Fiches Horaires'' or ''Votre Fiche Horaires'' or ''Fiches Horaires à télécharger'' or ''Horaires / Travauz / Grèves''.<br />
<br />
Where a service is shown in the [https://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] this is indicated by 'ERT' and the table number.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
{{Map Refs ERA-E}} {{Map Refs ERA-R-1 }}” {{Map Refs SW-FR-1}}<br />
<br />
SNCF's most recent on-line [https://www.oui.sncf/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger destinations map] is diagrammatic and does not show lines used only by local trains: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Trams=<br />
See [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
=Other sparse services=<br />
<br />
Away from the LGVs and main lines to and from Paris, SNCF provide some of the least frequent services in Europe on their cross-country, secondary and tertiary lines. To list those with a poorer frequency than might be expected elsewhere would be tedious. However, the following lines have - on several working days of the week - no more than a single round trip, <i>or</i> have no service on some working days, <i>or</i> are restricted to seasonal or "dated" service. Careful study of the Régional TER fiches is therefore strongly recommended. "Better service" may still be limited compared to standards elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]].<br />
<br />
'''Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 332, fiche 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Bourgogne-Franche-Comté'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Bretagne'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 285<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only. Details are found in the [https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/loisirs/lignes-touristiques Les Trains Touristiques] section of the TER Bretagne website.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Grand Est'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 915, fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Normandie'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 276a, fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Daily in July and August; more limited, mostly at weekends, in spring and autumn; no winter service<br />
|}<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Beauvais - Le Treport<br />
| ** Only three round train trips a day from 1 September 2020, with the rest buses.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nouvelle-Aquitaine'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 307, fiche 42<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| fiche 25<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| Limited weekday service; Since 10 December 2023, on Saturday three trains run through to Limoges with two returning. On Sunday there mis aservice in both directions<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Occitanie'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| ERT 332, fiche 31<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''Pays de Loire'''<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 14<br />
| Chantonnay - Bressuire<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| FR19/455<br />
| Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian<br />
| There has been no use of this route since summer 2018<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant<br />
| Bus service pending track renewals <br />
|-<br />
| Grand Est<br />
| Saales - St Dié-des-Vosges<br />
| A reasonable train service was reinstated in November 2019 or earlier<br />
|-<br />
| Nouvelle Acquitaine<br />
| Hendaye - Irun (Spain)<br />
| Now included in Obscure Services<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne<br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| Bus since June 2018 on account of track washout<br />
|-<br />
| Grand Est<br />
| Thionville – Bouzonville<br />
| Bus since April 2016 with no resumption date announced so presumed closed<br />
|-<br />
| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Auvergne Région<br />
| Clermont-Ferrand - Volvic<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Centre Région<br />
| Reignac - Loches<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Limousin Région <br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| from 2 July 2017, more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Midi-Pyrénées Région<br />
| Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Rhône-Alpes Région<br />
| Brion-Montréal-La Cluse - Oyonnax - St.Claude<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays [Oyonnax - St.Claude section will close from December 2017]<br />
|-<br />
| Rhône-Alpes Région<br />
| Thiers - Montbrison<br />
| service withdrawn (part possibly temporarily) - see General Information section<br />
|}---><br />
<br />
=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_Latvia_-_Lithuania&diff=53842Border Crossings: Latvia - Lithuania2023-12-27T11:42:57Z<p>Doughnut City: /* (Riga - Jelgava -) Meitene LDz - Šarkiai LG (- Šiauliai - Vilnius) */ tidy text</p>
<hr />
<div>All rail routes between this pair of countries are 1520mm gauge.<br />
<br />
==(Daugavpils -) Kurcums LDz - Turmantas LG (- Švenčioneliai - Vilnius)==<br />
[D] LG works to Daugavpils. A weekend only passenger service was reinstated on 4 April 2018. Latvia and Lithuania suspended all international services from 15 March 2020 and this service has not resumed. This route previously carried one daily train pair between St Peterburg (Russia) and Vilnius, which was withdrawn at the end of May 2015.<br />
<br />
==(Daugavpils -) Eglainē LDz - Obeliai<ref>LG Network Statement</ref> LG (- Rokiškis - Radviliškis)==<br />
[D] No passenger service.<br />
<br />
==(Riga - Jelgava -) Meitene LDz - Šarkiai LG (- Šiauliai - Vilnius)==<br />
[D] A Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service resumed from 27 December 2023. The previous use was by Ukrainian railways seasonal trains 31/32 Riga - Vilnius - Minsk - Kyiv (and vice versa) that ceased in March 2020 because of the pandemic.<br />
<br />
==(Riga - Jelgava -) Reņge LDz - Laižuva LG (- Mažeikiai)==<br />
[D] Freight only. This line was closed on 23 February 2010, when the (Rīga -) Jelgava - Renge service was withdrawn after the Lithuanians lifted the tracks on their side of the border in 2008 to prevent oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery exporting their products via Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court, which required LG to have relaid the track by March 2012. In October 2017 the European Commission fined LG €27.9m and ordered them to ‘bring the infringement to an end’. LG announced in October 2017 that it would be rebuilt "shortly". Work began in June 2019 and the line officially reopened on 15 February 2020.<br />
<br />
==(Priekule -) Vaiņode LDz - Lūšé LG (- Mažeikiai)==<br />
[D] Line closed and cut at Bugeniai.<br />
<br />
==(Priekule -) Kaleti LDz - Skuodas LG (- Klaipeda)==<br />
[D] Line closed.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox Latvia}}<br />
{{Navbox Lithuania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|Latvia - Lithuania]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_Latvia_-_Lithuania&diff=53841Border Crossings: Latvia - Lithuania2023-12-27T11:42:08Z<p>Doughnut City: /* (Riga - Jelgava -) Meitene LDz - Šarkiai LG (- Šiauliai - Vilnius) */ resumed 27/12/2023</p>
<hr />
<div>All rail routes between this pair of countries are 1520mm gauge.<br />
<br />
==(Daugavpils -) Kurcums LDz - Turmantas LG (- Švenčioneliai - Vilnius)==<br />
[D] LG works to Daugavpils. A weekend only passenger service was reinstated on 4 April 2018. Latvia and Lithuania suspended all international services from 15 March 2020 and this service has not resumed. This route previously carried one daily train pair between St Peterburg (Russia) and Vilnius, which was withdrawn at the end of May 2015.<br />
<br />
==(Daugavpils -) Eglainē LDz - Obeliai<ref>LG Network Statement</ref> LG (- Rokiškis - Radviliškis)==<br />
[D] No passenger service.<br />
<br />
==(Riga - Jelgava -) Meitene LDz - Šarkiai LG (- Šiauliai - Vilnius)==<br />
[D] A Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service will resumed from 27 December 2023. The previous use was by Ukrainian railways seasonal trains 31/32 Riga - Vilnius - Minsk - Kyiv (and vice versa) that ceased in March 2020 because of the pandemic.<br />
<br />
==(Riga - Jelgava -) Reņge LDz - Laižuva LG (- Mažeikiai)==<br />
[D] Freight only. This line was closed on 23 February 2010, when the (Rīga -) Jelgava - Renge service was withdrawn after the Lithuanians lifted the tracks on their side of the border in 2008 to prevent oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery exporting their products via Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court, which required LG to have relaid the track by March 2012. In October 2017 the European Commission fined LG €27.9m and ordered them to ‘bring the infringement to an end’. LG announced in October 2017 that it would be rebuilt "shortly". Work began in June 2019 and the line officially reopened on 15 February 2020.<br />
<br />
==(Priekule -) Vaiņode LDz - Lūšé LG (- Mažeikiai)==<br />
[D] Line closed and cut at Bugeniai.<br />
<br />
==(Priekule -) Kaleti LDz - Skuodas LG (- Klaipeda)==<br />
[D] Line closed.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox Latvia}}<br />
{{Navbox Lithuania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|Latvia - Lithuania]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Latvia_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=53840Latvia - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2023-12-27T11:40:55Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Other sparse services */ remove cross border start date</p>
<hr />
<div>==Introduction==<br />
This list is based on the timetable in force from 10 December 2023. <br />
Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
{{Map Refs ERA-E}} {{Map Refs ERA-R-3}}<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
===Rīga pasažieru — Vagonu Parks/Vagonnyi Park (— Jāņavārti)===<br />
(ERA-E 114C3, not shown; ERA-R 251C2, not shown) LV23/1<br />
<br />
All-stations electric suburban services in both directions, and also a very limited number of longer distance DMU services, deviate from the double track main line and run to the south of carriage sidings and an EMU depot. They use a single track line and call at Vagonu Parks/Vagonnyi Park station. These frequent services run every day and can be easily identified in the Riga - Ogre and Lielvārde timetable.<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
The following lines have a limited service of fewer than three trains a day each way or do not run every day: <br />
<br />
{| class="osstable3" <br />
| <br />
| Valmiera - Valga<br />
| Two trains each way a day<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Rēzekne - Zilupe<br />
| Two trains each way a day<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Pļaviņas - Madona - Gulbene <br />
| One train a day SSuX from/to Madona; one pair of trains SSuO to/from Gulbene, plus one outbound FO, providing a second service back to Riga SO.<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| (Jelgava -) Dobele - Liepāja<br />
| One each way a day; two each way SuO <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| (Šiauliai- Šarkiai LG -) Meitene - Jelgava <br />
| One return Vilnius - Riga train a day.<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Daugavpils - Indra<br />
| Daugavpils - Krāslava one train a day; Krāslava - Indra one train ThFO out and FSO back.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions since previous edition==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| <br />
| None<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Latvia}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Latvia_-_General_Information&diff=53839Latvia - General Information2023-12-27T11:40:02Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Recent and Future Changes */ Vilnius - Riga service resumed 27 Dec 2023.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Latvia (Latvija)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Latvijas Dzelzceļš ([https://www.ldz.lv/en LDz]).<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[https://www.vivi.lv/en/ JSC “Pasažieru vilciens”] is the domestic passenger<br />
operator.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Latvian.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 25; alpha LV<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[https://www.pv.lv/en/ Train schedule]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* Domestic Services:<br />
[https://www.vivi.lv/uploads/10-12-2023-_Vivi_Riga_Atiesana.pdf Train departure schedule from Riga station]</br><br />
[https://www.vivi.lv/uploads/10-12-2023-_Vivi_Riga_Pienaksana.pdf Train arrival schedule at Riga station]<br />
<br />
*International services:<br />
There are no international trains at present.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.pv.lv/lv/izmainas-un-jaunumi/ IZMAIŅAS]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.autoosta.lv/?lang=eng Autoosta] covers the country. However the website appears to be blocking access from the UK.<br />
<br />
[https://luxexpress.eu/en/ Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-EE-LV-LT-BY-UA-MD | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ES-LT-LV-EE | Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii]] (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#QM-LV-LT | Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region)]] by Quail Map Company.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_baltic-states.php Map of the Baltic States] - useful single sheet overviews - dated March 2018<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity.<br />
<br />
International Tickets to Lithuania can be purchased from the LTG-Link [https://ltglink.lt/en website]<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*[https://www.ldz.lv/?object_id=2672 LDz Infrastruktūra] is responsible for the infrastructure.<br />
*[https://www.lrn.lv/?lang=en LatRailNet], a Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz) subsidiary, was set up on 27th December 2010 to allocate railway capacity and determine infrastructure charges.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The [https://www.ldz.lv/en/network-statement Network Statement] page has a downloadable Network Statement for most years.<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except the Gulbene - Alūksne line (750 mm).<br />
<br />
Daugavpils and Riga tram systems are 1524 mm but the Liepāja tramway is metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc with tramways operating at 600 V dc..<br />
<br />
The original plan was to electrify the lines to Daugavpils and Rēzekne, which carried heavy freight traffic. However, owing to falling traffic with Russia, this has been cancelled. The focus will now be on converting the network around Rīga to 25 kV 50 Hz to be compatible with Rail Baltica.<br />
.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Approximate distances are given to the nearest km in Annex 2.1.B of the [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] - TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LDZ INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Gulbene - Alūksne Railway [https://www.banitis.lv/ Bānītis]. An English language PDF page is available [https://www.banitis.lv/pdf/eng.pdf here] and an equivalent one [https://www.banitis.lv/pdf/deu.pdf in German].<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
* [http://muzejs.ventspils.lv/en/seaside-open-air-museum/ High Seas Fisheries Museum, Ventspils] (600mm) <br />
* Mežaparks Pioneer Railway, Rīga (750mm) remains in situ but abandoned [locos transferred to Gulbene - Alūksne line]<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None. The initial phase of a Riga Metro was planned during the 1980s but has come to be seen as ecologically unsuitable (as well as having the taint of the Soviet era), so now seems unlikely to be developed.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Daugavpils, Rīga, Liepāja.<br />
<br />
The [https://urbanrail.net/eu/euromet.htm UrbanRailNet] site has basic diagrams of the tramway systems along with links to the local operators.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
The Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service resumed on 27 December 2023.<br />
<br />
Work on the 265km section of Rail Baltica from the proposed station at Riga airport towards the border with Lithuania is planned to commence in early 2024 with a proposed opening date of 2030. Work is already underway on the reconstruction of the main station in Riga. <br />
<br />
Construction of a line from Imanta to Riga airport was due to start in May 2021 for completion in December 2025. It is thought work is now in progress. <br />
<br />
Latvia cancelled all international travel with effect from 15 March 2020, leading to the suspension of all cross-border trains.<br />
<br />
Contracts for the reconstruction of Riga Central station as a multimodal transport hub were signed on May 29 2019. The existing 1520 mm gauge line will be rebuilt on an elevated alignment, together with 2.6 km of 1435 mm gauge tracks for the Rail Baltica line. This will require six new road bridges and a 1 km bridge over the River Daugava. On overall Rail Baltica progress, an October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without highlighting anticipated openings further south.<br />
<br />
During the summer of 2018 Ukrainian railways operated a seasonal Riga-Vilnius-Minsk-Kyiv train via Siauliai, thus reopening the Jelgava - Siauliai cross border line to passengers. This train continued running in 2019 but was withdrawn from 15 March 2020 owing to Covid.<br />
<br />
The Daugavpils - Turmantas (Lithuania) border crossing reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018 with a service only at weekends and it is assumed it continued until the Covid suspensions on 15 March 2020. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.<br />
<br />
The (Rīga -) Jelgava - Reņge service was withdrawn on 23 February 2010 after the Lithuanians lifted the tracks on their side of the border in 2009 to prevent oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery exporting their products via Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court who fined LG who then announced in October 2017 that it would be rebuilt "shortly". The line reopened on 15 February 2020.....<br />
