https://www.egtre.info/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Richard+Maund&feedformat=atomEGTRE - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T10:48:15ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.41.0https://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=48399United Kingdom - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2023-01-04T09:07:11Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other sparse services */ Helsby - Ellesmere Port is now in PSUL</p>
<hr />
<div>==Introduction==<br />
This list is based on the timetable in force as at December 2021.<br />
<br />
Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
Please visit [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines], which lists regular passenger trains over obscure rail routes in the British Isles.<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
In addition to sparse services in Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines, the following lines have a limited service of fewer than six trains a day each way five days a week: <br />
<br />
{| width="60%"<br />
| 130<br />
| Craven Arms - Llanelli<br />
| Four trains each way SuX; two trains SuO<br />
|-<br />
| 218<br />
| Crianlarich - Fort William - Mallaig <br />
| Three or four trains each way daily<br />
|-<br />
| 219<br />
| Dingwall - Kyle of Lochalsh <br />
| Four trains each way SuX; one train SuO<br />
|-<br />
| 219<br />
| Tain - Thurso - Wick<br />
| Four trains each way SuX; one train SuO<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions since previous edition==<br />
<br />
None<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=46116United Kingdom - General Information2022-09-02T07:58:11Z<p>Richard Maund: /* New and reinstated passenger services in recent years: */Llangollen's Corwen extension corrected</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the countries of England, Wales, and Scotland. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under contracts with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most operators are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn, Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Trenitalia. A UK Government subsidiary, [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/dft-olr-holdings-limited/about DfT OLR Holdings Limited], could operate services if the contractor got into financial or other difficulties. [https://www.railholdings.scot/ Scottish Rail Holdings Limited] is the equivalent in Scotland. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'. <br />
<br />
A new organisation, [https://gbrtt.co.uk/ Great British Railways] is being established to take strategic control of railways, in England at least, as well as taking over most of Network Rail's functions as infrastructure owner and operator throughout Britain. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
Most operators in Great Britain had a franchise agreement, under which they took most of the commercial risk. DfT was considering changes to franchising when the Covid-19 pandemic made the system uneconomic, due to greatly reduced fares income to the operators. Franchises were replaced by Emergency Recovery Management Agreements and subsequently by National Rail Contracts under which the Government meets operating costs and receives fares and other income. The operating company is paid a management fee. Transport for Wales, ScotRail, LNER, Northern and Southeastern are all being operated by public sector companies. <br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about passenger train operators and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not under contract to the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. 'Open Access' passenger operators are [https://www.hulltrains.co.uk/ Hull Trains] and [https://www.grandcentralrail.com/ Grand Central], both operating between London, Yorkshire and North East England. <br />
<br />
In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intended to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2020. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but in 2018 and 2019 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer, but in practice these get fully booked well in advance. <br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: <br />
<br />
* [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] (formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany) <br />
* [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc) <br />
* [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouygues group); <br />
* [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) <br />
* [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (owned by Infracapital, an infrastructure equity investor). <br />
<br />
DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
[https://www.railopsgroup.co.uk/ Rail Operations Group] concentrates on rolling stock moves for manufacturers, leasing companies and passenger operators, but started a parcels-carrying business, trading as [https://orion.railopsgroup.co.uk/ Orion] in 2021.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a certain extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST ''Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering'', introduced in December 2017, requires new vehicles in Great Britain to be identified by EVN. On passenger vehicles only an abbreviated version is normally show. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
Since May 2020 there has been no comprehensive printed timetable for Great Britain. <br />
<br />
Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works]<br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*S.K. Baker's The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in five regional volumes.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland also published by [http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps]<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network] dated March 2018.<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Various Railcards are available, usually giving a fare reduction of one third. These are available nationally to groups, such as young people, families, senior citizens, two people travelling together, those with a disability and military personnel. Some cards are available to all, but only valid for travel within a particular geographic area. The cost of a Railcard may be recouped immediately if a long-distance journey is planned or if purchasing a high-price ticket such as a national rail rover. Some Railcards only give a discount for off-peak travel. Details of Railcards are available at [https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/National-Railcards.aspx National Rail]. Details can be found at the unofficial [http://www.railrover.org/ Rail Rover] website.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram. Most tramway systems are 750 V dc with Blackpool being 600 V dc.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*Core Valley Lines (Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert): Owned by the Welsh Government and managed by a lessee, Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited.<br />
*Crossrail Central Operating Section is the railway under Central London from Portobello Junction (Royal Oak) to Pudding Mill Lane Junction (Bow) and Abbey Wood. It is managed by Rail for London (Infrastructure) Limited, whose ultimate owner is Transport for London.<br />
*East London Line: Owned by Rail for London Limited, whose ultimate owner is Transport for London. <br />
*Eurotunnel: A partnership between the Channel Tunnel Group Limited and France-Manche S.A. that operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the UK and French governments. <br />
*Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between London Heathrow Airport and the junction with the Great Western Main Line near Hayes & Harlington. <br />
*HS1 Ltd: The investor with a 30 years concession from the UK government to operate the high-speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel, though most aspects of day-to-day operation and maintenance are contracted out to Network Rail. <br />
<br />
Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 630V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. London Overground operates under a contract let by the Mayor of London and uses Transport for London branding, but operates almost entirely on Network Rail lines. The Glasgow and Merseyrail systems are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years. On the Manchester Metrolink system a second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017, and the 5.5 km Trafford Park line opened on 22 March 2020. The Midland Metro in Birmingham is being extended to Edgbaston and Brierley Hill. The Edinburgh line is being extended to Leith and Newhaven and plans have been announced for further lines in the city. A metro system is proposed in Glasgow, but this project is at a very early stage. The Blackpool system Talbot Gateway extension, to Blackpool North station, was tested with trams on the night of 16 March 2022 and is expected to be fully open in 2022.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/line/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site] and also on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index-e.php Gleisplanweb site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Some aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK normally involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. However, a number of stations have closed and all passenger services over some lines have been withdrawn without the statutory procedure having been followed. It is also possible for passenger services to be reduced to a nominal few trains without any statutory process. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [https://www.egtre.info/wiki/United_Kingdom_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. No current passenger services are "experimental".<br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop may be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work; and has been partly dismantled.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Barking Station Junction - Barking platform 1: No regular passenger traffic from 18 July 2022, when the line to Barking Riverside opened, but occasional diversions may be possible.<br />
<br />
* Western Junction - Middle Junction (Sittingbourne): The limited service was suspended with effect from 16 November 2020, in response to Covid-19, and has not been reinstated.<br />
<br />
* Tulse Hill - Leigham Junction: The service comprising one train Mon-Fri was withdrawn as part of Covid-19 timetable cuts and has not been reinstated. The last passenger train ran in the early hours of 27 March 2020.<br />
<br />
* Dalmeny - Winchburgh Junction: Service withdrawn 23 March 2020, but without the statutory closure procedure having been followed.<br />
<br />
'''Significant service reduction'''<br />
<br />
* Glenrothes with Thornton - Thornton South Junction: The frequent service between became Sundays only, except for one train each way Mondays to Fridays, with effect from 15 May 2022.<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more, in approximate order of expected re-opening, are: <br />
<br />
* Gainsborough Central to Barnetby (Wrawby Junction): Service suspended from 8 January 2022.<br />
* Pontypridd Junction to Treherbert: 28 November 2022 to 2 June 2023 for work in connection with the South Wales Metro project.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018, because of problems with the viaduct structure.<br />
* Ashford East Junction, connection to HS1: Eurostar ceased calling at Ashford on 19 March 2020 and will not resume before 2025/6.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
New passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Barking - Barking Riverside (18 July 2022)<br />
<br />
* West Midlands Metro Extension - Library - Edgbaston Village (17 July 2022) <br />
<br />
*Paddington - Abbey Wood (Elizabeth Line) (24 May 2022)<br />
<br />
* Newport (Gaer Junction) - Pye Corner (Park Junction) (on introduction of trains between Newport and Crosskeys, 12 December 2021)<br />
<br />
* Crediton - Okehampton (20 November 2021; there was previously a service on summer Sundays)<br />
<br />
* Kennington - Battersea Power Station (London Underground, Northern Line extension, opened September 2021)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
A daily service, generally hourly, was introduced between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester via Runcorn and Frodsham on 19 May 2019. Previously the curve between Halton Junction and Frodsham Junction had been used by a single unadvertised train in one direction only on summer Saturdays.<br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014; the line is expected to be completed to the permanent terminus in 2023. <br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. <br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this was put back. Services between Abbey Wood and Paddington commenced on 24 May 2022 (but not on Sundays). The full service, including new links to the main lines from Paddington and Liverpool Street, follows later in 2022.<br />
<br />
Work is under way to re-open the railway between Kirkcaldy (Thornton North Junction) and Levenmouth for passenger services. It is expected that some trains will run via Cowdenbeath, providing many more via the curve from Thornton West Junction than the current sparse service. <br />
<br />
A Transport & Works Act Order for the introduction of passenger trains over the freight line to Ashington was granted in June 2022 and the line is due to open by December 2023. The UK Government has announced plans to re-open the railway to Fleetwood, but this may become a tramway. The UK Government is also funding feasibility studies into re-opening a number of other lines, but these are at a very early stage. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by Phase 2a as far as Crewe. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester with completion in the mid-2030s. It was originally planned that there would be a branch to Leeds, but this has been cut back to East Midlands Parkway (near Nottingham). The UK Government has also announced that it intends to proceed with a high-speed line from Warrington to Marsden (for Huddersfield) via Manchester. <br />
<br />
<!---Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
Plans were being developed for a second Crossrail line, linking south west and north east London. All work on this stopped in autumn 2020, as a result of economies made to deal with the Covid pandemic. It is questionable whether the scheme will be revived, if there is the expected permanent reduction in commuter traffic. <br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. A Transport & Works Act Order for this scheme was granted in February 2020 and services between Oxford and Milton Keynes are scheduled to start in December 2024. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead.<br />
* The Doon Valley Railway is extending its line from Dunaskin to Minnivey<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces local opposition. It is hoped that this will be granted during 2022.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain. Further work depends on obtaining statutory powers under the Transport and Works Act and constructing a new bridge to carry the railway over the A95 main road. <br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England and Wales are:<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby (May 2021) <br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham (Christian Malford) and Newbury (Phased introduction of electric services between May 2017 and January 2020). The scheme was cut back to omit Swansea, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley (May 2019)<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service initially, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way in England:<br />
<br />
* Kettering - Market Harborough<br />
<br />
* Manchester - Huddersfield - Leeds - York <br />
<br />
* Wigan North Western - Lostock Junction (near Bolton) (announced 1 September 2021, expected completion 2024/2025) <br />
<br />
The UK Government has announced that electrification of the Midland Main Line is to be completed to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Bargoed, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Bargoed, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
Following an extensive programme of electrification completed between 2012 and 2019, most lines in Central Scotland are electrified, with recent schemes comprising:<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. <br />
<br />
Work is currently under way on electrification to Barrhead, to be followed by East Kilbride. The line from Haymarket (Edinburgh) to Dalmeny is being electrified as the first phase of a scheme to electrify routes through Fife. Transport Scotland's [https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/rail-services-decarbonisation-action-plan/ ''Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan''], published in July 2020, envisages most lines in Scotland being electrified. Priorities are the Kilmarnock and Maryhill lines; Edinburgh to Tweedbank; and routes in Fife. Later extensions will take electrification to Girvan; Gretna via Dumfries; and Tain via Aviemore and via Aberdeen.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Train numbers in Great Britain follow an alpha-numeric format, thus 1A22. The first digit indicates the type of train (passenger trains are 1, 2 or 9), in most cases the letter indicates its route or destination and the remaining digits identify the particular train. Different trains can and do use the same number, so long as they do not conflict geographically or operate several hours apart. Since December 2021 train numbers have been shown in the National Rail Timetable, but they are not normally used for passenger information purposes. It is more usual for trains to be referred to by their schedule, for example as the "10:00 London King's Cross to Aberdeen". International trains have four digit numbers where the second figure is 0 or 1, which can be treated as letters O and I in the UK.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each, or to provide timetable posters. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though most station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/European-Train-Travel.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, may be in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains have been introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