<br />
From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train ran only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combined with Riga - Sankt Peterburg train, thus effecting the closure of Rēzekne-1. It reverted to using Rēzekne-1 on 1 June 2012, running direct between there and Kleperova and ceasing to use Rēzekne-2. However, this service was withdrawn completely at the end of May 2015. The Riga - Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Riga - Moskva train from 25 October 2015, thus diverting it via Zilupe and withdrawing the passenger service between Rēzekne and Kārsava.<br />
<br />
From 1 June 2011 a service was reinstated between Riga and Minsk, reopening to passengers the border crossing at Indra. Between 1 June 2012 and 25 October 2015 it was combined with the Riga - Sankt Peterburg train as far as Daugavpils, after which the Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Riga - Moskva train.<br />
<br />
From 1 February 2011 a daily service was reinstated between Plavinas and Madona. This is extended to/from Gulbene on limited dates during the summer and at certain other peak times such as Easter.<br />
<br />
In September 2009 LDz announced its decision to dismantle the Liepāja – Ventspils, Saurieši - Ērgli, Ieriķi - Gulbene and Gulbene - Vecumi (Russian border) lines as it was impossible to reopen them owing to the poor condition of the track, some of which had been stolen.<br />
<br />
Cross-border passenger services from Valka/Lugaži to Valga (Estonia) were reinstated on 25 April 2008.<br />
<br />
Outside the Rīga suburban (electrified) area, passenger services saw a serious decline, with service reductions and line closures since independence, mainly because line speeds are relatively slow and therefore uncompetitive with road over trunk routes.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
<br />
Some words which may be of use:<br />
* elektrovilcieni = electric (suburban) multiple unit trains, operating to the following destinations from Rīga: Skulte; Aizkraukle; Jelgava; Tukums 2 via Dubulti.<br />
* dīzeļvilcieni = diesel (country) trains (at a fare scale approx. 30% higher than elektrovilcieni); apart from international trains, principally multiple units<br />
* darba dienās = SSuX<br />
* [timetable note] * (reading "vilcieni, apzīmēti ar "zvaigznīti", tiks norīkoti pēc īpašas pavēles", or similar) indicates need to enquire for dates of operation<br />
* kursēs līdz = terminates at<br />
* atcelts = cancelled<br />
* no = from or departure<br />
* gala stacija = terminus or destination<br />
* nepietur = not stopping (platform departure posters usually assume "all stations" unless otherwise shown)<br />
* celā = journey duration<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Latvia}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Lithuania_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=53838Lithuania - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2023-12-27T11:38:48Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Other sparse services */ remove cross border start date</p>
<hr />
<div>==Introduction==<br />
This list is based on the timetable valid from 10 December 2023. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
{{Map Refs ERA-E}} {{Map Refs ERA-R-3}}<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
===Radviliškis===<br />
(ERA-E 115B3; ERA-R 254A1, not shown on either map) LT24/1 <br />
<br />
Radviliškis station lies between two marshalling yards, one to the NW and another, larger yard to the SE. Trains from Šiauliai run on the south side of both yards whereas those from the Vilnius direction run on the north side of the yards. The maximum separation of these running lines in the larger yard is over 300 m.<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
The following lines have fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week, or do not run each weekday.<br />
<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| <br />
| Marijampolė – Mockava (broad gauge); Mockava - Trakiszki (Poland) (– Suwałki) (standard gauge)<br />
| One train a day each way with a transfer in Mockava, but advertised as a through Krakow <> Vilnius train on some journey planners.<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| (Kaunas –) Palemonas – Jonava (– Šiauliai) <br />
| Either one or two trains a day each way, depending on the day of the week<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
| Šiauliai - Šarkiai (- Meitene LDz - Jelgava) <br />
| One return Vilnius - Riga train a day.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions since previous edition==<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| <br />
| None<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Lithuania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Lithuania_-_General_Information&diff=53837Lithuania - General Information2023-12-27T11:37:37Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Future Changes */ Vilnius - Riga service started 27/12</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Lithuania (Lietuva)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
The national railway AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai is a state-owned holding company with stand-alone passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses. However, access to [https://www.litrail.lt/en/home its website] is at present blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.<br />
<br />
The passenger business LG Keleiviams was formally registered on 28 February 2019 and has taken over the Passenger Transport Directorate (Keleivių Vežimo Direkcia) division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai. However, access to [https://www.litrail.lt/en/keleiviams its website] is also blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.<br />
<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[https://www.ltglink.lt/en LTG Link] operates passenger services in Lithuania<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Lithuanian.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 24; alpha LT <br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[https://ltglink.lt/en LTG LINK]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
It appears that there isn't a set of timetables that can be downloaded. However a downloadable route timetable, giving intermediate calls, can be created by using [https://bilietas.ltglink.lt/timetable LTG LINK] and selecting the first and last stations on the route. This generates a complete timetable page which can be downloaded.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
A printed timetable is produced, but appears to be for staff use only. Travel centres such as the one at Vilnius offer individual timetables on photocopied sheets.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
This information is no longer available.<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.autobusubilietai.lt/index.php?cl=start&lang=0 autobusubilietai.lt] provides a journey planner for buses in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe.<br />
<br />
[https://luxexpress.eu/en/ Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-EE-LV-LT-BY-UA-MD | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ES-LT-LV-EE | Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii]] (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#QM-LV-LT | Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region)]] by Quail Map Company.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_baltic-states.php Map of the Baltic States] Dated October 2009<br />
*Annex 5 of the 2017-2018 [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Lithuania|Maps and Plans - Lithuania]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.<br />
<br />
Tickets can be purchased at the LTG-Link [https://ltglink.lt/en website] including for International travel to Riga.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
AB LTG Infra is responsible for the infrastructure. However, access to [https://ltginfra.lt/en/home/ its website] is blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The latest Network Statements are contained in the [https://ltginfra.lt/en/railway-infrastructure/map/network-statements/ Network Statements section]. <br />
===Gauge===<br />
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except for<br />
* "Rail Baltica": Trakiszki (Polish border) - Šeštokai - Kaunas - Palemonas (and eventually onwards to the Latvian Border via Panevėžys) (standard gauge; 1435 mm). Rail Baltica is mixed gauge between Mockava and Šeštokai, then parallel to the 1520 mm gauge line between Šeštokai and Palemonas, except for mixed gauge through the tunnel east of Kaunas.<br />
* Panevėžys - Rubikiai (750mm).<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
25kV 50 Hz<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The Current [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] gives overall distances for lines in Annex 2.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
The [http://siaurukas.eu Panevėžys - Rubikiai] 750mm gauge railway.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
===Future Changes===<br />
<br />
The Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service resumed from 27 December 2023.<br />
<br />
[https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/pendolino-do-wilna-pkp-ic-duzo-ostrozniejsze-niz-mi--111324.html A Polish railway press article] in late December 2022 stated that a through standard gauge service to Kaunas, operated by PKP, was planned from the 2023/24 timetable change. However, there is no sign of this as at December 2023.<br />
<br />
From four options, the Ministry of Transport selected option 6A in May 2022 as its preferred route for the section of Rail Baltica between the Polish border and Kaunas (Jiesia). This is a 'greenfield' route bypassing Marijampolė, Kazlų Rūda and Kalvarija. The existing 1435 mm gauge cross-border line will continue in use as it is important for military purposes, providing access to the Kazlų Rūda training area.<br />
<br />
An EU funding agreement to cover 85% of the costs of building the line from Kaunas to the Latvian border (part of the Rail Baltica II project) was signed on November 18 2016 and a Press announcement in May 2021 advised all necessary land had been acquired. In total Rail Baltica will involve 392km of new railway in Lithuania. An October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without mentioning progress and if earlier openings further south are anticipated. It is believed the lines are to be double track and electrified throughout.<br />
<br />
===Recent Changes (latest developments at top)===<br />
<br />
A pair of PKP IC trains were extended across the border to Mockava from 11 December 2022, with through ticketing onto a booked DMU connection there with a LG service to/from Vilnius. This restored a passenger service on the broad gauge rails between Šeštokai and Kazlu Ruda, withdrawn on 28 September 2013. [Mockava - Šeštokai is mixed gauge.] This resulted in withdrawal of the limited FSSuO Białystok - Kaunas standard gauge service from the same date, resulting in there being no service on the separate parallel standard gauge line between Šeštokai and Kaunas.<br />
<br />
On 1 July 2022, the (Radviliškis -) Panevėžys - Rokiškis line was closed ‘temporarily’ because of low passenger numbers and a lack of spare parts caused by the war in Ukraine. As at December 2023 Rokiškis did not even appear as an option in the Journey planner drop down boxes. <br />
<br />
The Białystok (PL) – Kaunas service resumed on 1 July 2022 but a less frequent basis from before.<br />
<br />
On 2 February 2022 the government approved the electrification of the 309 km Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda – Draugystės (the port branch south of Klaipėda station) route. €197m of the €398m cost will come from the EU Cohesion Fund.<br />
<br />
The Kaunas Intermodal Terminal at Palemonas opened to commercial traffic on 19 July 2021, when a train arrived from Tilburg in the Netherlands. Dual gauge track had been laid beyond Kaunas station to Palemonas in October 2020 but it is unknown if dual gauge rails may also now be laid on the Kaunas avoiding line. '''Any information on this would be appreciated by the Compilers.'''<br />
<br />
The passenger service between Turmantas and Daugavpils (Latvia) was suspended in March 2020. It reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018, with a service only at weekends. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.<br />
<br />
The Reņge - Mažeikiai (LG) freight only cross border line reopened on 15 February 2020.<br />
<br />
Passenger services were reinstated between (Vilnius -) Oro uostas (Vilnius airport) and Jašiūnai on 9 Dec 2018. The Oro uostas - Valciunai - Stasylos and Paneriai - Valciunai services were withdrawn on 1 January 2015, although shuttle trains continued between Vilnius and Oro uostas. <br />
<br />
Klaipēda - Šilutė was reopened to passenger traffic on 1 October 2018, having been discontinued from 29 May 2011<br />
<br />
Electrification across the border from Kena into Belarus was completed in Autumn 2017 and a through electric passenger service commenced on 10 December 2017.<br />
<br />
The Vilnius - Marcinkonys service was cut back to Varėna at an unknown date between December 2015 and November 2016 but had reopened by Mid March 2017. <br />
<br />
After some false starts, passenger services were introduced over the standard gauge (1435 mm) Rail Baltica line between Šeštokai and Kaunas on 17 June 2016. These comprised Białystok – Kaunas trains operated by Polish diesel units: two trains each way on Saturdays and Sundays, with a northbound train on Fridays and a southbound train on Mondays. The separate 1435 mm gauge track runs alongside the existing broad gauge route between Šeštokai and Kaunas, in contrast to the original plans for a partly new route. An unexpected consequence was that no LG passenger service resumed south of Marijampole to Šeštokai, so the last broad gauge passenger trains ran on this section on 28 September 2013. At Šeštokai there is now only a platform on one of the new standard gauge tracks, but even so it took until 6 October 2017 before this SG service started to call there. <br />
<br />
Passenger services over the border crossing between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) were reintroduced on 6 June 2015, with one train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only, but withdrawn after 8 November. <br />
On 3 August 2011 services to Stasylos had been extended 4.2 km southwards to a new station 1.3 km north of the former Šalčininkai halt and 5.5 km from the Belarus border on the line to Ліда/Lida. This new station was also named Stasylos, the old station being renamed Senosios Stasylos. Services between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) ceased on 19 September 2008 when the summer-only Vilnius - Simferopol’ train pair ceased running. <br />
<br />
Palemonas to Gaižiūnai has lost and regained its single train pair more than once. As at January 2015 a service is running.<br />
<br />
Through Vilnius - Druskininkai LG trains and the Vilnius - Warszawa overnight service, both via Parėččė (Belarus), ceased in 2001, resulting in withdrawal of all trains south of Marcinkonys.<br />
<br />
Regular services over the Panevėžys - Anykščiai narrow gauge line ceased from 25 March 2001.<br />
<br />
Since late 1998 the following lines have lost their passenger service:<br />
<br />
* Jonaitiškai – Kutiškiai <br />
* [Šiauliai -] Mankiškai - Jonaitiškai - Tauragė - Pagėgiai - Šilutė - Klaipēda (Klaipēda - Šilutė subsequently reopened but has since closed again) <br />
* Švenčionėliai - Utena <br />
* Šeštokai - Alytus <br />
* [Klaipēda -] Kretinga - Skuodas <br />
* [Vilnius -] Paneriai - Valičiūniai (but has subsequently reopened)<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Lithuania}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Switzerland_-_General_Information&diff=53587Switzerland - General Information2023-12-20T23:34:39Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Printed Timetable */ private production ceases for 2024</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Switzerland (Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen AG ([https://www.sbb.ch SBB]), Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses SA (CFF) and Ferrovie federali svizzere SA (FFS) are the German, French and Italian renderings of Swiss Federal Railways. The form used on buildings and other fixed installations depends on the language area in which they are situated. At a few locations, notably Biel/Bienne, two languages are used. Most rolling stock carries all three sets of initials.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
German is the main language. <br />
<br />
Written German is almost identical to that found in Germany - one main difference is that the Esszett ('ß') is rarely used, with 'ss' being preferred. Spoken Swiss German however differs considerably from standard German to the extent that many Germans find it hard to understand. <br />
<br />
There is an extensive French-speaking area covering Cantons Genève, Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Jura, plus the western half of Valais and a small part of Bern. Certain towns to the west of Bern are officially bilingual. They are normally shown in both languages, e.g. Biel/Bienne and Fribourg/Freiburg. <br />
<br />
Italian is spoken in Canton Ticino. <br />
<br />
The predominant language in Canton Graubünden is German, but there is a minority language, Romansch. Some place names in this canton are generally given in both German and Romansch, e.g. Disentis/Mustér.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Swiss franc<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 85; alpha CH<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html SBB Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
[https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de Swiss transport journey planner]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* All services: [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanfelder-abfragen öv.info.ch] (German) [https://www.tp-info.ch/fr/horaire-actuel/rechercher-un-tableau-horaire tp-info.ch/fr] (French) and [https://www.tp-info.ch/it/orario-aggiornato/consulta-i-quadri-dorario tp-info.ch/it] (Italian). These sites replaced the former fahrplanfelder.ch site in April 2023. <br />
<br />