No trains run in the UK on Christmas Day and very few on Boxing Day, mostly on local services in the London and Glasgow areas. No domestic services run in Scotland on New Year's Day, but there are normally trains between England, Edinburgh and Glasgow.<br />
<br />
Very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=46032United Kingdom - General Information2022-08-27T07:50:44Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Temporary Closures: */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the countries of England, Wales, and Scotland. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under contracts with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most operators are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn, Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Trenitalia. A UK Government subsidiary, [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/dft-olr-holdings-limited/about DfT OLR Holdings Limited], could operate services if the contractor got into financial or other difficulties. [https://www.railholdings.scot/ Scottish Rail Holdings Limited] is the equivalent in Scotland. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'. <br />
<br />
A new organisation, [https://gbrtt.co.uk/ Great British Railways] is being established to take strategic control of railways, in England at least, as well as taking over most of Network Rail's functions as infrastructure owner and operator throughout Britain. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
Most operators in Great Britain had a franchise agreement, under which they took most of the commercial risk. DfT was considering changes to franchising when the Covid-19 pandemic made the system uneconomic, due to greatly reduced fares income to the operators. Franchises were replaced by Emergency Recovery Management Agreements and subsequently by National Rail Contracts under which the Government meets operating costs and receives fares and other income. The operating company is paid a management fee. Transport for Wales, ScotRail, LNER, Northern and Southeastern are all being operated by public sector companies. <br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about passenger train operators and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not under contract to the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. 'Open Access' passenger operators are [https://www.hulltrains.co.uk/ Hull Trains] and [https://www.grandcentralrail.com/ Grand Central], both operating between London, Yorkshire and North East England. <br />
<br />
In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intended to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2020. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but in 2018 and 2019 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer, but in practice these get fully booked well in advance. <br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: <br />
<br />
* [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] (formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany) <br />
* [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc) <br />
* [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouygues group); <br />
* [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) <br />
* [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (owned by Infracapital, an infrastructure equity investor). <br />
<br />
DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
[https://www.railopsgroup.co.uk/ Rail Operations Group] concentrates on rolling stock moves for manufacturers, leasing companies and passenger operators, but started a parcels-carrying business, trading as [https://orion.railopsgroup.co.uk/ Orion] in 2021.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a certain extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST ''Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering'', introduced in December 2017, requires new vehicles in Great Britain to be identified by EVN. On passenger vehicles only an abbreviated version is normally show. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
Since May 2020 there has been no comprehensive printed timetable for Great Britain. <br />
<br />
Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works]<br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*S.K. Baker's The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in five regional volumes.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland also published by [http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps]<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network] dated March 2018.<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Various Railcards are available, usually giving a fare reduction of one third. These are available nationally to groups, such as young people, families, senior citizens, two people travelling together, those with a disability and military personnel. Some cards are available to all, but only valid for travel within a particular geographic area. The cost of a Railcard may be recouped immediately if a long-distance journey is planned or if purchasing a high-price ticket such as a national rail rover. Some Railcards only give a discount for off-peak travel. Details of Railcards are available at [https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/National-Railcards.aspx National Rail]. Details can be found at the unofficial [http://www.railrover.org/ Rail Rover] website.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram. Most tramway systems are 750 V dc with Blackpool being 600 V dc.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*Core Valley Lines (Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert): Owned by the Welsh Government and managed by a lessee, Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited.<br />
*Crossrail Central Operating Section is the railway under Central London from Portobello Junction (Royal Oak) to Pudding Mill Lane Junction (Bow) and Abbey Wood. It is managed by Rail for London (Infrastructure) Limited, whose ultimate owner is Transport for London.<br />
*East London Line: Owned by Rail for London Limited, whose ultimate owner is Transport for London. <br />
*Eurotunnel: A partnership between the Channel Tunnel Group Limited and France-Manche S.A. that operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the UK and French governments. <br />
*Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between London Heathrow Airport and the junction with the Great Western Main Line near Hayes & Harlington. <br />
*HS1 Ltd: The investor with a 30 years concession from the UK government to operate the high-speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel, though most aspects of day-to-day operation and maintenance are contracted out to Network Rail. <br />
<br />
Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 630V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. London Overground operates under a contract let by the Mayor of London and uses Transport for London branding, but operates almost entirely on Network Rail lines. The Glasgow and Merseyrail systems are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years. On the Manchester Metrolink system a second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017, and the 5.5 km Trafford Park line opened on 22 March 2020. The Midland Metro in Birmingham is being extended to Edgbaston and Brierley Hill. The Edinburgh line is being extended to Leith and Newhaven and plans have been announced for further lines in the city. A metro system is proposed in Glasgow, but this project is at a very early stage. The Blackpool system Talbot Gateway extension, to Blackpool North station, was tested with trams on the night of 16 March 2022 and is expected to be fully open in 2022.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/line/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site] and also on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index-e.php Gleisplanweb site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Some aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK normally involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. However, a number of stations have closed and all passenger services over some lines have been withdrawn without the statutory procedure having been followed. It is also possible for passenger services to be reduced to a nominal few trains without any statutory process. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [https://www.egtre.info/wiki/United_Kingdom_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. No current passenger services are "experimental".<br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop may be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