Searches can be made by placename, station or stop name and by table number. All Swiss public transport timetables (SBB/CFF/FFS, other rail operators, tram, bus, Metro, ferry, cable-car, ski lift etc) are available on these sites.<br />
<br />
An archive of previous years' timetables back to 2006 is on the new öv.info.ch site [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanarchiv here].<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The last printed ''Offizielles Kursbuch/Indicateur officiel/Orario ufficiale'' was published in 2017. It is still available in downloadable pdf format; see above. However, a private publisher still produced the printed volume see [https://www.verkehrsclub.ch/angebote/kursbuch-bestellen Kursbuch] but this has now ceased with the 2024 edition due to lack of demand.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
* Temporary timetable amendments: [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/temporaere-fahrplanaenderungen öv-info.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/temporaere-fahrplanaenderungen]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
The [[#Journey Planner|Journey Planner]] (above) selects bus services if they provide the best journey.<br />
<br />
The [https://www.postauto.ch/ Post Bus] website provides comprehensive public transport information.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-CH | Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz]] by Schweers + Wall.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-CH | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Switzerland)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*Track plans for RhB (ISBN 3-89494-101-4 pub. 1999) were published by Schweers + Wall.<br />
*SBB's ''Schweizer Bahn-Karte'', which is widely available, shows all passenger railways, inter-urban bus routes, ferries, cable cars and chair lifts on a 1:301000 relief map of Switzerland.<br />
*''Schienennetz Schweiz: Ein technisch-historischer Atlas'', published by AS Verlag, includes track layout diagrams and gradient profiles for all Swiss railways, as well as a vast amount of other technical and historical data. The third edition was published in 2010 and it is not known if there is a later one.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*A zoomable network map (without timetable numbers) is available online [https://maps.trafimage.ch/ the Swiss public transport atlas].<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/html_de/sporenplan/sbb/start.html Sporenplan] has an on-line map giving access to a series of schematic track diagrams. <br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_switzerland.php Map of Switzerland] has not been updated since April 2011.<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Switzerland|Maps and Plans - Switzerland]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Fares on some mountain railways are very expensive, though rover tickets, holiday cards, half fare passes and city tickets given free by hotels may give reductions. Discounts may be available for travel on trains early in the morning or late in the afternoon or in low season.<br />
<br />
The Interrail One Country Pass for Switzerland is considerably cheaper than the well-promoted Swiss Travel Pass, although the latter includes bus services, lake shipping services and urban transport in most Swiss cities and large towns. Entry to most Swiss museums is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass.<br />
<br />
A [https://www.myswissalps.com/interrailswitzerlandpass/validity downloadable map] shows the lines on which Interrail tickets are valid in Switzerland, either free of further charge or at a reduced rate.<br />
<br />
An [https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/area-validity-map.html online validity map] shows where Swiss travel passes, including the Day Saver Pass, are valid.<br />
<br />
It is not possible to purchase a ticket on board a train without paying a substantial fine. Tickets must be bought in advance from a machine on the platform, online, or by smartphone. However, the transaction must be completed - including the payment being received by SBB - before the train departs. Some tickets must be date-stamped in a machine on the platform. These rules are enforced rigidly. A few exceptions will be made, for example for travellers changing from an international train who have had no opportunity of buying a ticket.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[https://company.sbb.ch/en/the-company/organisation/infrastructure.html SBB Infrastructure], a division of SBB.<br />
<br />
A few lines in Switzerland are owned by DB Netz AG, the German national railway infrastructure company.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
Links towards the bottom of the [https://company.sbb.ch/en/sbb-as-business-partner/services-rus/onestopshop/track-access.html Track access] page<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
The SBB/CFF/FFS system is standard gauge. Most other railways are either standard gauge or metre gauge, and some have sections of both. Various other gauges are used. The Rhätische Bahn and the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn together form an extensive metre gauge system with through workings between the two lines.<br />
<br />
A gauge changer at Zweisimmen enables through running of dual gauge stock between the metre gauge MOB and the standard gauge BLS. This is the only such installation in Switzerland.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Most standard gauge lines are electrified at 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with 11 kV 16.7 Hz on the RhB/MGB system. Various systems are used by other railways, including low voltage dc. The CFF line from Genève to the frontier at La Plaine (but excluding the tracks to Genève Aéroport) is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz for through running by SNCF trains; it was converted from 1500 V dc in autumn 2014. Very few lines are not electrified, the main exceptions being the steam-worked Brienz Rothorn Bahn, the freight-only Sursee–Triengen and Solothurn–Büren an der Aare lines and the Etzwilen to Singen (DE) heritage line.<br />
<br />
With the electrification of Erzingen (Baden) to Schaffhausen, the only remaining unelectrified section of the Basel to Schaffhausen line within Switzerland is the 2 km between Basel Bad Bf and the border. DB diesel units continue to operate Basel - Singen services including over the electrified Swiss sections either side of Schaffhausen. Electrification of the Basel to Erzingen section (almost all within Germany) is planned for the mid-2020s.<br />
<br />
Most tramways operate at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except for right hand running as follows: on DB AG lines through Basel and Schaffhausen, the SNCF line between Mulhouse and Basel SBB / Bâle SNCF and between Genève and Annemasse [SNCF] which reduces conflicts at La Praille and Annemasse. There is extensive bi-directional signalling, so it is quite usual for trains to run on the right-hand track if this suits operating requirements.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
[[Printed Maps#SW-CH | Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz]] by Schweers + Wall is the most easily available source of distance information.<br />
<br />
Detailed distances for most of SBB can be found at [https://data.sbb.ch/explore/dataset/linie-mit-betriebspunkten/information/ Linie mit Betriebspunkten]. This is a list of stations and junctions with distances to 3 decimal points. It does not, however, take account of deviations which increase or decrease the distance.<br />
<br />
The ''Schienennetz Schweiz'' (see the Printed Maps section) was the definitive publication. However it may not be easily available or up to date.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Cantons (local government) have extensive shareholdings in many of these railways. Some railways have amalgamated in recent years or combined their operations. Rolling stock, tickets and publicity may still bear old names in some cases. In many cases other railways operate over SBB lines and vice versa. Funicular railways are not listed.<br />
<br />
'''Aare Seeland mobil AG''' [https://www.asmobil.ch/de/ www.asmobil.ch]: Biel/Bienne to Ins; Niederbipp to Langenthal and St Urban Ziegelei; Solothurn to Niederbipp: Metre gauge, 1200V dc. The freight-only line from St Urban Ziegelei to Melchnau closed in 2012.<br />
<br />
'''Aargau Verkehr AG''' [https://www.aargauverkehr.ch/ www.aargauverkehr.ch/]: Wohlen to Dietikon: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc. Aarau to Schöftland and to Menziken. Metre gauge, 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
'''Appenzeller Bahnen AG''' [https://www.appenzellerbahnen.ch www.appenzellerbahnen.ch]:<br />
* Gossau to Appenzell and Wasserauen; St Gallen to Gais and Appenzell; Gais to Altstätten Stadt; St Gallen to Trogen: Metre gauge, 1500V dc, with Strub rack between Stoss and Altstätten Stadt. <br />
* Rheineck to Walzenhausen: 1200 mm gauge, 600 V dc, with Riggenbach rack between Ruderbach and Walzenhausen. <br />
* Rorschach to Heiden: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with Riggenbach rack, except at Rorschach. <br />
* Frauenfeld to Wil: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc. This line was absorbed into the Appenzeller Bahnen system in 2021.<br />
<br />
'''BLS AG''' [https://www.bls.ch/en www.bls.ch]: Lengnau to Moutier; Bern to Neuchâtel and to Schwarzenburg; Bern to Thun via Belp; Thun to Brig and to Visp via the old and new Lötschberg tunnels; Spiez to Interlaken Ost and to Zweisimmen; Solothurn to Moutier and to Burgdorf; Burgdorf to Thun and to Langnau; Ramsei to Sumiswald-Grünen; Langenthal to Wolhusen; Sumiswald-Grünen to Wasen im Emmental and to Huttwil (freight only to Burghof and Huttwil but with summer tourist operation by [https://www.emmentalbahn.ch/ Emmentalbahn] to Wasen and Huttwil - see below). All standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. SBB operates all long-distance passenger trains over the Lötschberg route and to Interlaken. BLS operates local services in the Bern area, including those over SBB lines. Lengnau to Moutier forms part of the main line from Biel/Bienne to Basel and all passenger trains are operated by CFF. <br />
<br />
'''Brienz Rothorn Bahn''' [https://brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch/ brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch]: Brienz to Rothorn Kulm: 800 mm gauge with Abt rack. The line is not electrified and most trains are steam-worked. The railway does not operate during the winter.<br />
<br />
'''Dolderbahn Betriebs AG''' [https://www.zvv.ch www.zvv.ch]: Zürich-Römerhof to Zürich-Dolder: Metre gauge, 600 V dc, with Strub rack throughout. Managed by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich. <br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie autolinee regionali ticinesi''' trading as Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli [https://www.vigezzinacentovalli.com/en/ www.vigezzinacentovalli.com]: Locarno to Camedo (line continues through Italy as Societa Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie to Domodossola): Metre gauge, 1200V dc. <br />
<br />
'''Forchbahn AG''' [https://www.forchbahn.ch www.forchbahn.ch]: Zürich-Rehalp to Esslingen (operates over the Zürich tram system between Rehalp and Stadelhofen): Metre gauge, 1200V dc (600V on the tramway section). <br />
<br />
'''Gornergrat Bahn''' [https://www.gornergrat.ch/en/ www.gornergrat.ch]: Zermatt to Gornergrat: Metre gauge, 750 V 50 Hz three-phase, with Abt rack throughout. The railway is managed by the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn. <br />
<br />
'''Jungfraubahnen''' [https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/ www.jungfrau.ch]: Jungfraubahn Holding AG and Berner Oberland Bahnen AG are jointly-managed companies that own and operate the following lines:<br />
* Berner Oberland Bahnen: Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and to Grindelwald: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. <br />
* Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren: Grütschalp to Mürren: Metre gauge, 550 V dc. <br />
* Jungfraubahn: Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch: Metre gauge, 1125 V 50 Hz three-phase, with Strub rack throughout. <br />
* Schynige Platte Bahn: Wilderswil to Schynige Platte: 800 mm gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. No winter service. <br />
* Wengernalpbahn: Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen and to Grindelwald: 800 mm gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. <br />
<br />
'''Chemins de fer du Jura''' [https://www.les-cj.ch/ www.les-cj.ch]: <br />
* La Chaux-de-Fonds to Glovelier; Le Noirmont to Tavannes: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. <br />
* Porrentruy to Bonfol: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer Lausanne-Echallens-Bercher SA''' [https://www.leb.ch www.leb.ch]: Lausanne-Flon to Bercher: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. <br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie Luganesi SA''' [https://flpsa.ch/index/en/ flpsa.ch]: Lugano to Ponte Tresa: Metre gauge, 1000V dc. <br />
<br />
'''AG Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn''' [https://www.matterhorngotthardbahn.ch www.matterhorngotthardbahn.ch]: Zermatt to Brig, Andermatt, Göschenen and Disentis/Mustér: Metre gauge, 11 kV, 16.7 Hz, with several sections of Abt rack. <br />
<br />
'''Ferrovia Monte Generoso''' [https://www.montegeneroso.ch/en www.montegeneroso.ch]: Capolago Lago to Generoso Vetta: 800 mm gauge <br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernois''' [https://journey.mob.ch/en/ journey.mob.ch]: Montreux to Zweisimmen and Lenk: Metre gauge, 900 V dc. <br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer Nyon-St Cergue-Morez''' [https://www.nstcm.ch/ www.nstcm.ch]: Nyon to La Cure: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. The company's name reflects that railway originally continued to Morez, in France, but the line beyond the Swiss border at La Cure closed in 1958. <br />
<br />
'''Oensingen-Balsthal Bahn AG''' [https://www.oebb.ch/ www.oebb.ch]: Balsthal to Oensingen: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Passenger services are worked by SBB. <br />
<br />
'''Pilatus Bahnen AG''' [https://www.pilatus.ch/ www.pilatus.ch]: Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm: 800 mm gauge, 1550 V dc, with Locher rack, unique to this line. The steepest rack railway in the world, it does not operate during the winter.<br />
<br />
'''RegionAlps SA''' [https://www.regionalps.ch/ www.regionalps.ch]: A joint venture between CFF (70%), Transports de Martigny et Régions SA (18%) and Canton Valais (12%) responsible for operation of local passenger trains between Brig and St Gingolph and from Martigny to Le Châble and Orsières. <br />
<br />
'''Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn AG''' [https://www.rbs.ch/ www.rbs.ch]: <br />
* Bern to Solothurn, Unterzollikofen and Worb Dorf via Worblaufen: Metre gauge, 1250 V dc. <br />
* Bern Egghölzli to Worb Dorf via Gümligen: Metre gauge, 600 V dc, with through running at Egghölzli onto the Bern tram system.<br />
<br />
'''Rhätische Bahn''' [https://www.rhb.ch/en/home www.rhb.ch]: <br />
* Chur to Arosa; Chur to St Moritz and Pontresina via Thusis; Reichenau-Tamins to Disentis/Muster; Chur to Filisur via Davos; Klosters to Sagliains and Susch; Bever to Scuol-Tarasp; Samedan to Pontresina: Metre gauge, 11 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
* St Moritz to Tirano: Metre gauge, 1000 V dc. <br />
There is mixed-gauge track Chur to Ems Werk, to allow freight operation by SBB. The Italian and Romansch names Ferrovia retica and Viafier retica appear on rolling stock, but the abbreviation 'RhB' is always used. <br />
<br />
'''Rigi Bahnen''' [https://www.rigi.ch/ www.rigi.ch]: Vitznau to Rigi Kulm; Arth-Goldau to Rigi Kulm: 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack on both lines. <br />
<br />
'''Schweizerische Südostbahn''' [https://www.sob.ch/ www.sob.ch]: Romanshorn to St Gallen St Fiden; St Gallen to Wattwil and Nesslau-Neu St Johann; Rapperswil to Arth-Goldau, Wädenswil to Samstagern, Biberbrugg to Einsiedeln: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. The company operates local trains over some SBB lines in Eastern Switzerland. The company trades as Südostbahn, but the service between Luzern and St Gallen is branded ''Voralpen-Express'', the ''IR'' service between Zürich/Basel and Locarno via the old Gotthard Tunnel is branded ''Treno Gottardo'' and the ''IR'' service between Basel, Zürich and Chur is branded as ''Aare Linth''. <br />
<br />
'''Sensetalbahn''': Flamatt to Laupen: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. The company is owned jointly by SBB (66%) and Swiss Post (34%) and owns the infrastructure on the branch, but maintenance and operation of the infrastructure is contracted to SBB. Trains are operated by BLS. Rail-cycles can be hired throughout the year at Laupen station for use on the closed railway from there most of the way to Gümmenen. <br />
<br />
'''Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG''' [https://www.szu.ch/home www.szu.ch]: <br />
* Zürich HB to Uetliberg: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz (from 22 August 2022. Was 1200 V dc until 26 July 2022). <br />
* Zürich HB to Sihlbrugg: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. There is no regular passenger service between Sihlwald and Sihlbrugg, although occasional steam trains operate through from Zürich.<br />
<br />
'''Sursee-Triengen-Bahn AG''' [https://www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch/infrastruktur/netzzugang.html www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch]: Sursee to Triengen: Freight only, standard gauge, not electrified. Occasional steam passenger trains operate. <br />
<br />
'''Thurbo AG''' [https://www.thurbo.ch/ www.thurbo.ch]: A SBB (90%) and Canton Thurgau (10%) joint venture for operation of local trains in north-east Switzerland. <br />
<br />
'''Transports de Martigny et Régions SA''' [https://www.tmrsa.ch/ www.tmrsa.ch]: <br />
* Martigny to Orsières and Le Châble: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Operated by RegionAlps SA. <br />
* Martigny to Le Châtelard-Frontière: Metre gauge, 800 V dc, with Strub rack and third rail electrification between Vernayaz and Salvan. There are through workings over the SNCF line to Chamonix. <br />
<br />
'''Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera''' [https://mob.ch/ www.mob.ch]: <br />