There was a project to divert London Underground services to Watford to Watford High Street, involving closure of the line between Croxley and Watford terminus. Although no formal announcement has been made, it appears that this has been abandoned, because of cost escalation.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work; and has been partly dismantled.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Barking Station Junction - Barking platform 1: No regular passenger traffic from 18 July 2022, when the line to Barking Riverside opened, but occasional diversions may be possible.<br />
<br />
* Western Junction - Middle Junction (Sittingbourne): The limited service was suspended with effect from 16 November 2020, in response to Covid-19, and has not been reinstated.<br />
<br />
* Tulse Hill - Leigham Junction: The service comprising one train Mon-Fri was withdrawn as part of Covid-19 timetable cuts and has not been reinstated. The last passenger train ran in the early hours of 27 March 2020.<br />
<br />
* Dalmeny - Winchburgh Junction: Service withdrawn 23 March 2020, but without the statutory closure procedure having been followed.<br />
<br />
'''Significant service reduction'''<br />
<br />
* Glenrothes with Thornton - Thornton South Junction: The frequent service between became Sundays only, except for one train each way Mondays to Fridays, with effect from 15 May 2022.<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more, in approximate order of expected re-opening, are: <br />
<br />
* Kirkby to Rainford: 18 July to 30 August 2022 for work on a new station, Headbolt Lane.<br />
* Gainsborough Central to Barnetby (Wrawby Junction): Service suspended from 8 January 2022.<br />
* Pontypridd Junction to Treherbert: 28 November 2022 to 2 June 2023 for work in connection with the South Wales Metro project.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018, because of problems with the viaduct structure.<br />
* Ashford East Junction, connection to HS1: Eurostar ceased calling at Ashford on 19 March 2020 and will not resume before 2025/6.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
New passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Barking - Barking Riverside (18 July 2022)<br />
<br />
* West Midlands Metro Extension - Library - Edgbaston Village (17 July 2022) <br />
<br />
*Paddington - Abbey Wood (Elizabeth Line) (24 May 2022)<br />
<br />
* Newport (Gaer Junction) - Pye Corner (Park Junction) (on introduction of trains between Newport and Crosskeys, 12 December 2021)<br />
<br />
* Crediton - Okehampton (20 November 2021; there was previously a service on summer Sundays)<br />
<br />
* Kennington - Battersea Power Station (London Underground, Northern Line extension, opened September 2021)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
A daily service, generally hourly, was introduced between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester via Runcorn and Frodsham on 19 May 2019. Previously the curve between Halton Junction and Frodsham Junction had been used by a single unadvertised train in one direction only on summer Saturdays.<br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014; the line was completed to the permanent terminus in 2020. <br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. <br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this was put back. Services between Abbey Wood and Paddington commenced on 24 May 2022 (but not on Sundays). The full service, including new links to the main lines from Paddington and Liverpool Street, follows later in 2022.<br />
<br />
Work is under way to re-open the railway between Kirkcaldy (Thornton North Junction) and Levenmouth for passenger services. It is expected that some trains will run via Cowdenbeath, providing many more via the curve from Thornton West Junction than the current sparse service. <br />
<br />
A Transport & Works Act Order for the introduction of passenger trains over the freight line to Ashington was granted in June 2022 and the line is due to open by December 2023. The UK Government has announced plans to re-open the railway to Fleetwood, but this may become a tramway. The UK Government is also funding feasibility studies into re-opening a number of other lines, but these are at a very early stage. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by Phase 2a as far as Crewe. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester with completion in the mid-2030s. It was originally planned that there would be a branch to Leeds, but this has been cut back to East Midlands Parkway (near Nottingham). The UK Government has also announced that it intends to proceed with a high-speed line from Warrington to Marsden (for Huddersfield) via Manchester. <br />
<br />
<!---Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
Plans were being developed for a second Crossrail line, linking south west and north east London. All work on this stopped in autumn 2020, as a result of economies made to deal with the Covid pandemic. It is questionable whether the scheme will be revived, if there is the expected permanent reduction in commuter traffic. <br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. A Transport & Works Act Order for this scheme was granted in February 2020 and services between Oxford and Milton Keynes are scheduled to start in December 2024. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead.<br />
* The Doon Valley Railway is extending its line from Dunaskin to Minnivey<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces local opposition. It is hoped that this will be granted during 2022.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain. Further work depends on obtaining statutory powers under the Transport and Works Act and constructing a new bridge to carry the railway over the A95 main road. <br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England and Wales are:<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby (May 2021) <br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham (Christian Malford) and Newbury (Phased introduction of electric services between May 2017 and January 2020). The scheme was cut back to omit Swansea, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley (May 2019)<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service initially, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way in England:<br />
<br />
* Kettering - Market Harborough<br />
<br />
* Manchester - Huddersfield - Leeds - York <br />
<br />
* Wigan North Western - Lostock Junction (near Bolton) (announced 1 September 2021, expected completion 2024/2025) <br />
<br />
The UK Government has announced that electrification of the Midland Main Line is to be completed to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Bargoed, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Bargoed, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
Following an extensive programme of electrification completed between 2012 and 2019, most lines in Central Scotland are electrified, with recent schemes comprising:<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. <br />
<br />
Work is currently under way on electrification to Barrhead, to be followed by East Kilbride. The line from Haymarket (Edinburgh) to Dalmeny is being electrified as the first phase of a scheme to electrify routes through Fife. Transport Scotland's [https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/rail-services-decarbonisation-action-plan/ ''Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan''], published in July 2020, envisages most lines in Scotland being electrified. Priorities are the Kilmarnock and Maryhill lines; Edinburgh to Tweedbank; and routes in Fife. Later extensions will take electrification to Girvan; Gretna via Dumfries; and Tain via Aviemore and via Aberdeen.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Train numbers in Great Britain follow an alpha-numeric format, thus 1A22. The first digit indicates the type of train (passenger trains are 1, 2 or 9), in most cases the letter indicates its route or destination and the remaining digits identify the particular train. Different trains can and do use the same number, so long as they do not conflict geographically or operate several hours apart. Since December 2021 train numbers have been shown in the National Rail Timetable, but they are not normally used for passenger information purposes. It is more usual for trains to be referred to by their schedule, for example as the "10:00 London King's Cross to Aberdeen". International trains have four digit numbers where the second figure is 0 or 1, which can be treated as letters O and I in the UK.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each, or to provide timetable posters. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though most station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/European-Train-Travel.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, may be in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains have been introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
No trains run in the UK on Christmas Day and very few on Boxing Day, mostly on local services in the London and Glasgow areas. No domestic services run in Scotland on New Year's Day, but there are normally trains between England, Edinburgh and Glasgow.<br />
<br />
Very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Israel_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=45185Israel - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2022-05-31T16:05:39Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other sparse services */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Introduction==<br />
This list is based on the timetable current as at April 2022, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
There are no services in this category.<br />
<br />
==Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions==<br />
Trains may be loaded into the journey planner system only a relatively short time beforehand.<br />
<br />
===Hertsliya – Bnei Brak===<br />
This north <=> east curve north of Tel Aviv links the lines to Haifa and Rosh Ha'Ayin-North.<br />
<br />
===Bet Yehoshu'a – Ra'anana West===<br />
This north <=> east curve north of Tel Aviv links the lines to Haifa and Hod HaSharon-Sokolov. <br />
<br />
===Rosh Ha'Ayin-North – Rosh Ha'Ayin-South – Teufa South - Lod===<br />
This route bypasses the central Tel Aviv area.<br />
<br />
===Petah Tikva-Segula – Rosh Ha'Ayin-South – Teufa South - Lod===<br />
This route bypasses the central Tel Aviv area.<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
Be'er Sheva-North/University to Dimona has a sparse service of a few trains per day each way.<br />
<br />
==Deletions since last edition==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Israel}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Israel_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=45184Israel - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2022-05-31T16:05:23Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other sparse services */ service resumed mid May,</p>
<hr />
<div>==Introduction==<br />
This list is based on the timetable current as at April 2022, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
There are no services in this category.<br />
<br />
==Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions==<br />
Trains may be loaded into the journey planner system only a relatively short time beforehand.<br />
<br />
===Hertsliya – Bnei Brak===<br />
This north <=> east curve north of Tel Aviv links the lines to Haifa and Rosh Ha'Ayin-North.<br />
<br />
===Bet Yehoshu'a – Ra'anana West===<br />
This north <=> east curve north of Tel Aviv links the lines to Haifa and Hod HaSharon-Sokolov. <br />
<br />
===Rosh Ha'Ayin-North – Rosh Ha'Ayin-South – Teufa South - Lod===<br />
This route bypasses the central Tel Aviv area.<br />
<br />
===Petah Tikva-Segula – Rosh Ha'Ayin-South – Teufa South - Lod===<br />
This route bypasses the central Tel Aviv area.<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
Be'er Sheva-North/University to Dimona had a sparse service of a few trains per day each way.<br />
<br />
==Deletions since last edition==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Israel}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45021Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:41:43Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Downloadable Timetable */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/# - but see also "Recent and future changes" (below) for schedule of the weekly Nairobi - Kisumu service.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
https://krc.co.ke/railway-network/<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Rift Valley Railways' 25 year concession was prematurely terminated from 31 July 2017, when Kenya Railways Corporation (Kenya Railways) commenced running their own services. Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018. An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45020Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:40:47Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Printed Maps */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/# - but see also Recent and Future Changes (below) for the weekly Nairobi - Kisumu service.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
https://krc.co.ke/railway-network/<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Rift Valley Railways' 25 year concession was prematurely terminated from 31 July 2017, when Kenya Railways Corporation (Kenya Railways) commenced running their own services. Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018. An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45019Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:40:25Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Web-based Maps */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/# - but see also Recent and Future Changes (below) for the weekly Nairobi - Kisumu service.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
https://krc.co.ke/railway-network/<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Rift Valley Railways' 25 year concession was prematurely terminated from 31 July 2017, when Kenya Railways Corporation (Kenya Railways) commenced running their own services. Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018. An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45018Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:38:13Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Downloadable Timetable */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/# - but see also Recent and Future Changes (below) for the weekly Nairobi - Kisumu service.<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Rift Valley Railways' 25 year concession was prematurely terminated from 31 July 2017, when Kenya Railways Corporation (Kenya Railways) commenced running their own services. Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018. An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45017Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:36:06Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Recent and future changes */ RVR concession terminated 31 July 2017.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Rift Valley Railways' 25 year concession was prematurely terminated from 31 July 2017, when Kenya Railways Corporation (Kenya Railways) commenced running their own services. Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018. An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45016Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:31:16Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Recent and future changes */ Kisumu service is only one round trip weekly</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45015Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:13:29Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Ticketing */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45014Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:12:29Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other Railways */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/images/stories/docs/ALL%20INCLUSIVE%20NRB-MSA.PDF Passenger Train Schedules with effect from 1.1.2012] <br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway - see http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/wbe.htm<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45013Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:11:39Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Gauge */ standard and metre</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/images/stories/docs/ALL%20INCLUSIVE%20NRB-MSA.PDF Passenger Train Schedules with effect from 1.1.2012] <br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45012Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:10:47Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other Railways */ added Magadi Rly</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/images/stories/docs/ALL%20INCLUSIVE%20NRB-MSA.PDF Passenger Train Schedules with effect from 1.1.2012] <br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Metre, but see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Magadi Railway<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45011Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:09:38Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Downloadable Timetable */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/images/stories/docs/ALL%20INCLUSIVE%20NRB-MSA.PDF Passenger Train Schedules with effect from 1.1.2012] <br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Metre, but see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45010Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:07:19Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Journey Planner */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