* Vevey to Les Pléiades: Metre gauge, 850 V dc, with Strub rack Blonay to Les Pléiades. <br />
* Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye: 800 mm gauge, 850 V dc, with Abt rack. <br />
Managed by Chemin de Fer Montreux Oberland Bernois. <br />
<br />
'''transN SA''' (Transports Publics Neuchâtelois) [https://www.transn.ch/ www.transn.ch]: <br />
* Les Brenets to Le Locle; La Chaux-de-Fonds to Les Ponts-de-Martel : Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. Les Brenets to Le Locle was to close in December 2023 for conversion to an electric busway, but this has been deferred until at least the end of 2024.<br />
* Travers to Fleurier and Buttes: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. There are occasional steam trains over a non-electrified standard-gauge freight branch from Fleurier to St Sulpice. <br />
<br />
'''Transports Publics du Chablais''' [https://tpc.ch/ www.tpc.ch]:<br />
* Aigle to Leysin Grand Hotel: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc, with Abt rack, except between Aigle and Aigle Dépot. To be diverted to Télésiège Tête d’Aï instead of Leysin Grand Hotel by 2023.<br />
* Aigle to Le Sépey and Les Diablerets: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc.<br />
* Monthey to Aigle and to Champéry: Metre gauge, 850 V dc, with Strub rack on most of the line to Champéry. To be converted to 1000 V dc and Abt rack and diverted to Monthey SBB by 2029.<br />
* Bex to Villars-sur-Ollon and Col-de-Bretaye: Metre gauge, 650 V dc, with Abt rack between Villars-sur-Ollon and Col-de-Bretaye. <br />
<br />
'''Transports Publics Fribourgeois Holding (TPF) SA''' [https://www.tpf.ch/fr/ www.tpf.ch]: <br />
* Bulle to Palézieux and Montbovon: Metre gauge, 800 V dc. <br />
* Romont to Bulle; Ins to Muntelier; Murten to Givisiez: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
* Bulle to Broc-Fabrique: Standard gauge 15 kV, 16.7 Hz. Originally metre gauge, 800 V dc; converted 2021-23. The final re-gauged section between Broc-Village and Broc-Fabrique is scheduled to re-open in August 2023.<br />
<br />
'''Transports de la Région Morges-Bière-Cossonay SA''' [https://www.mbc.ch www.mbc.ch]: Morges to Bière; Apples to L’Isle-Mont-la-Ville; Bière Jonction to Bière-Casernes (freight only): Metre gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
<br />
'''Travys''' (Transports Vallée du Joux Yverdon-les-Bains Sainte Croix SA) [https://www.travys.ch/ www.travys.ch]: <br />
* Yverdon to Ste Croix: Metre gauge, 15 kV, 16.7 H z. <br />
* Chavornay to Orbe: Standard gauge, 700 V dc but planned to be converted to 15 kV 16.7 Hz by 2025, although this may be delayed.<br />
* Le Pont to Le Brassus: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with through running via CFF to and from Lausanne, joining/splitting from Vallorbe trains at Le Day. <br />
<br />
'''Waldenburgerbahn''' [https://www.blt.ch/ www.blt.ch]: Liestal - Waldenburg: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. Originally 750 mm gauge, but converted in 2021-22. In 2016 the railway became part of BLT Baselland Transport AG. <br />
<br />
'''Zentralbahn''' (ZB Zentralbahn AG) [https://www.zentralbahn.ch/de www.zentralbahn.ch]: <br />
* Luzern to Interlaken Ost and Engelberg: Metre gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz with some Riggenbach rack sections. <br />
* Meiringen to Innertkirchen: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc, but may be converted to 15 kV. <br />
The company is 66% owned by SBB.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
Many railways operate principally for tourists, usually daily throughout the year, but the following are "heritage" operations:<br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer touristique Blonay-Chamby''': Blonay to Chamby (metre gauge) [https://www.blonay-chamby.ch/index-en.php blonay-chamby.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Dampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke''': Realp to Oberwald (metre gauge) [https://www.dfb.ch dfb.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Dampfbahn Verein Zürcher Oberland''': Bauma to Hinwil (SBB line with no other passenger service) [https://dvzo.ch/ dvzo.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Emmentalbahn''': Sumiswald-Grünen to Huttwil and Wasen im Emmental (BLS Lötschbergbahn lines with no other passenger service) [https://www.emmentalbahn.ch emmentalbahn.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Sursee-Triengen-Bahn''': Sursee to Triengen ('private' freight-only line) [https://www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch/infrastruktur/netzzugang.html sursee-triengen-bahn.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Museumsbahn Stein am Rhein - Etzwilen - Singen''': Etzwilen to Singen (DE). [https://www.etzwilen-singen.ch/ etzwilen-singen.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Vapeur Val de Travers''': Travers to St Sulpice (there is a regular passenger service by transN between Travers and Fleurier) [https://www.vvt.ch/ vvt.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Zürcher Museumsbahn''': Zürich-Wiedikon to Sihlbrugg (there is a regular passenger service by Sihltal Zürich Uetlibergbahn between Zürich-Giesshübel and Sihlwald) [https://www.museumsbahn.ch/ museumsbahn.ch]<br />
<br />
<!---Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the [http://www.draisinenfahrten.de/index.html IG Draisinenfahrten website]. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in der Schweiz (CH)' ---><br />
The [https://sinfin.net/railways/world/switz.html Sinfin.net] site has links to most Swiss railways including other museum or tourist railways.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
A significant number of local lines around Swiss towns and cities have Metro characteristics. The Metro system in Lausanne, between Lausanne-Flon and Renens VD and between Ouchy and Croisettes, is the only one designed and built as such, though a short section of the line from Ouchy is converted from a former rack line.<br />
<br />
A track plan of the Lausanne system is available on the [https://cartometro.com/metro-lausanne/ Carto.Metro site].<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
* Basel <br />
** BVB (urban routes) [https://www.bvb.ch/en/ www.bvb.ch]; <br />
** BLT (long-distance routes) [https://www.blt.ch/ www.blt.ch]. <br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Basel system extends into France and Germany.<br />
* Bern [https://www.bernmobil.ch/en www.bernmobil.ch];<br />
* Genève [https://www.tpg.ch/fr www.tpg.ch]. The Genève system extends into France;<br />
* Neuchâtel [https://www.transn.ch/ www.transn.ch] (there is only one route, Route 215); <br />
* Zürich [https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/en/home.html www.zvv.ch]. <br />
<br />
All the above tram services appear in the Swiss timetable pages [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanfelder-abfragen in German] and [https://www.tp-info.ch/fr/horaire-actuel/rechercher-un-tableau-horaire French].<br />
<br />
Track plans for Basel, Bern and Zürich are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index.php Gleisplanweb site]. <br />
A track plan of the Genève system is available on the [https://cartometro.com/tramway-geneve/ Carto.Metro site].<br />
<br />
An unusual tramway is Riffelalptram, connecting Riffelalp station on the Gornergratbahn with the [https://www.riffelalp.com/en/welcome/ Riffelalp Resort hotel]. It is 500 m long, located at altitude 2200 m, and is 800 mm gauge and battery-operated. It runs from late June to mid-September only and is shown in [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanfelder/haltestelle/riffelalp-hotel?s=pv Table 12.580] of the Swiss timetable.<br />
<br />
See also [[Switzerland_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Switzerland - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Planned closures===<br />
<br />
====Closures expected to go ahead (without rail alternative)====<br />
<br />
Timetable changes effective from December 2024 include the hourly ''IC'' service between St Gallen and Genève Aéroport via Biel/Bienne being diverted to Lausanne, with connections to and from Genève at Renens. This will result in there being no trains (or a very limited service) via the line between Bussigny and Denges-Echandens.<br />
<br />
The station at Sihlwald on the SZU line from Zürich is proposed to be relocated 300 m north in 2026, thus closing a short section of the line to regular passenger services. The line beyond the new station is still expected to be used by the Sunday steam specials to Sihlbrugg.<br />
<br />
The rack line from Gais to Altstätten Stadt is planned to be closed in 2035 when the existing rolling stock comes up for replacement, following a review in 2019 by Cantons St Gallen and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.<br />
<br />
====Closures expected to go ahead (with rail alternative)====<br />
<br />
The TRAVYS operated Chavornay – Orbe branch is planned to be converted from 750 V DC to 15 kV AC and the current station forecourt platform and level crossing at Chavornay replaced by a new alignment from 1.3 km north. Work was intended to commence in summer 2021 for completion in 2023, but legal action from the local authority demanding an underpass instead of a bridge to cross the main road has delayed this project indefinitely. <br />
<br />
The <i>Transports Publics du Chablais</i> (tpc) have two projects:<br />
*Monthey-Ville on the Aigle – Monthey – Champéry line is to be closed and the lines serving it diverted to Monthey SBB. The project was suspended in December 2019 following local objections. A revised plan has been published but work is not expected to commence until 2025, with completion in 2030. See this [https://www.aomc2030.ch/ website] for details. <br />
*The Aigle – Leysin line is to be extended by 1140 m in tunnel from the site of the existing Leysin-Village station to a new station at Leysin-Belvédère to serve a ski lift, Télésiège Tête d’Aï. Intermediate stations will be built at Village-Versmont, replacing the current Leysin-Village and Versmont stations, and at Leysin-Centre. The rack line from Leysin-Village to the current terminus of Leysin-Grand Hôtel will be closed, to be replaced by an underground funicular which will run from Leysin Centre Sportif, via an interchange at Leysin-Centre, to Leysin-Grand Hôtel-Feydey. Construction is planned to commence in 2026, with services due to begin in 2030. See the map on the [https://tpc.ch/societe/infrastructure/projets/al-tunnel-et-nouvelles-gares-de-leysin/ tpc website] for details.<br />
<br />
A new Albulatunnel, on the Rhätische Bahn, is under construction, with services due to start using it on 7 June 2024. The old tunnel will retained (without rails) for maintenance access and safety evacuation.<br />
<br />
A double-track tunnel of 2130 m is under construction as part of a 3.3 km deviation to replace the single-line section between [La Neuveville], Chavanne and Twann, on the line between Neuchâtel and Biel/Bienne. This is the last single-track section on the entire route between Lausanne and Olten. The halt at Ligerz on the current line will close without replacement. The new line was due to open in December 2026 but opening has been postponed until 2029 because of protests and appeals, and new environmental protection requirements. <br />
<br />
A 3.3 km diversion of the Romont to Bulle line is planned, in order to remove a number of sharp curves and level crossings. <br />
<br />
It is planned to divert the Lugano-Ponte Tresa line of Ferrovie Luganesi via a direct tunnel between Lugano and Bioggio, with the present route via Capella-Agnuzzo closing. This could be completed by 2029.<br />
<br />
A new low-level part of Bern station is under construction. This will replace platforms 21-24 which serve the RBS line via Worblaufen to Worb Dorf and Solothurn. A new line will diverge from the existing line about 1.4 km south of Bern Felsenau station and lead to the new station, which will have two island platforms and four platform faces. The new line and station are expected to open in mid-2029.<br />
<br />
====Closures proposed but not going ahead====<br />
<br />
The metre-gauge branch from Le Locle to Les Brenets was to close in December 2023, with the trackbed being converted to a busway for electric buses. However, 'geological problems' encountered in planning the enlargement of the rail tunnels to accommodate buses have led to the closure being deferred until at least 2031, and possibly later than that, or cancelled altogether. As a result of storm damage on 24 July 2023 the line was closed and replaced by buses, but despite fears that it would remain closed, rail services resumed on 1 November 2023.<br />
<br />
The Berner Oberland Bahn was reported to be reviewing the future of the Schynige Platte Bahn, which operates from the end of May until the end of October. It is increasingly difficult to maintain the historic rolling stock, the line is only marginally profitable and there were no reserves for modernisation. However, in June 2019 it was announced that the railway would continue to operate with the existing rolling stock for at least the next 25 years, and in September 2021 a financing package was finally approved by Canton Bern for track and trackbed renewal and refurbishment of the depot at Wilderswil. <br />
<br />
Following a 2019 review by Cantons Appenzell-Ausserrhoden and St. Gallen, rack line 858 from Rheineck to Walzenhausen was proposed for conversion either to automatic operation or to a cable car. In late 2022 it was decided keep the line as a rack railway and to order an automatic vehicle to operate it. The new unit is due to come into service in 2026.<br />
<br />
Rack-operated line 857 Rorschach Hafen - Heiden was also reviewed in 2019, and this line will be retained in its current form.<br />
<br />
The Porrentruy – Bonfol line had reportedly been threatened with closure owing to the cost of renewing the signalling and providing universal access, although no actual closure plans were published. In late 2023 it was announced that the line will close between late June and early October 2024 for track renewal, so it would appear that the line is now safe from closure.<br />
<br />
===Projects under way or planned===<br />
<br />
====Temporary closures====<br />
Following a serious freight train derailment which blocked the southern end of the Gotthard Base Tunnel on 10 August 2023, the eastern bore reopened on 23 August but for freight traffic only, while the western bore remains closed. Over 7 km of track and concrete trackbed were damaged and have to be replaced. A very limited passenger service resumed through the eastern bore on 29 September 2023.<br />
<br />
SBB announced in early November 2023 that full service through the tunnel will not resume until September 2024, but an improved passenger service will run through the eastern bore at weekends from the timetable change on 10 December 2023.<br />
<br />
====Other projects====<br />
<br />
TPC (Transports Publics du Chablais) are to construct a short (220 m) curve at Les Planches on their metre-gauge Aigle – Le Sepey – Les Diablerets (ASD) line to allow direct running from Aigle to Les Diablerets, therefore avoiding the reversal at Le Sepey. Opening is planned for 2025; after opening, alternate trains will run via the new curve or via Le Sepey.<br />
<br />
A new 7.7 km-long standard-gauge tramway is under construction between Lausanne-Flon and Croix-du-Péage, north of Bussigny. The first stage of 4.6 km is due to open in mid-2026. It will run to the north of the Lausanne to Renens railway line along the main road between Lausanne and Renens (Rue de Genève and Rue de Lausanne). The second stage of 3.1 km turns north and runs towards Villars-Sainte-Croix and is due to open at the end of 2027. Loops at either end will not be required as double-ended trams have been ordered.<br />
<br />
In June 2019 the Swiss Parliament approved funding for a programme of works to upgrade and modernise the railway network, for the period up to 2035. Projects include:<br />
<br />
*A rail line to Basel/Mulhouse airport<br />
*A new line between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, to avoid the reversal at Chambrelien<br />
*Completion of the southern section of the Zimmerberg tunnel, between Zürich and Zug<br />
*A new, more direct line between Zürich and Winterthur, including the Brüttener tunnel from Bassersdorf and Dietlikon to Winterthur<br />
<br />
There will also be detailed planning of new lines between Basel SBB and Basel Bad Bf and at Luzern, to avoid reversal at the main station. The latter is expected to include a new line in a tunnel below the Vierwaldstättersee. <br />
<br />
A 22 km metre-gauge link between Innertkirchen and Oberwald (the ''Grimselbahn''), which would be mostly in tunnel including the long (8 km) Grimsel tunnel, but only single track, has been proposed. This would connect the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Zentralbahn metre gauge systems. The tunnels would be shared by power cables diverted from their existing route over mountains.<br />
<br />
===Recent changes===<br />
<br />
====Openings (new and reopened lines)====<br />
<br />
The TPF branch from Bulle to Broc Fabrique reopened fully on 24 August 2023 after having been regauged from metre to standard gauge, and realigned in a few places. It had closed on 6 April 2021 and was reopened as far as Broc-Village on 11 December 2022. Broc Fabrique station was renamed Broc-Chocolaterie on 10 December 2023. There is no longer any rail access to the chocolate factory itself.<br />
<br />
The former 750mm-gauge line between Liestal and Waldenburg (''Waldenburgerbahn'') reopened on 11 December 2022 after having been converted to metre-gauge. It had been closed since 6 April 2021. A longer-term aspiration is to link this line up with BLT tram route 14 at Pratteln.<br />
<br />
The new gauge changer installed at Zweisimmen in 2019 was finally used by through Interlaken Ost - Montreux "Golden Pass" services from 11 December 2022. Through services were suspended from 26 February 2023 after further problems were encountered, but resumed, initially with only one train each way, on 11 June 2023, increasing to two train pairs (out of the three scheduled) from 2 July 2023.<br />
<br />
A diveunder opened on 12 September 2022 at Bern Wylerfeld, where the lines towards Thun and Olten diverge just short of Bern Wankdorf station. This has permitted the introduction of direct services between Romanshorn, Zürich Flughafen and Interlaken from December 2022, among other service improvements.<br />