None<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/images/stories/docs/ALL%20INCLUSIVE%20NRB-MSA.PDF Passenger Train Schedules with effect from 1.1.2012] <br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Metre, but see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Kenya_-_General_Information&diff=45009Kenya - General Information2022-05-03T11:04:44Z<p>Richard Maund: /* National Railway System */ Rift Valley Railways are no longer in the rail business - they are an automobile firm now</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://krc.co.ke Kenya Railways Corporation]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Kenyan shilling (KES)<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
A basic list of frequencies is given for:<br />
*[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/inter-city Inter City]<br />
*[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/passenger Nairobi Commuter]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
None<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
===Bus Information===<br />
Not known<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
None known<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
[http://www.riftvalleyrail.com/images/stories/docs/ALL%20INCLUSIVE%20NRB-MSA.PDF Passenger Train Schedules with effect from 1.1.2012] <br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Metre, but see "Recent and future changes", below.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left but the system is almost entirely single track<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20.<br />
<br />
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.<br />
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is doubtful that this will ever happen.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
<br />
Distances in km:<br />
<br />
{|<br />
| Nairobi – Mombasa <br />
| 530 <br />
|-<br />
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu <br />
| 398 <br />
|-<br />
| Kisumu – Butere <br />
| 69 <br />
|}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=43799United Kingdom - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2022-01-06T16:54:45Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other sparse services */ Helsby - Ellesmere Port Saturdays</p>
<hr />
<div>==Introduction==<br />
This list is based on the timetable in force as at December 2021.<br />
<br />
Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Obscure services==<br />
Please visit [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines], which lists regular passenger trains over obscure rail routes in the British Isles.<br />
<br />
==Other sparse services==<br />
In addition to sparse services in Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines, the following lines have a limited service of fewer than six trains a day each way five days a week: <br />
<br />
{| width="60%"<br />
| 077<br />
| Helsby - Ellesmere Port <br />
| Two trains each way SSuX; three trains SO<br />
|-<br />
| 130<br />
| Craven Arms - Llanelli<br />
| Four trains each way SuX; two trains SuO<br />
|-<br />
| 218<br />
| Crianlarich - Fort William - Mallaig <br />
| Three or four trains each way daily<br />
|-<br />
| 219<br />
| Dingwall - Kyle of Lochalsh <br />
| Four trains each way SuX; one train SuO<br />
|-<br />
| 219<br />
| Tain - Thurso - Wick<br />
| Four trains each way SuX; one train SuO<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions since previous edition==<br />
<br />
None<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Ireland_-_General_Information&diff=37363Ireland - General Information2021-01-18T20:25:13Z<p>Richard Maund: Freight - rewritten Bord na Mona</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Republic of Ireland<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
[http://www.irishrail.ie/ Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) / Irish rail] <br />
<br />
===National Railway Operator===<br />
Iarnród Éireann Railway Undertaking (IÉ-RU).<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English is used for most purposes, but the Irish Constitution provides that the Irish Language (also known as Erse) is the first official language. Although Irish is not widely spoken, except in some rural areas, official notices and publications are usually bi-lingual. Public institutions, including the railway, use their Irish name in preference to the English version. Passenger information systems at stations and on trains normally show or announce information in Irish, before doing so in English.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Euro<br />
<br />
==UIC Code==<br />
numeric 60; alpha IRL.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
[http://www.irishrail.ie/timetables Find Train Times and Buy Tickets]<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
[http://www.irishrail.ie/timetables/timetable-pdfs PDF Timetables]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
IÉ resumed publication of printed timetable leaflets for public use from November 2016. Unfortunately, not all routes are covered (for example, there is no printed timetable for DART) and the leaflets are notoriously difficult to obtain, other than at Dublin Connolly station.<br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
[http://www.irishrail.ie/travelandstation Get Live Travel Updates] then select the station<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*S.K. Baker's "Rail Atlas of Great Britain & Ireland", which is widely available in the UK, shows Irish Railways at 1:1,070,000.<br />
*A volume of detailed layout plans for the whole of Ireland is published by [http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps].<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-GB-IE | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Britain and Ireland)]] by M.G. Ball.<br />
*An historical compilation - "Johnson's Atlas & Gazetteer of the Railway of Ireland" (1997) - is now out of print, but worth seeking in second hand bookshops.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Excellent live maps showing the whereabouts of every DART, InterCity and Commuter train are available on the Irish Rail[http://www.irishrail.ie/timetables/timetable-pdfs Timetables page].<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php British Isles and Ireland Map]. Although this remains on-line, the Büker maps are no longer being maintained. Last updated May 2011.<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
Visitors to Dublin seeking a "day ticket" (or multi-day) facility will find the [https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card Leap Card] advantageous, as it covers IÉ, Luas and Dublin Buses (including the Airlink Express services between the Airport and city centre).<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
On 25 March 2013 Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) was restructured into two separate business divisions - Iarnród Éireann Infrastructure Manager (IÉ-IM) and Iarnród Éireann Railway Undertaking (IÉ-RU). IÉ-IM does not have a separate website.<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[http://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/network-statement Network Statement]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
1600 mm (5 feet 3 inches).<br />
<br />
The LUAS tram lines in Dublin are 1435 mm (4 fee 8 1/2 inches).<br />
<br />
Bord na Mona and Tourist Lines are mainly 914 mm (3 feet).<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
1500 V dc (DART suburban system in Dublin).<br />
<br />
750 V dc LUAS tramway in Dublin.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
Distances are available in Appendix 1 of the Network Statement above.<br />
More detailed distances for the former constituent railways are available on the Signalling Record Society website.<br />
*[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-ds.html Dublin & South Eastern]<br />
*[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-fr.html Fishguard & Rosslare]<br />
*[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Great Northern]<br />
*[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gx.html Great Southern & Western plus some branches]<br />
*[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-mi.html Midland Great Western]<br />
<br />
==Other passenger railways==<br />
None<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
* [http://www.cavanandleitrim.com/ Cavan & Leitrim Railway]: this has not run since 2014 but a static museum remains at Dromod<br />
* [http://www.antraen.com/ Fintown Railway]<br />
* [http://www.lartiguemonorail.com/ Listowel Lartigue Monorail]<br />
* Tralee & Blennerville Steam Railway: this has not run since 2009 but track remains in situ<br />