<br />
A new flyover between Prilly-Malley, west of Lausanne, and Renens VD was brought into use on 4 July 2022. It carries Bern – Lausanne – Genève trains over the tracks used by trains between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains. The line between Lausanne and Renens has also been quadrupled throughout.<br />
<br />
The TPC-operated Aigle–Sépey–Diablerets (ASD) line reopened on 2 May 2022, having been closed since 30 July 2021 between Exergillod and Les Planches as a result of landslide damage at Les Fontanelles. <br />
<br />
The new Eppenberg Tunnel, between Aarau and Däniken, opened to traffic on 12 October 2020, with full use by main line trains starting on 13 December 2020.<br />
<br />
The first revenue freight train through the 15.4 km Ceneri Base Tunnel, between Bellinzona and Lugano, ran on 4 September 2020. Passenger trains started running with the December 2020 timetable change, including over the new south to west curve from the tunnel to the Locarno line (Biv. Camorino to Biv. Vigana).<br />
<br />
The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019 of the last section (Lancy-Pont-Rouge - Genève Eaux Vives - Annemasse). In the first step, local trains were introduced over part of the La Praille freight branch, to Lancy-Pont-Rouge, where a new station opened 8 December 2017. From here the line uses the existing freight line to Bachet-de-Pesay, beyond which a new line crosses the river Arve then runs in tunnel most of the way to Annemasse. The new underground line follows the alignment of the closed Eaux Vives branch. For more detail of the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [https://www.ceva.ch/ link].<br />
<br />
'''In the "heritage/museum" sector:'''<br />
<br />
The [https://www.etzwilen-singen.ch/ SEHR preservation group] reopened the last section of the Etzwilen (CH) to Singen (DE) line, the section in Germany between Rielasingen and Singen, with an inaugural day of service over the full cross-border route on 16 August 2020.<br />
<br />
====Openings (replacing other lines)====<br />
<br />
A new approx. 1.4 km section of underground line on the metre-gauge LEB (Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher) line between Lausanne-Chauderon and Union-Prilly was inaugurated on 14 May 2022, with public opening the following day. This replaced the previous route which mainly had on-street running.<br />
<br />
Following the linking of the Appenzeller and Trogener Bahn lines in St Gallen, a more direct exit route from St Gallen towards Appenzell to the north of the former SBB goods station opened on 25 October 2021, replacing the line to the south, which closed on 18 October. A new tunnel, which replaced the rack-equipped section between St Gallen and Riethüsli, opened on 7 October 2018.<br />
<br />
The new Bözberg Tunnel, between Brugg AG and Frick, was completed in February 2020. It has a larger loading gauge which allows piggyback services with 4-metre high trailers to use this route. Trains started using the new tunnel, and the old tunnel was closed, from 13 December 2020.<br />
<br />
On the metre-gauge ''Regionalbahnen Bern-Solothurn'' line between Bern and Worb-Dorf, a deviation at Boll-Utzigen including a new station was opened on 26 September 2020. The old route and station closed on 17 September.<br />
<br />
A new station and line came into use at Châtel St Denis on 14 December 2019, enabling TPF trains to run between the Palézieux and Bulle lines without having to reverse.<br />
<br />
====Other changes====<br />
<br />
A re-sited station at Le Day, between Lausanne and Vallorbe, opened on 16 May 2022. It has been moved 300 metres nearer Vallorbe, from within the V of the junction for the Le Brassus line to the other side of the junction. This is to allow portion working from Lausanne of trains to Vallorbe and Le Brassus, splitting at Le Day.<br />
<br />
====Closures====<br />
<br />
A new station came into use at Laupen on 5 April 2021. This is east of the old one, resulting in the branch line becoming slightly shorter.<br />
<br />
'''In the "heritage/museum" sector:'''<br />
<br />
[https://www.clubsangottardo.ch/it/ Club del San Gottardo] ceased operations on the cross-border section of their Mendrisio – Stabio – Malnate (IT) line in 2015 as a result of the start of work on the new Stabio – Arcisate regular passenger line, the tourist service operating from then on exclusively in Swiss territory. After a considerable period of inactivity the Club closed the Mendrisio site from 31 December 2020 to concentrate on their "Swiss Railpark" site at Biasca, to where all rolling stock and offices have been transferred. There are no longer any tourist trains on any part of this line.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2007 see [[Switzerland - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
<br />
Distinctions between main line railways, light railways and tramways are more difficult in Switzerland than perhaps any other country. For example, the main line of the Rhätische Bahn from St Moritz to Tirano has several sections of street running. In Chur, the first section of the Arosa line out from Chur station is street running dual track, but not wide enough to permit trains crossing. In addition there is 11 kV ac over the street.<br />
<br />
The Matterhorn-Gotthard, Rhätische Bahn and Montreux Oberland Bernois are among the railways running "Panoramic", "Glacier Express" or other trains with special facilities, such as observation cars. A supplementary fare is usually charged and advance reservation compulsory or strongly recommended.<br />
<br />
The European Train Control System, Level 2, incorporating in-cab signalling, is used on the Mattstetten (Bern) to Rothrist (Olten) high-speed line and through the Lötschberg, Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels. On the Gotthard line in-cab signalling extends between Brunnen and Castione-Arbedo, with the only trackside signals being shunt signals. Therefore, only trains fitted with in-cab signalling can operate on both the new and old Gotthard routes.<br />
<br />
Tourist railways up mountains are sometimes of limited capacity, but subject to high demand, particularly at holiday periods and during the winter sports season. In such cases it may be necessary to wait some time before being able to board a train, so it is best to arrive at the railway as early in the day as possible. When booking a trip it is often necessary to reserve a seat on a specific train down the mountain. Once the railway’s capacity to bring people back down the mountain is fully booked, no more can ascend, unless they are staying at a summit hotel.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Switzerland}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Switzerland_-_General_Information&diff=53586Switzerland - General Information2023-12-20T23:29:21Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Printed Timetable */ Add link to private Kursbuch publisher</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Switzerland (Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen AG ([https://www.sbb.ch SBB]), Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses SA (CFF) and Ferrovie federali svizzere SA (FFS) are the German, French and Italian renderings of Swiss Federal Railways. The form used on buildings and other fixed installations depends on the language area in which they are situated. At a few locations, notably Biel/Bienne, two languages are used. Most rolling stock carries all three sets of initials.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
German is the main language. <br />
<br />
Written German is almost identical to that found in Germany - one main difference is that the Esszett ('ß') is rarely used, with 'ss' being preferred. Spoken Swiss German however differs considerably from standard German to the extent that many Germans find it hard to understand. <br />
<br />
There is an extensive French-speaking area covering Cantons Genève, Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Jura, plus the western half of Valais and a small part of Bern. Certain towns to the west of Bern are officially bilingual. They are normally shown in both languages, e.g. Biel/Bienne and Fribourg/Freiburg. <br />
<br />
Italian is spoken in Canton Ticino. <br />
<br />
The predominant language in Canton Graubünden is German, but there is a minority language, Romansch. Some place names in this canton are generally given in both German and Romansch, e.g. Disentis/Mustér.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Swiss franc<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 85; alpha CH<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html SBB Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
[https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de Swiss transport journey planner]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* All services: [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanfelder-abfragen öv.info.ch] (German) [https://www.tp-info.ch/fr/horaire-actuel/rechercher-un-tableau-horaire tp-info.ch/fr] (French) and [https://www.tp-info.ch/it/orario-aggiornato/consulta-i-quadri-dorario tp-info.ch/it] (Italian). These sites replaced the former fahrplanfelder.ch site in April 2023. <br />
<br />
Searches can be made by placename, station or stop name and by table number. All Swiss public transport timetables (SBB/CFF/FFS, other rail operators, tram, bus, Metro, ferry, cable-car, ski lift etc) are available on these sites.<br />
<br />
An archive of previous years' timetables back to 2006 is on the new öv.info.ch site [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanarchiv here].<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The last printed ''Offizielles Kursbuch/Indicateur officiel/Orario ufficiale'' was published in 2017. It is still available in downloadable pdf format; see above. However, a private publisher still produces the printed volume see [https://www.verkehrsclub.ch/angebote/kursbuch-bestellen Kursbuch].<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
* Temporary timetable amendments: [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/temporaere-fahrplanaenderungen öv-info.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/temporaere-fahrplanaenderungen]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
The [[#Journey Planner|Journey Planner]] (above) selects bus services if they provide the best journey.<br />
<br />
The [https://www.postauto.ch/ Post Bus] website provides comprehensive public transport information.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#SW-CH | Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz]] by Schweers + Wall.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-CH | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Switzerland)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*Track plans for RhB (ISBN 3-89494-101-4 pub. 1999) were published by Schweers + Wall.<br />
*SBB's ''Schweizer Bahn-Karte'', which is widely available, shows all passenger railways, inter-urban bus routes, ferries, cable cars and chair lifts on a 1:301000 relief map of Switzerland.<br />
*''Schienennetz Schweiz: Ein technisch-historischer Atlas'', published by AS Verlag, includes track layout diagrams and gradient profiles for all Swiss railways, as well as a vast amount of other technical and historical data. The third edition was published in 2010 and it is not known if there is a later one.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*A zoomable network map (without timetable numbers) is available online [https://maps.trafimage.ch/ the Swiss public transport atlas].<br />
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/html_de/sporenplan/sbb/start.html Sporenplan] has an on-line map giving access to a series of schematic track diagrams. <br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_switzerland.php Map of Switzerland] has not been updated since April 2011.<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Switzerland|Maps and Plans - Switzerland]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Fares on some mountain railways are very expensive, though rover tickets, holiday cards, half fare passes and city tickets given free by hotels may give reductions. Discounts may be available for travel on trains early in the morning or late in the afternoon or in low season.<br />
<br />
The Interrail One Country Pass for Switzerland is considerably cheaper than the well-promoted Swiss Travel Pass, although the latter includes bus services, lake shipping services and urban transport in most Swiss cities and large towns. Entry to most Swiss museums is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass.<br />
<br />
A [https://www.myswissalps.com/interrailswitzerlandpass/validity downloadable map] shows the lines on which Interrail tickets are valid in Switzerland, either free of further charge or at a reduced rate.<br />
<br />
An [https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/area-validity-map.html online validity map] shows where Swiss travel passes, including the Day Saver Pass, are valid.<br />
<br />
It is not possible to purchase a ticket on board a train without paying a substantial fine. Tickets must be bought in advance from a machine on the platform, online, or by smartphone. However, the transaction must be completed - including the payment being received by SBB - before the train departs. Some tickets must be date-stamped in a machine on the platform. These rules are enforced rigidly. A few exceptions will be made, for example for travellers changing from an international train who have had no opportunity of buying a ticket.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
[https://company.sbb.ch/en/the-company/organisation/infrastructure.html SBB Infrastructure], a division of SBB.<br />
<br />
A few lines in Switzerland are owned by DB Netz AG, the German national railway infrastructure company.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
Links towards the bottom of the [https://company.sbb.ch/en/sbb-as-business-partner/services-rus/onestopshop/track-access.html Track access] page<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
The SBB/CFF/FFS system is standard gauge. Most other railways are either standard gauge or metre gauge, and some have sections of both. Various other gauges are used. The Rhätische Bahn and the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn together form an extensive metre gauge system with through workings between the two lines.<br />
<br />
A gauge changer at Zweisimmen enables through running of dual gauge stock between the metre gauge MOB and the standard gauge BLS. This is the only such installation in Switzerland.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
Most standard gauge lines are electrified at 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with 11 kV 16.7 Hz on the RhB/MGB system. Various systems are used by other railways, including low voltage dc. The CFF line from Genève to the frontier at La Plaine (but excluding the tracks to Genève Aéroport) is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz for through running by SNCF trains; it was converted from 1500 V dc in autumn 2014. Very few lines are not electrified, the main exceptions being the steam-worked Brienz Rothorn Bahn, the freight-only Sursee–Triengen and Solothurn–Büren an der Aare lines and the Etzwilen to Singen (DE) heritage line.<br />
<br />
With the electrification of Erzingen (Baden) to Schaffhausen, the only remaining unelectrified section of the Basel to Schaffhausen line within Switzerland is the 2 km between Basel Bad Bf and the border. DB diesel units continue to operate Basel - Singen services including over the electrified Swiss sections either side of Schaffhausen. Electrification of the Basel to Erzingen section (almost all within Germany) is planned for the mid-2020s.<br />
<br />
Most tramways operate at 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left, except for right hand running as follows: on DB AG lines through Basel and Schaffhausen, the SNCF line between Mulhouse and Basel SBB / Bâle SNCF and between Genève and Annemasse [SNCF] which reduces conflicts at La Praille and Annemasse. There is extensive bi-directional signalling, so it is quite usual for trains to run on the right-hand track if this suits operating requirements.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
[[Printed Maps#SW-CH | Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz]] by Schweers + Wall is the most easily available source of distance information.<br />
<br />
Detailed distances for most of SBB can be found at [https://data.sbb.ch/explore/dataset/linie-mit-betriebspunkten/information/ Linie mit Betriebspunkten]. This is a list of stations and junctions with distances to 3 decimal points. It does not, however, take account of deviations which increase or decrease the distance.<br />
<br />
The ''Schienennetz Schweiz'' (see the Printed Maps section) was the definitive publication. However it may not be easily available or up to date.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Cantons (local government) have extensive shareholdings in many of these railways. Some railways have amalgamated in recent years or combined their operations. Rolling stock, tickets and publicity may still bear old names in some cases. In many cases other railways operate over SBB lines and vice versa. Funicular railways are not listed.<br />
<br />
'''Aare Seeland mobil AG''' [https://www.asmobil.ch/de/ www.asmobil.ch]: Biel/Bienne to Ins; Niederbipp to Langenthal and St Urban Ziegelei; Solothurn to Niederbipp: Metre gauge, 1200V dc. The freight-only line from St Urban Ziegelei to Melchnau closed in 2012.<br />
<br />
'''Aargau Verkehr AG''' [https://www.aargauverkehr.ch/ www.aargauverkehr.ch/]: Wohlen to Dietikon: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc. Aarau to Schöftland and to Menziken. Metre gauge, 750 V dc.<br />
<br />
'''Appenzeller Bahnen AG''' [https://www.appenzellerbahnen.ch www.appenzellerbahnen.ch]:<br />
* Gossau to Appenzell and Wasserauen; St Gallen to Gais and Appenzell; Gais to Altstätten Stadt; St Gallen to Trogen: Metre gauge, 1500V dc, with Strub rack between Stoss and Altstätten Stadt. <br />
* Rheineck to Walzenhausen: 1200 mm gauge, 600 V dc, with Riggenbach rack between Ruderbach and Walzenhausen. <br />
* Rorschach to Heiden: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with Riggenbach rack, except at Rorschach. <br />
* Frauenfeld to Wil: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc. This line was absorbed into the Appenzeller Bahnen system in 2021.<br />
<br />
'''BLS AG''' [https://www.bls.ch/en www.bls.ch]: Lengnau to Moutier; Bern to Neuchâtel and to Schwarzenburg; Bern to Thun via Belp; Thun to Brig and to Visp via the old and new Lötschberg tunnels; Spiez to Interlaken Ost and to Zweisimmen; Solothurn to Moutier and to Burgdorf; Burgdorf to Thun and to Langnau; Ramsei to Sumiswald-Grünen; Langenthal to Wolhusen; Sumiswald-Grünen to Wasen im Emmental and to Huttwil (freight only to Burghof and Huttwil but with summer tourist operation by [https://www.emmentalbahn.ch/ Emmentalbahn] to Wasen and Huttwil - see below). All standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. SBB operates all long-distance passenger trains over the Lötschberg route and to Interlaken. BLS operates local services in the Bern area, including those over SBB lines. Lengnau to Moutier forms part of the main line from Biel/Bienne to Basel and all passenger trains are operated by CFF. <br />
<br />
'''Brienz Rothorn Bahn''' [https://brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch/ brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch]: Brienz to Rothorn Kulm: 800 mm gauge with Abt rack. The line is not electrified and most trains are steam-worked. The railway does not operate during the winter.<br />
<br />
'''Dolderbahn Betriebs AG''' [https://www.zvv.ch www.zvv.ch]: Zürich-Römerhof to Zürich-Dolder: Metre gauge, 600 V dc, with Strub rack throughout. Managed by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich. <br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie autolinee regionali ticinesi''' trading as Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli [https://www.vigezzinacentovalli.com/en/ www.vigezzinacentovalli.com]: Locarno to Camedo (line continues through Italy as Societa Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie to Domodossola): Metre gauge, 1200V dc. <br />
<br />
'''Forchbahn AG''' [https://www.forchbahn.ch www.forchbahn.ch]: Zürich-Rehalp to Esslingen (operates over the Zürich tram system between Rehalp and Stadelhofen): Metre gauge, 1200V dc (600V on the tramway section). <br />
<br />
'''Gornergrat Bahn''' [https://www.gornergrat.ch/en/ www.gornergrat.ch]: Zermatt to Gornergrat: Metre gauge, 750 V 50 Hz three-phase, with Abt rack throughout. The railway is managed by the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn. <br />
<br />
'''Jungfraubahnen''' [https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/ www.jungfrau.ch]: Jungfraubahn Holding AG and Berner Oberland Bahnen AG are jointly-managed companies that own and operate the following lines:<br />
* Berner Oberland Bahnen: Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and to Grindelwald: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. <br />
* Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren: Grütschalp to Mürren: Metre gauge, 550 V dc. <br />
* Jungfraubahn: Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch: Metre gauge, 1125 V 50 Hz three-phase, with Strub rack throughout. <br />
* Schynige Platte Bahn: Wilderswil to Schynige Platte: 800 mm gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. No winter service. <br />
* Wengernalpbahn: Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen and to Grindelwald: 800 mm gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. <br />
<br />
'''Chemins de fer du Jura''' [https://www.les-cj.ch/ www.les-cj.ch]: <br />
* La Chaux-de-Fonds to Glovelier; Le Noirmont to Tavannes: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. <br />
* Porrentruy to Bonfol: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer Lausanne-Echallens-Bercher SA''' [https://www.leb.ch www.leb.ch]: Lausanne-Flon to Bercher: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. <br />
<br />
'''Ferrovie Luganesi SA''' [https://flpsa.ch/index/en/ flpsa.ch]: Lugano to Ponte Tresa: Metre gauge, 1000V dc. <br />
<br />
'''AG Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn''' [https://www.matterhorngotthardbahn.ch www.matterhorngotthardbahn.ch]: Zermatt to Brig, Andermatt, Göschenen and Disentis/Mustér: Metre gauge, 11 kV, 16.7 Hz, with several sections of Abt rack. <br />
<br />
'''Ferrovia Monte Generoso''' [https://www.montegeneroso.ch/en www.montegeneroso.ch]: Capolago Lago to Generoso Vetta: 800 mm gauge <br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernois''' [https://journey.mob.ch/en/ journey.mob.ch]: Montreux to Zweisimmen and Lenk: Metre gauge, 900 V dc. <br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer Nyon-St Cergue-Morez''' [https://www.nstcm.ch/ www.nstcm.ch]: Nyon to La Cure: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. The company's name reflects that railway originally continued to Morez, in France, but the line beyond the Swiss border at La Cure closed in 1958. <br />
<br />
'''Oensingen-Balsthal Bahn AG''' [https://www.oebb.ch/ www.oebb.ch]: Balsthal to Oensingen: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Passenger services are worked by SBB. <br />
<br />
'''Pilatus Bahnen AG''' [https://www.pilatus.ch/ www.pilatus.ch]: Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm: 800 mm gauge, 1550 V dc, with Locher rack, unique to this line. The steepest rack railway in the world, it does not operate during the winter.<br />
<br />
'''RegionAlps SA''' [https://www.regionalps.ch/ www.regionalps.ch]: A joint venture between CFF (70%), Transports de Martigny et Régions SA (18%) and Canton Valais (12%) responsible for operation of local passenger trains between Brig and St Gingolph and from Martigny to Le Châble and Orsières. <br />
<br />
'''Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn AG''' [https://www.rbs.ch/ www.rbs.ch]: <br />
* Bern to Solothurn, Unterzollikofen and Worb Dorf via Worblaufen: Metre gauge, 1250 V dc. <br />
* Bern Egghölzli to Worb Dorf via Gümligen: Metre gauge, 600 V dc, with through running at Egghölzli onto the Bern tram system.<br />
<br />
'''Rhätische Bahn''' [https://www.rhb.ch/en/home www.rhb.ch]: <br />
* Chur to Arosa; Chur to St Moritz and Pontresina via Thusis; Reichenau-Tamins to Disentis/Muster; Chur to Filisur via Davos; Klosters to Sagliains and Susch; Bever to Scuol-Tarasp; Samedan to Pontresina: Metre gauge, 11 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
* St Moritz to Tirano: Metre gauge, 1000 V dc. <br />
There is mixed-gauge track Chur to Ems Werk, to allow freight operation by SBB. The Italian and Romansch names Ferrovia retica and Viafier retica appear on rolling stock, but the abbreviation 'RhB' is always used. <br />
<br />
'''Rigi Bahnen''' [https://www.rigi.ch/ www.rigi.ch]: Vitznau to Rigi Kulm; Arth-Goldau to Rigi Kulm: 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack on both lines. <br />
<br />
'''Schweizerische Südostbahn''' [https://www.sob.ch/ www.sob.ch]: Romanshorn to St Gallen St Fiden; St Gallen to Wattwil and Nesslau-Neu St Johann; Rapperswil to Arth-Goldau, Wädenswil to Samstagern, Biberbrugg to Einsiedeln: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. The company operates local trains over some SBB lines in Eastern Switzerland. The company trades as Südostbahn, but the service between Luzern and St Gallen is branded ''Voralpen-Express'', the ''IR'' service between Zürich/Basel and Locarno via the old Gotthard Tunnel is branded ''Treno Gottardo'' and the ''IR'' service between Basel, Zürich and Chur is branded as ''Aare Linth''. <br />
<br />
'''Sensetalbahn''': Flamatt to Laupen: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. The company is owned jointly by SBB (66%) and Swiss Post (34%) and owns the infrastructure on the branch, but maintenance and operation of the infrastructure is contracted to SBB. Trains are operated by BLS. Rail-cycles can be hired throughout the year at Laupen station for use on the closed railway from there most of the way to Gümmenen. <br />
<br />
'''Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG''' [https://www.szu.ch/home www.szu.ch]: <br />
* Zürich HB to Uetliberg: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz (from 22 August 2022. Was 1200 V dc until 26 July 2022). <br />
* Zürich HB to Sihlbrugg: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. There is no regular passenger service between Sihlwald and Sihlbrugg, although occasional steam trains operate through from Zürich.<br />
<br />
'''Sursee-Triengen-Bahn AG''' [https://www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch/infrastruktur/netzzugang.html www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch]: Sursee to Triengen: Freight only, standard gauge, not electrified. Occasional steam passenger trains operate. <br />
<br />
'''Thurbo AG''' [https://www.thurbo.ch/ www.thurbo.ch]: A SBB (90%) and Canton Thurgau (10%) joint venture for operation of local trains in north-east Switzerland. <br />
<br />
'''Transports de Martigny et Régions SA''' [https://www.tmrsa.ch/ www.tmrsa.ch]: <br />
* Martigny to Orsières and Le Châble: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Operated by RegionAlps SA. <br />
* Martigny to Le Châtelard-Frontière: Metre gauge, 800 V dc, with Strub rack and third rail electrification between Vernayaz and Salvan. There are through workings over the SNCF line to Chamonix. <br />
<br />
'''Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera''' [https://mob.ch/ www.mob.ch]: <br />
* Vevey to Les Pléiades: Metre gauge, 850 V dc, with Strub rack Blonay to Les Pléiades. <br />
* Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye: 800 mm gauge, 850 V dc, with Abt rack. <br />
Managed by Chemin de Fer Montreux Oberland Bernois. <br />
<br />
'''transN SA''' (Transports Publics Neuchâtelois) [https://www.transn.ch/ www.transn.ch]: <br />
* Les Brenets to Le Locle; La Chaux-de-Fonds to Les Ponts-de-Martel : Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. Les Brenets to Le Locle was to close in December 2023 for conversion to an electric busway, but this has been deferred until at least the end of 2024.<br />
* Travers to Fleurier and Buttes: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. There are occasional steam trains over a non-electrified standard-gauge freight branch from Fleurier to St Sulpice. <br />
<br />
'''Transports Publics du Chablais''' [https://tpc.ch/ www.tpc.ch]:<br />
* Aigle to Leysin Grand Hotel: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc, with Abt rack, except between Aigle and Aigle Dépot. To be diverted to Télésiège Tête d’Aï instead of Leysin Grand Hotel by 2023.<br />
* Aigle to Le Sépey and Les Diablerets: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc.<br />
* Monthey to Aigle and to Champéry: Metre gauge, 850 V dc, with Strub rack on most of the line to Champéry. To be converted to 1000 V dc and Abt rack and diverted to Monthey SBB by 2029.<br />
* Bex to Villars-sur-Ollon and Col-de-Bretaye: Metre gauge, 650 V dc, with Abt rack between Villars-sur-Ollon and Col-de-Bretaye. <br />
<br />
'''Transports Publics Fribourgeois Holding (TPF) SA''' [https://www.tpf.ch/fr/ www.tpf.ch]: <br />
* Bulle to Palézieux and Montbovon: Metre gauge, 800 V dc. <br />
* Romont to Bulle; Ins to Muntelier; Murten to Givisiez: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
* Bulle to Broc-Fabrique: Standard gauge 15 kV, 16.7 Hz. Originally metre gauge, 800 V dc; converted 2021-23. The final re-gauged section between Broc-Village and Broc-Fabrique is scheduled to re-open in August 2023.<br />
<br />
'''Transports de la Région Morges-Bière-Cossonay SA''' [https://www.mbc.ch www.mbc.ch]: Morges to Bière; Apples to L’Isle-Mont-la-Ville; Bière Jonction to Bière-Casernes (freight only): Metre gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. <br />
<br />
'''Travys''' (Transports Vallée du Joux Yverdon-les-Bains Sainte Croix SA) [https://www.travys.ch/ www.travys.ch]: <br />
* Yverdon to Ste Croix: Metre gauge, 15 kV, 16.7 H z. <br />
* Chavornay to Orbe: Standard gauge, 700 V dc but planned to be converted to 15 kV 16.7 Hz by 2025, although this may be delayed.<br />
* Le Pont to Le Brassus: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with through running via CFF to and from Lausanne, joining/splitting from Vallorbe trains at Le Day. <br />
<br />
'''Waldenburgerbahn''' [https://www.blt.ch/ www.blt.ch]: Liestal - Waldenburg: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. Originally 750 mm gauge, but converted in 2021-22. In 2016 the railway became part of BLT Baselland Transport AG. <br />
<br />
'''Zentralbahn''' (ZB Zentralbahn AG) [https://www.zentralbahn.ch/de www.zentralbahn.ch]: <br />
* Luzern to Interlaken Ost and Engelberg: Metre gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz with some Riggenbach rack sections. <br />
* Meiringen to Innertkirchen: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc, but may be converted to 15 kV. <br />
The company is 66% owned by SBB.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
Many railways operate principally for tourists, usually daily throughout the year, but the following are "heritage" operations:<br />
<br />
'''Chemin de fer touristique Blonay-Chamby''': Blonay to Chamby (metre gauge) [https://www.blonay-chamby.ch/index-en.php blonay-chamby.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Dampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke''': Realp to Oberwald (metre gauge) [https://www.dfb.ch dfb.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Dampfbahn Verein Zürcher Oberland''': Bauma to Hinwil (SBB line with no other passenger service) [https://dvzo.ch/ dvzo.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Emmentalbahn''': Sumiswald-Grünen to Huttwil and Wasen im Emmental (BLS Lötschbergbahn lines with no other passenger service) [https://www.emmentalbahn.ch emmentalbahn.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Sursee-Triengen-Bahn''': Sursee to Triengen ('private' freight-only line) [https://www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch/infrastruktur/netzzugang.html sursee-triengen-bahn.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Museumsbahn Stein am Rhein - Etzwilen - Singen''': Etzwilen to Singen (DE). [https://www.etzwilen-singen.ch/ etzwilen-singen.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Vapeur Val de Travers''': Travers to St Sulpice (there is a regular passenger service by transN between Travers and Fleurier) [https://www.vvt.ch/ vvt.ch]<br />
<br />
'''Zürcher Museumsbahn''': Zürich-Wiedikon to Sihlbrugg (there is a regular passenger service by Sihltal Zürich Uetlibergbahn between Zürich-Giesshübel and Sihlwald) [https://www.museumsbahn.ch/ museumsbahn.ch]<br />
<br />
<!---Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the [http://www.draisinenfahrten.de/index.html IG Draisinenfahrten website]. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in der Schweiz (CH)' ---><br />
The [https://sinfin.net/railways/world/switz.html Sinfin.net] site has links to most Swiss railways including other museum or tourist railways.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
A significant number of local lines around Swiss towns and cities have Metro characteristics. The Metro system in Lausanne, between Lausanne-Flon and Renens VD and between Ouchy and Croisettes, is the only one designed and built as such, though a short section of the line from Ouchy is converted from a former rack line.<br />
<br />
A track plan of the Lausanne system is available on the [https://cartometro.com/metro-lausanne/ Carto.Metro site].<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
* Basel <br />
** BVB (urban routes) [https://www.bvb.ch/en/ www.bvb.ch]; <br />
** BLT (long-distance routes) [https://www.blt.ch/ www.blt.ch]. <br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Basel system extends into France and Germany.<br />
* Bern [https://www.bernmobil.ch/en www.bernmobil.ch];<br />
* Genève [https://www.tpg.ch/fr www.tpg.ch]. The Genève system extends into France;<br />
* Neuchâtel [https://www.transn.ch/ www.transn.ch] (there is only one route, Route 215); <br />
* Zürich [https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/en/home.html www.zvv.ch]. <br />
<br />
All the above tram services appear in the Swiss timetable pages [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanfelder-abfragen in German] and [https://www.tp-info.ch/fr/horaire-actuel/rechercher-un-tableau-horaire French].<br />
<br />
Track plans for Basel, Bern and Zürich are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index.php Gleisplanweb site]. <br />
A track plan of the Genève system is available on the [https://cartometro.com/tramway-geneve/ Carto.Metro site].<br />
<br />
An unusual tramway is Riffelalptram, connecting Riffelalp station on the Gornergratbahn with the [https://www.riffelalp.com/en/welcome/ Riffelalp Resort hotel]. It is 500 m long, located at altitude 2200 m, and is 800 mm gauge and battery-operated. It runs from late June to mid-September only and is shown in [https://www.xn--v-info-vxa.ch/de/fahrplan-aktuell/fahrplanfelder/haltestelle/riffelalp-hotel?s=pv Table 12.580] of the Swiss timetable.<br />
<br />
See also [[Switzerland_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Switzerland - Tram services over obscure routes]]<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
<br />
===Planned closures===<br />
<br />
====Closures expected to go ahead (without rail alternative)====<br />
<br />
Timetable changes effective from December 2024 include the hourly ''IC'' service between St Gallen and Genève Aéroport via Biel/Bienne being diverted to Lausanne, with connections to and from Genève at Renens. This will result in there being no trains (or a very limited service) via the line between Bussigny and Denges-Echandens.<br />
<br />
The station at Sihlwald on the SZU line from Zürich is proposed to be relocated 300 m north in 2026, thus closing a short section of the line to regular passenger services. The line beyond the new station is still expected to be used by the Sunday steam specials to Sihlbrugg.<br />
<br />
The rack line from Gais to Altstätten Stadt is planned to be closed in 2035 when the existing rolling stock comes up for replacement, following a review in 2019 by Cantons St Gallen and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.<br />
<br />
====Closures expected to go ahead (with rail alternative)====<br />
<br />
The TRAVYS operated Chavornay – Orbe branch is planned to be converted from 750 V DC to 15 kV AC and the current station forecourt platform and level crossing at Chavornay replaced by a new alignment from 1.3 km north. Work was intended to commence in summer 2021 for completion in 2023, but legal action from the local authority demanding an underpass instead of a bridge to cross the main road has delayed this project indefinitely. <br />