* [http://www.wsvrailway.ie Waterford & Suir Valley Railway]<br />
* [http://www.westclarerailway.ie West Clare Railway]: this does not appear to run regular service<br />
Some of the more remote lines may be irregular in operation so it is as well to enquire about dates and times of operation before visiting. There are other shorter and miniature lines.<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==<br />
A modern Light Rapid Transit system - [http://www.luas.ie/ LUAS] (Irish for "speed") - operates in Dublin. This is a street-running tram in the city centre, but mostly uses reserved track elsewhere. It includes sections of former main line railway from Broadstone and Harcourt Street stations.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
The Irish railway system was allowed to deteriorate for many years, but extensive upgrading and modernisation has been carried out on the majority of the passenger system and there have been extensive purchases of new rolling stock (mostly multiple units). The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) electrified suburban system now extends south to Greystones and north to Malahide.<br />
<br />
===Line openings and reopenings - passenger===<br />
* [http://www.luascrosscity.ie/ LUAS] Green Line was extended northwards from St.Stephen's Green to Broombridge on 9 December 2017.<br />
* A weekday commuter service between Kildare and Grand Canal Dock - using the re-opened link between Islandbridge Junction (near Heuston) and Glasnevin Junction - commenced in November 2016. <br />
* Part of the former line from Clonsilla to Navan re-opened to M3 Parkway station in September 2010. <br />
* A direct link between Limerick and Galway was restored when the section between Ennis and Athenry reopened in March 2010. <br />
* A section of the former Youghal branch line reopened between Glounthaune (formerly Cobh Junction) and Midleton in July 2009. <br />
* A commuter line from Glasnevin Jn to Docklands, in Dublin, opened in March 2007. <br />
<br />
However, other mooted (some much publicised) line re-openings are now cancelled.<br />
<br />
In the private sector, the 3 foot gauge Waterford & Suir Valley Railway was extended by 2km in July 2010.<br />
<br />
===Line closures===<br />
The transversal lines, Limerick Jn - Waterford; [Limerick - ] Killonan Jn - Roscrea - Ballybrophy, and Ennis - Athenry, are under threat, while even the economics of services on the line south of Gorey have been called into question. These have all been the subject of review by the National Transport Authority (the government appointed body responsible for subvention of loss making passenger services) in their [https://www.nationaltransport.ie/consultations/consultation-on-rail-review-2016/ 2016 Rail Review] of which the report and consultation documents (available from that link) provide interesting background information.<br />
<br />
The outgoing IÉ Chief Executive Officer [http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/green-shoots-of-a-rail-recovery-on-the-emerald-isle.html?channel=537 said in 2018]: "Two or three of our routes may be better served by alternative public transport. Each passenger journey on the Nenagh branch now consumes EUR850 of public subsidy. Limerick Junction - Waterford, the Western Rail Corridor (''Ennis - Athenry'') and Wexford - Rosslare have very little revenue."<br />
<br />
IÉ withdrew the vestigial Rosslare Strand - Waterford passenger service in September 2010 (there is no freight service over the line which remains ''in situ'' but in unusable condition).<br />
<br />
A special review of Government expenditure published in July 2009 suggested examination of closure (apparently completely) of the following lines: Limerick Jn - Waterford (excl.) - Rosslare Strand; [Limerick - ] Killonan Jn - Ballybrophy; Manulla Jn - Ballina, and that no further development should take place of Western Rail Corridor beyond the [Limerick - ] Ennis - Athenry [ - Galway] section mentioned above.<br />
<br />
The line at Rosslare Europort was cut back in April 2008 - trains now use a very basic platform inconveniently located for the ferry terminal.<br />
<br />
===Freight===<br />
IÉ's freight operations are now limited. Bord na Móna was once one of the largest narrow gauge freight operations in Europe, moving peat (turf) traffic to power stations (this has now ceased apart from its own Edenderry power station which is to close in 2023) and other extractive movements which are now being replaced by bog restoration/reclamation work. <br />
<br />
==Special notes==<br />
In addition to universal "Standard" class, First class is available on principal trains between Dublin and Cork, plus a few to and from Tralee and Limerick. "Premium" class (partner NIRailways call it "First plus") is available on principal trains on the international route between Dublin and Belfast.<br />
<br />
There are no overnight services in Ireland.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox Ireland}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Tunisia_-_General_Information&diff=36179Tunisia - General Information2021-01-07T15:59:05Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Recent and future changes */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Tunisia (Tunisie)<br />
<br />
==National railway system==<br />
La Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT)<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://www.sncft.com.tn/ www.sncft.com.tn]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Arabic and French.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Tunisian Dinar, symbol TND.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
Numeric 91; alpha TN <br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/grande_ligne/horaire.php Main Lines]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* There do not appear to be any downloadable SNCFT timetables available for the Main Lines. However, the [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/Fahrplan_SNCFT.html Fahrplancenter website] does provide comprehensive timetable information.<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
No book for the whole network seems to be available, but printed leaflets for individual routes are available at many stations. <br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None. <br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Tunis area]] is available.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*A list of lines and rudimentary map are available on the [http://www.sncft.com.tn/En/network_11_34 SNCFT] web page. This page contains a useful list of lines and their lengths. However, this map predates the construction of the Sousse avoiding line, and the consequent closure of the (former) main line route south from Sousse to Sousse Bab Jedid. Therefore mileages south of Sousse will be correct station-to-station but not cumulatively from Tunis.<br />
<br />
*A system map and plan of the Tunis area are available in [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Maps and Plans - Tunisia]]<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
* 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and Tunis Ville – Erriadh.<br />
* 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left on SNCFT; right on TGM.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Tunis - Goulette - Marsa (TGM): Electrified standard gauge suburban route from Tunis Marine to La Marsa Plage, owned and operated by the Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu).<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None, although private tourist services operate over the SNCFT metre gauge line from Metaloui to the scenic Selja gorge.(''"Le Lezard Rouge"'').<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Tunis.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
There has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved.<br />
The overhead lines on the intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh were energised on 10 August 2011.<br />
<br />
The Tinja - Menzel Bourguiba line lost its passenger service some years ago.<br />
<br />
There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.<br />
<br />
The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.<br />
<br />
Resumption of passenger services between Tunisia and Algeria over the Ghardimaou - Sidi El-Hémissi border crossing was still "projected" at September 2020.<br />
<br />
A tourist service (''La Rose des Sables'') ran for a period in 2015, covering the non-passenger Kalaâ Kasbah - Kasserine line, but did not survive.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Note that travel to some parts of Tunisia is not advised; see the [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia UK Government Foreign travel advice website].<br />
<br />
Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou but there are no cross-border passenger services as at February 2015; see Recent and Future Changes above.</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Tunisia_-_General_Information&diff=36178Tunisia - General Information2021-01-07T15:58:24Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Recent and future changes */ La Rose des Sables withdrawn; Algeria service still 'projected'</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Tunisia (Tunisie)<br />