<br />
The <i>Transports Publics du Chablais</i> (tpc) have two projects:<br />
*Monthey-Ville on the Aigle – Monthey – Champéry line is to be closed and the lines serving it diverted to Monthey SBB. The project was suspended in December 2019 following local objections. A revised plan has been published but work is not expected to commence until 2025, with completion in 2030. See this [https://www.aomc2030.ch/ website] for details. <br />
*The Aigle – Leysin line is to be extended by 1140 m in tunnel from the site of the existing Leysin-Village station to a new station at Leysin-Belvédère to serve a ski lift, Télésiège Tête d’Aï. Intermediate stations will be built at Village-Versmont, replacing the current Leysin-Village and Versmont stations, and at Leysin-Centre. The rack line from Leysin-Village to the current terminus of Leysin-Grand Hôtel will be closed, to be replaced by an underground funicular which will run from Leysin Centre Sportif, via an interchange at Leysin-Centre, to Leysin-Grand Hôtel-Feydey. Construction is planned to commence in 2026, with services due to begin in 2030. See the map on the [https://tpc.ch/societe/infrastructure/projets/al-tunnel-et-nouvelles-gares-de-leysin/ tpc website] for details.<br />
<br />
A new Albulatunnel, on the Rhätische Bahn, is under construction, with services due to start using it on 7 June 2024. The old tunnel will retained (without rails) for maintenance access and safety evacuation.<br />
<br />
A double-track tunnel of 2130 m is under construction as part of a 3.3 km deviation to replace the single-line section between [La Neuveville], Chavanne and Twann, on the line between Neuchâtel and Biel/Bienne. This is the last single-track section on the entire route between Lausanne and Olten. The halt at Ligerz on the current line will close without replacement. The new line was due to open in December 2026 but opening has been postponed until 2029 because of protests and appeals, and new environmental protection requirements. <br />
<br />
A 3.3 km diversion of the Romont to Bulle line is planned, in order to remove a number of sharp curves and level crossings. <br />
<br />
It is planned to divert the Lugano-Ponte Tresa line of Ferrovie Luganesi via a direct tunnel between Lugano and Bioggio, with the present route via Capella-Agnuzzo closing. This could be completed by 2029.<br />
<br />
A new low-level part of Bern station is under construction. This will replace platforms 21-24 which serve the RBS line via Worblaufen to Worb Dorf and Solothurn. A new line will diverge from the existing line about 1.4 km south of Bern Felsenau station and lead to the new station, which will have two island platforms and four platform faces. The new line and station are expected to open in mid-2029.<br />
<br />
====Closures proposed but not going ahead====<br />
<br />
The metre-gauge branch from Le Locle to Les Brenets was to close in December 2023, with the trackbed being converted to a busway for electric buses. However, 'geological problems' encountered in planning the enlargement of the rail tunnels to accommodate buses have led to the closure being deferred until at least 2031, and possibly later than that, or cancelled altogether. As a result of storm damage on 24 July 2023 the line was closed and replaced by buses, but despite fears that it would remain closed, rail services resumed on 1 November 2023.<br />
<br />
The Berner Oberland Bahn was reported to be reviewing the future of the Schynige Platte Bahn, which operates from the end of May until the end of October. It is increasingly difficult to maintain the historic rolling stock, the line is only marginally profitable and there were no reserves for modernisation. However, in June 2019 it was announced that the railway would continue to operate with the existing rolling stock for at least the next 25 years, and in September 2021 a financing package was finally approved by Canton Bern for track and trackbed renewal and refurbishment of the depot at Wilderswil. <br />
<br />
Following a 2019 review by Cantons Appenzell-Ausserrhoden and St. Gallen, rack line 858 from Rheineck to Walzenhausen was proposed for conversion either to automatic operation or to a cable car. In late 2022 it was decided keep the line as a rack railway and to order an automatic vehicle to operate it. The new unit is due to come into service in 2026.<br />
<br />
Rack-operated line 857 Rorschach Hafen - Heiden was also reviewed in 2019, and this line will be retained in its current form.<br />
<br />
The Porrentruy – Bonfol line had reportedly been threatened with closure owing to the cost of renewing the signalling and providing universal access, although no actual closure plans were published. In late 2023 it was announced that the line will close between late June and early October 2024 for track renewal, so it would appear that the line is now safe from closure.<br />
<br />
===Projects under way or planned===<br />
<br />
====Temporary closures====<br />
Following a serious freight train derailment which blocked the southern end of the Gotthard Base Tunnel on 10 August 2023, the eastern bore reopened on 23 August but for freight traffic only, while the western bore remains closed. Over 7 km of track and concrete trackbed were damaged and have to be replaced. A very limited passenger service resumed through the eastern bore on 29 September 2023.<br />
<br />
SBB announced in early November 2023 that full service through the tunnel will not resume until September 2024, but an improved passenger service will run through the eastern bore at weekends from the timetable change on 10 December 2023.<br />
<br />
====Other projects====<br />
<br />
TPC (Transports Publics du Chablais) are to construct a short (220 m) curve at Les Planches on their metre-gauge Aigle – Le Sepey – Les Diablerets (ASD) line to allow direct running from Aigle to Les Diablerets, therefore avoiding the reversal at Le Sepey. Opening is planned for 2025; after opening, alternate trains will run via the new curve or via Le Sepey.<br />
<br />
A new 7.7 km-long standard-gauge tramway is under construction between Lausanne-Flon and Croix-du-Péage, north of Bussigny. The first stage of 4.6 km is due to open in mid-2026. It will run to the north of the Lausanne to Renens railway line along the main road between Lausanne and Renens (Rue de Genève and Rue de Lausanne). The second stage of 3.1 km turns north and runs towards Villars-Sainte-Croix and is due to open at the end of 2027. Loops at either end will not be required as double-ended trams have been ordered.<br />
<br />
In June 2019 the Swiss Parliament approved funding for a programme of works to upgrade and modernise the railway network, for the period up to 2035. Projects include:<br />
<br />
*A rail line to Basel/Mulhouse airport<br />
*A new line between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, to avoid the reversal at Chambrelien<br />
*Completion of the southern section of the Zimmerberg tunnel, between Zürich and Zug<br />
*A new, more direct line between Zürich and Winterthur, including the Brüttener tunnel from Bassersdorf and Dietlikon to Winterthur<br />
<br />
There will also be detailed planning of new lines between Basel SBB and Basel Bad Bf and at Luzern, to avoid reversal at the main station. The latter is expected to include a new line in a tunnel below the Vierwaldstättersee. <br />
<br />
A 22 km metre-gauge link between Innertkirchen and Oberwald (the ''Grimselbahn''), which would be mostly in tunnel including the long (8 km) Grimsel tunnel, but only single track, has been proposed. This would connect the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Zentralbahn metre gauge systems. The tunnels would be shared by power cables diverted from their existing route over mountains.<br />
<br />
===Recent changes===<br />
<br />
====Openings (new and reopened lines)====<br />
<br />
The TPF branch from Bulle to Broc Fabrique reopened fully on 24 August 2023 after having been regauged from metre to standard gauge, and realigned in a few places. It had closed on 6 April 2021 and was reopened as far as Broc-Village on 11 December 2022. Broc Fabrique station was renamed Broc-Chocolaterie on 10 December 2023. There is no longer any rail access to the chocolate factory itself.<br />
<br />
The former 750mm-gauge line between Liestal and Waldenburg (''Waldenburgerbahn'') reopened on 11 December 2022 after having been converted to metre-gauge. It had been closed since 6 April 2021. A longer-term aspiration is to link this line up with BLT tram route 14 at Pratteln.<br />
<br />
The new gauge changer installed at Zweisimmen in 2019 was finally used by through Interlaken Ost - Montreux "Golden Pass" services from 11 December 2022. Through services were suspended from 26 February 2023 after further problems were encountered, but resumed, initially with only one train each way, on 11 June 2023, increasing to two train pairs (out of the three scheduled) from 2 July 2023.<br />
<br />
A diveunder opened on 12 September 2022 at Bern Wylerfeld, where the lines towards Thun and Olten diverge just short of Bern Wankdorf station. This has permitted the introduction of direct services between Romanshorn, Zürich Flughafen and Interlaken from December 2022, among other service improvements.<br />
<br />
A new flyover between Prilly-Malley, west of Lausanne, and Renens VD was brought into use on 4 July 2022. It carries Bern – Lausanne – Genève trains over the tracks used by trains between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains. The line between Lausanne and Renens has also been quadrupled throughout.<br />
<br />
The TPC-operated Aigle–Sépey–Diablerets (ASD) line reopened on 2 May 2022, having been closed since 30 July 2021 between Exergillod and Les Planches as a result of landslide damage at Les Fontanelles. <br />
<br />
The new Eppenberg Tunnel, between Aarau and Däniken, opened to traffic on 12 October 2020, with full use by main line trains starting on 13 December 2020.<br />
<br />
The first revenue freight train through the 15.4 km Ceneri Base Tunnel, between Bellinzona and Lugano, ran on 4 September 2020. Passenger trains started running with the December 2020 timetable change, including over the new south to west curve from the tunnel to the Locarno line (Biv. Camorino to Biv. Vigana).<br />
<br />
The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019 of the last section (Lancy-Pont-Rouge - Genève Eaux Vives - Annemasse). In the first step, local trains were introduced over part of the La Praille freight branch, to Lancy-Pont-Rouge, where a new station opened 8 December 2017. From here the line uses the existing freight line to Bachet-de-Pesay, beyond which a new line crosses the river Arve then runs in tunnel most of the way to Annemasse. The new underground line follows the alignment of the closed Eaux Vives branch. For more detail of the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [https://www.ceva.ch/ link].<br />
<br />
'''In the "heritage/museum" sector:'''<br />
<br />
The [https://www.etzwilen-singen.ch/ SEHR preservation group] reopened the last section of the Etzwilen (CH) to Singen (DE) line, the section in Germany between Rielasingen and Singen, with an inaugural day of service over the full cross-border route on 16 August 2020.<br />
<br />
====Openings (replacing other lines)====<br />
<br />
A new approx. 1.4 km section of underground line on the metre-gauge LEB (Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher) line between Lausanne-Chauderon and Union-Prilly was inaugurated on 14 May 2022, with public opening the following day. This replaced the previous route which mainly had on-street running.<br />
<br />
Following the linking of the Appenzeller and Trogener Bahn lines in St Gallen, a more direct exit route from St Gallen towards Appenzell to the north of the former SBB goods station opened on 25 October 2021, replacing the line to the south, which closed on 18 October. A new tunnel, which replaced the rack-equipped section between St Gallen and Riethüsli, opened on 7 October 2018.<br />
<br />
The new Bözberg Tunnel, between Brugg AG and Frick, was completed in February 2020. It has a larger loading gauge which allows piggyback services with 4-metre high trailers to use this route. Trains started using the new tunnel, and the old tunnel was closed, from 13 December 2020.<br />
<br />
On the metre-gauge ''Regionalbahnen Bern-Solothurn'' line between Bern and Worb-Dorf, a deviation at Boll-Utzigen including a new station was opened on 26 September 2020. The old route and station closed on 17 September.<br />
<br />
A new station and line came into use at Châtel St Denis on 14 December 2019, enabling TPF trains to run between the Palézieux and Bulle lines without having to reverse.<br />
<br />
====Other changes====<br />
<br />
A re-sited station at Le Day, between Lausanne and Vallorbe, opened on 16 May 2022. It has been moved 300 metres nearer Vallorbe, from within the V of the junction for the Le Brassus line to the other side of the junction. This is to allow portion working from Lausanne of trains to Vallorbe and Le Brassus, splitting at Le Day.<br />
<br />
====Closures====<br />
<br />
A new station came into use at Laupen on 5 April 2021. This is east of the old one, resulting in the branch line becoming slightly shorter.<br />
<br />
'''In the "heritage/museum" sector:'''<br />
<br />
[https://www.clubsangottardo.ch/it/ Club del San Gottardo] ceased operations on the cross-border section of their Mendrisio – Stabio – Malnate (IT) line in 2015 as a result of the start of work on the new Stabio – Arcisate regular passenger line, the tourist service operating from then on exclusively in Swiss territory. After a considerable period of inactivity the Club closed the Mendrisio site from 31 December 2020 to concentrate on their "Swiss Railpark" site at Biasca, to where all rolling stock and offices have been transferred. There are no longer any tourist trains on any part of this line.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2007 see [[Switzerland - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
<br />
Distinctions between main line railways, light railways and tramways are more difficult in Switzerland than perhaps any other country. For example, the main line of the Rhätische Bahn from St Moritz to Tirano has several sections of street running. In Chur, the first section of the Arosa line out from Chur station is street running dual track, but not wide enough to permit trains crossing. In addition there is 11 kV ac over the street.<br />
<br />
The Matterhorn-Gotthard, Rhätische Bahn and Montreux Oberland Bernois are among the railways running "Panoramic", "Glacier Express" or other trains with special facilities, such as observation cars. A supplementary fare is usually charged and advance reservation compulsory or strongly recommended.<br />
<br />
The European Train Control System, Level 2, incorporating in-cab signalling, is used on the Mattstetten (Bern) to Rothrist (Olten) high-speed line and through the Lötschberg, Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels. On the Gotthard line in-cab signalling extends between Brunnen and Castione-Arbedo, with the only trackside signals being shunt signals. Therefore, only trains fitted with in-cab signalling can operate on both the new and old Gotthard routes.<br />
<br />
Tourist railways up mountains are sometimes of limited capacity, but subject to high demand, particularly at holiday periods and during the winter sports season. In such cases it may be necessary to wait some time before being able to board a train, so it is best to arrive at the railway as early in the day as possible. When booking a trip it is often necessary to reserve a seat on a specific train down the mountain. Once the railway’s capacity to bring people back down the mountain is fully booked, no more can ascend, unless they are staying at a summit hotel.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Switzerland}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Latvia_-_General_Information&diff=53575Latvia - General Information2023-12-20T18:35:20Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Ticketing */ International tickets to Riga at LGT-Link website</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Latvia (Latvija)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Latvijas Dzelzceļš ([https://www.ldz.lv/en LDz]).<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[https://www.vivi.lv/en/ JSC “Pasažieru vilciens”] is the domestic passenger<br />
operator.<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Latvian.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 25; alpha LV<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[https://www.pv.lv/en/ Train schedule]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* Domestic Services:<br />
[https://www.vivi.lv/uploads/10-12-2023-_Vivi_Riga_Atiesana.pdf Train departure schedule from Riga station]</br><br />
[https://www.vivi.lv/uploads/10-12-2023-_Vivi_Riga_Pienaksana.pdf Train arrival schedule at Riga station]<br />
<br />
*International services:<br />
There are no international trains at present.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[https://www.pv.lv/lv/izmainas-un-jaunumi/ IZMAIŅAS]<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.autoosta.lv/?lang=eng Autoosta] covers the country. However the website appears to be blocking access from the UK.<br />
<br />
[https://luxexpress.eu/en/ Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-EE-LV-LT-BY-UA-MD | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ES-LT-LV-EE | Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii]] (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#QM-LV-LT | Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region)]] by Quail Map Company.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_baltic-states.php Map of the Baltic States] - useful single sheet overviews - dated March 2018<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity.<br />
<br />
International Tickets to Lithuania can be purchased from the LTG-Link [https://ltglink.lt/en website]<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*[https://www.ldz.lv/?object_id=2672 LDz Infrastruktūra] is responsible for the infrastructure.<br />
*[https://www.lrn.lv/?lang=en LatRailNet], a Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz) subsidiary, was set up on 27th December 2010 to allocate railway capacity and determine infrastructure charges.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The [https://www.ldz.lv/en/network-statement Network Statement] page has a downloadable Network Statement for most years.<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except the Gulbene - Alūksne line (750 mm).<br />
<br />
Daugavpils and Riga tram systems are 1524 mm but the Liepāja tramway is metre gauge.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
3 kV dc with tramways operating at 600 V dc..<br />
<br />
The original plan was to electrify the lines to Daugavpils and Rēzekne, which carried heavy freight traffic. However, owing to falling traffic with Russia, this has been cancelled. The focus will now be on converting the network around Rīga to 25 kV 50 Hz to be compatible with Rail Baltica.<br />
.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Approximate distances are given to the nearest km in Annex 2.1.B of the [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] - TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LDZ INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Gulbene - Alūksne Railway [https://www.banitis.lv/ Bānītis]. An English language PDF page is available [https://www.banitis.lv/pdf/eng.pdf here] and an equivalent one [https://www.banitis.lv/pdf/deu.pdf in German].<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
* [http://muzejs.ventspils.lv/en/seaside-open-air-museum/ High Seas Fisheries Museum, Ventspils] (600mm) <br />
* Mežaparks Pioneer Railway, Rīga (750mm) remains in situ but abandoned [locos transferred to Gulbene - Alūksne line]<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None. The initial phase of a Riga Metro was planned during the 1980s but has come to be seen as ecologically unsuitable (as well as having the taint of the Soviet era), so now seems unlikely to be developed.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Daugavpils, Rīga, Liepāja.<br />
<br />
The [https://urbanrail.net/eu/euromet.htm UrbanRailNet] site has basic diagrams of the tramway systems along with links to the local operators.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
The Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service will be reinstated on 27 December 2023.<br />
<br />
Work on the 265km section of Rail Baltica from the proposed station at Riga airport towards the border with Lithuania is planned to commence in early 2024 with a proposed opening date of 2030. Work is already underway on the reconstruction of the main station in Riga. <br />
<br />
Construction of a line from Imanta to Riga airport was due to start in May 2021 for completion in December 2025. It is thought work is now in progress. <br />
<br />
Latvia cancelled all international travel with effect from 15 March 2020, leading to the suspension of all cross-border trains.<br />
<br />
Contracts for the reconstruction of Riga Central station as a multimodal transport hub were signed on May 29 2019. The existing 1520 mm gauge line will be rebuilt on an elevated alignment, together with 2.6 km of 1435 mm gauge tracks for the Rail Baltica line. This will require six new road bridges and a 1 km bridge over the River Daugava. On overall Rail Baltica progress, an October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without highlighting anticipated openings further south.<br />
<br />
During the summer of 2018 Ukrainian railways operated a seasonal Riga-Vilnius-Minsk-Kyiv train via Siauliai, thus reopening the Jelgava - Siauliai cross border line to passengers. This train continued running in 2019 but was withdrawn from 15 March 2020 owing to Covid.<br />
<br />
The Daugavpils - Turmantas (Lithuania) border crossing reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018 with a service only at weekends and it is assumed it continued until the Covid suspensions on 15 March 2020. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.<br />
<br />
The (Rīga -) Jelgava - Reņge service was withdrawn on 23 February 2010 after the Lithuanians lifted the tracks on their side of the border in 2009 to prevent oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery exporting their products via Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court who fined LG who then announced in October 2017 that it would be rebuilt "shortly". The line reopened on 15 February 2020.....<br />
<br />
From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train ran only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combined with Riga - Sankt Peterburg train, thus effecting the closure of Rēzekne-1. It reverted to using Rēzekne-1 on 1 June 2012, running direct between there and Kleperova and ceasing to use Rēzekne-2. However, this service was withdrawn completely at the end of May 2015. The Riga - Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Riga - Moskva train from 25 October 2015, thus diverting it via Zilupe and withdrawing the passenger service between Rēzekne and Kārsava.<br />
<br />
From 1 June 2011 a service was reinstated between Riga and Minsk, reopening to passengers the border crossing at Indra. Between 1 June 2012 and 25 October 2015 it was combined with the Riga - Sankt Peterburg train as far as Daugavpils, after which the Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Riga - Moskva train.<br />
<br />
From 1 February 2011 a daily service was reinstated between Plavinas and Madona. This is extended to/from Gulbene on limited dates during the summer and at certain other peak times such as Easter.<br />
<br />
In September 2009 LDz announced its decision to dismantle the Liepāja – Ventspils, Saurieši - Ērgli, Ieriķi - Gulbene and Gulbene - Vecumi (Russian border) lines as it was impossible to reopen them owing to the poor condition of the track, some of which had been stolen.<br />
<br />
Cross-border passenger services from Valka/Lugaži to Valga (Estonia) were reinstated on 25 April 2008.<br />
<br />
Outside the Rīga suburban (electrified) area, passenger services saw a serious decline, with service reductions and line closures since independence, mainly because line speeds are relatively slow and therefore uncompetitive with road over trunk routes.<br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
<br />
Some words which may be of use:<br />
* elektrovilcieni = electric (suburban) multiple unit trains, operating to the following destinations from Rīga: Skulte; Aizkraukle; Jelgava; Tukums 2 via Dubulti.<br />
* dīzeļvilcieni = diesel (country) trains (at a fare scale approx. 30% higher than elektrovilcieni); apart from international trains, principally multiple units<br />
* darba dienās = SSuX<br />
* [timetable note] * (reading "vilcieni, apzīmēti ar "zvaigznīti", tiks norīkoti pēc īpašas pavēles", or similar) indicates need to enquire for dates of operation<br />
* kursēs līdz = terminates at<br />
* atcelts = cancelled<br />
* no = from or departure<br />
* gala stacija = terminus or destination<br />
* nepietur = not stopping (platform departure posters usually assume "all stations" unless otherwise shown)<br />
* celā = journey duration<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Latvia}}</div>Doughnut Cityhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Lithuania_-_General_Information&diff=53573Lithuania - General Information2023-12-20T18:33:09Z<p>Doughnut City: /* Ticketing */ LTG Link website ticket sales including to Riga</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Lithuania (Lietuva)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
The national railway AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai is a state-owned holding company with stand-alone passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses. However, access to [https://www.litrail.lt/en/home its website] is at present blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.<br />
<br />
The passenger business LG Keleiviams was formally registered on 28 February 2019 and has taken over the Passenger Transport Directorate (Keleivių Vežimo Direkcia) division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai. However, access to [https://www.litrail.lt/en/keleiviams its website] is also blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.<br />
<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
[https://www.ltglink.lt/en LTG Link] operates passenger services in Lithuania<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Lithuanian.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
numeric 24; alpha LT <br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[https://ltglink.lt/en LTG LINK]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
It appears that there isn't a set of timetables that can be downloaded. However a downloadable route timetable, giving intermediate calls, can be created by using [https://bilietas.ltglink.lt/timetable LTG LINK] and selecting the first and last stations on the route. This generates a complete timetable page which can be downloaded.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
A printed timetable is produced, but appears to be for staff use only. Travel centres such as the one at Vilnius offer individual timetables on photocopied sheets.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
This information is no longer available.<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
[https://www.autobusubilietai.lt/index.php?cl=start&lang=0 autobusubilietai.lt] provides a journey planner for buses in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe.<br />
<br />
[https://luxexpress.eu/en/ Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region.<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-EE-LV-LT-BY-UA-MD | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ES-LT-LV-EE | Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii]] (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#QM-LV-LT | Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region)]] by Quail Map Company.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_baltic-states.php Map of the Baltic States] Dated October 2009<br />
*Annex 5 of the 2017-2018 [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]<br />
*[[Maps and Plans#Lithuania|Maps and Plans - Lithuania]]<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.<br />
<br />
Tickets can be purchased at the LTG-Link [https://ltglink.lt/en website] including for International travel to Riga.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
AB LTG Infra is responsible for the infrastructure. However, access to [https://ltginfra.lt/en/home/ its website] is blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
The latest Network Statements are contained in the [https://ltginfra.lt/en/railway-infrastructure/map/network-statements/ Network Statements section]. <br />
===Gauge===<br />
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except for<br />
* "Rail Baltica": Trakiszki (Polish border) - Šeštokai - Kaunas - Palemonas (and eventually onwards to the Latvian Border via Panevėžys) (standard gauge; 1435 mm). Rail Baltica is mixed gauge between Mockava and Šeštokai, then parallel to the 1520 mm gauge line between Šeštokai and Palemonas, except for mixed gauge through the tunnel east of Kaunas.<br />
* Panevėžys - Rubikiai (750mm).<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
25kV 50 Hz<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The Current [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] gives overall distances for lines in Annex 2.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
The [http://siaurukas.eu Panevėžys - Rubikiai] 750mm gauge railway.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes==<br />
===Future Changes===<br />
<br />
The Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service will be reinstated from 27 December 2023.<br />
<br />
[https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/pendolino-do-wilna-pkp-ic-duzo-ostrozniejsze-niz-mi--111324.html A Polish railway press article] in late December 2022 stated that a through standard gauge service to Kaunas, operated by PKP, was planned from the 2023/24 timetable change. However, there is no sign of this as at December 2023.<br />
<br />
From four options, the Ministry of Transport selected option 6A in May 2022 as its preferred route for the section of Rail Baltica between the Polish border and Kaunas (Jiesia). This is a 'greenfield' route bypassing Marijampolė, Kazlų Rūda and Kalvarija. The existing 1435 mm gauge cross-border line will continue in use as it is important for military purposes, providing access to the Kazlų Rūda training area.<br />
<br />
An EU funding agreement to cover 85% of the costs of building the line from Kaunas to the Latvian border (part of the Rail Baltica II project) was signed on November 18 2016 and a Press announcement in May 2021 advised all necessary land had been acquired. In total Rail Baltica will involve 392km of new railway in Lithuania. An October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without mentioning progress and if earlier openings further south are anticipated. It is believed the lines are to be double track and electrified throughout.<br />
<br />
===Recent Changes (latest developments at top)===<br />
<br />
A pair of PKP IC trains were extended across the border to Mockava from 11 December 2022, with through ticketing onto a booked DMU connection there with a LG service to/from Vilnius. This restored a passenger service on the broad gauge rails between Šeštokai and Kazlu Ruda, withdrawn on 28 September 2013. [Mockava - Šeštokai is mixed gauge.] This resulted in withdrawal of the limited FSSuO Białystok - Kaunas standard gauge service from the same date, resulting in there being no service on the separate parallel standard gauge line between Šeštokai and Kaunas.<br />
<br />
On 1 July 2022, the (Radviliškis -) Panevėžys - Rokiškis line was closed ‘temporarily’ because of low passenger numbers and a lack of spare parts caused by the war in Ukraine. As at December 2023 Rokiškis did not even appear as an option in the Journey planner drop down boxes. <br />
<br />
The Białystok (PL) – Kaunas service resumed on 1 July 2022 but a less frequent basis from before.<br />
<br />
On 2 February 2022 the government approved the electrification of the 309 km Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda – Draugystės (the port branch south of Klaipėda station) route. €197m of the €398m cost will come from the EU Cohesion Fund.<br />
<br />
The Kaunas Intermodal Terminal at Palemonas opened to commercial traffic on 19 July 2021, when a train arrived from Tilburg in the Netherlands. Dual gauge track had been laid beyond Kaunas station to Palemonas in October 2020 but it is unknown if dual gauge rails may also now be laid on the Kaunas avoiding line. '''Any information on this would be appreciated by the Compilers.'''<br />
<br />
The passenger service between Turmantas and Daugavpils (Latvia) was suspended in March 2020. It reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018, with a service only at weekends. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.<br />
<br />
The Reņge - Mažeikiai (LG) freight only cross border line reopened on 15 February 2020.<br />
<br />
Passenger services were reinstated between (Vilnius -) Oro uostas (Vilnius airport) and Jašiūnai on 9 Dec 2018. The Oro uostas - Valciunai - Stasylos and Paneriai - Valciunai services were withdrawn on 1 January 2015, although shuttle trains continued between Vilnius and Oro uostas. <br />
<br />
Klaipēda - Šilutė was reopened to passenger traffic on 1 October 2018, having been discontinued from 29 May 2011<br />
<br />
Electrification across the border from Kena into Belarus was completed in Autumn 2017 and a through electric passenger service commenced on 10 December 2017.<br />
<br />
The Vilnius - Marcinkonys service was cut back to Varėna at an unknown date between December 2015 and November 2016 but had reopened by Mid March 2017. <br />
<br />
After some false starts, passenger services were introduced over the standard gauge (1435 mm) Rail Baltica line between Šeštokai and Kaunas on 17 June 2016. These comprised Białystok – Kaunas trains operated by Polish diesel units: two trains each way on Saturdays and Sundays, with a northbound train on Fridays and a southbound train on Mondays. The separate 1435 mm gauge track runs alongside the existing broad gauge route between Šeštokai and Kaunas, in contrast to the original plans for a partly new route. An unexpected consequence was that no LG passenger service resumed south of Marijampole to Šeštokai, so the last broad gauge passenger trains ran on this section on 28 September 2013. At Šeštokai there is now only a platform on one of the new standard gauge tracks, but even so it took until 6 October 2017 before this SG service started to call there. <br />
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Passenger services over the border crossing between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) were reintroduced on 6 June 2015, with one train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only, but withdrawn after 8 November. <br />
On 3 August 2011 services to Stasylos had been extended 4.2 km southwards to a new station 1.3 km north of the former Šalčininkai halt and 5.5 km from the Belarus border on the line to Ліда/Lida. This new station was also named Stasylos, the old station being renamed Senosios Stasylos. Services between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) ceased on 19 September 2008 when the summer-only Vilnius - Simferopol’ train pair ceased running. <br />
<br />
Palemonas to Gaižiūnai has lost and regained its single train pair more than once. As at January 2015 a service is running.<br />
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Through Vilnius - Druskininkai LG trains and the Vilnius - Warszawa overnight service, both via Parėččė (Belarus), ceased in 2001, resulting in withdrawal of all trains south of Marcinkonys.<br />
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Regular services over the Panevėžys - Anykščiai narrow gauge line ceased from 25 March 2001.<br />
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Since late 1998 the following lines have lost their passenger service:<br />
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* Jonaitiškai – Kutiškiai <br />
* [Šiauliai -] Mankiškai - Jonaitiškai - Tauragė - Pagėgiai - Šilutė - Klaipēda (Klaipēda - Šilutė subsequently reopened but has since closed again) <br />
* Švenčionėliai - Utena <br />
* Šeštokai - Alytus <br />
* [Klaipēda -] Kretinga - Skuodas <br />
* [Vilnius -] Paneriai - Valičiūniai (but has subsequently reopened)<br />
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==Special notes==<br />
None.<br />
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==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Lithuania}}</div>Doughnut City