<br />
==National railway system==<br />
La Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT)<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://www.sncft.com.tn/ www.sncft.com.tn]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Arabic and French.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Tunisian Dinar, symbol TND.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
Numeric 91; alpha TN <br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/grande_ligne/horaire.php Main Lines]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* There do not appear to be any downloadable SNCFT timetables available for the Main Lines. However, the [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/Fahrplan_SNCFT.html Fahrplancenter website] does provide comprehensive timetable information.<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
No book for the whole network seems to be available, but printed leaflets for individual routes are available at many stations. <br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None. <br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Tunis area]] is available.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*A list of lines and rudimentary map are available on the [http://www.sncft.com.tn/En/network_11_34 SNCFT] web page. This page contains a useful list of lines and their lengths. However, this map predates the construction of the Sousse avoiding line, and the consequent closure of the (former) main line route south from Sousse to Sousse Bab Jedid. Therefore mileages south of Sousse will be correct station-to-station but not cumulatively from Tunis.<br />
<br />
*A system map and plan of the Tunis area are available in [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Maps and Plans - Tunisia]]<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
* 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and Tunis Ville – Erriadh.<br />
* 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left on SNCFT; right on TGM.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Tunis - Goulette - Marsa (TGM): Electrified standard gauge suburban route from Tunis Marine to La Marsa Plage, owned and operated by the Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu).<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None, although private tourist services operate over the SNCFT metre gauge line from Metaloui to the scenic Selja gorge.(''"Le Lezard Rouge"'').<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Tunis.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
In recent years, there has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved.<br />
The overhead lines on the intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh were energised on 10 August 2011.<br />
<br />
The Tinja - Menzel Bourguiba line lost its passenger service some years ago.<br />
<br />
There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.<br />
<br />
The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.<br />
<br />
Resumption of passenger services between Tunisia and Algeria over the Ghardimaou - Sidi El-Hémissi border crossing was still "projected" at September 2020.<br />
<br />
A tourist service (''La Rose des Sables'') ran for a period in 2015, covering the non-passenger Kalaâ Kasbah - Kasserine line, but did not survive.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Note that travel to some parts of Tunisia is not advised; see the [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia UK Government Foreign travel advice website].<br />
<br />
Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou but there are no cross-border passenger services as at February 2015; see Recent and Future Changes above.</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Tunisia_-_General_Information&diff=36176Tunisia - General Information2021-01-07T15:47:30Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Recent and future changes */ La Rose des Sables withdrawn</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Tunisia (Tunisie)<br />
<br />
==National railway system==<br />
La Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT)<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://www.sncft.com.tn/ www.sncft.com.tn]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Arabic and French.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Tunisian Dinar, symbol TND.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
Numeric 91; alpha TN <br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/grande_ligne/horaire.php Main Lines]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* There do not appear to be any downloadable SNCFT timetables available for the Main Lines. However, the [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/Fahrplan_SNCFT.html Fahrplancenter website] does provide comprehensive timetable information.<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
No book for the whole network seems to be available, but printed leaflets for individual routes are available at many stations. <br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None. <br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Tunis area]] is available.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*A list of lines and rudimentary map are available on the [http://www.sncft.com.tn/En/network_11_34 SNCFT] web page. This page contains a useful list of lines and their lengths. However, this map predates the construction of the Sousse avoiding line, and the consequent closure of the (former) main line route south from Sousse to Sousse Bab Jedid. Therefore mileages south of Sousse will be correct station-to-station but not cumulatively from Tunis.<br />
<br />
*A system map and plan of the Tunis area are available in [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Maps and Plans - Tunisia]]<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
* 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and Tunis Ville – Erriadh.<br />
* 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left on SNCFT; right on TGM.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Tunis - Goulette - Marsa (TGM): Electrified standard gauge suburban route from Tunis Marine to La Marsa Plage, owned and operated by the Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu).<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None, although private tourist services operate over the SNCFT metre gauge line from Metaloui to the scenic Selja gorge.(''"Le Lezard Rouge"'').<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Tunis.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
In recent years, there has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved.<br />
The overhead lines on the intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh were energised on 10 August 2011.<br />
<br />
The Tinja - Menzel Bourguiba line lost its passenger service some years ago.<br />
<br />
There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.<br />
<br />
The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.<br />
<br />
Passenger services between Tunisia and Algeria over the Ghardimaou - Sidi El-Hémissi border crossing were due to be reinstated on 14 May 2017.<br />
<br />
A tourist service (''La Rose des Sables'') ran for a period in 2015, covering the non-passenger Kalaâ Kasbah - Kasserine line, but did not survive.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Note that travel to some parts of Tunisia is not advised; see the [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia UK Government Foreign travel advice website].<br />
<br />
Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou but there are no cross-border passenger services as at February 2015; see Recent and Future Changes above.</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Tunisia_-_General_Information&diff=36172Tunisia - General Information2021-01-07T15:35:03Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Official Website */English version now functioning</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
Tunisia (Tunisie)<br />
<br />
==National railway system==<br />
La Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT)<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
[http://www.sncft.com.tn/ www.sncft.com.tn]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
Arabic and French.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Tunisian Dinar, symbol TND.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
Numeric 91; alpha TN <br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Journey Planner===<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/grande_ligne/horaire.php Main Lines]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Downloadable Timetable===<br />
* There do not appear to be any downloadable SNCFT timetables available for the Main Lines. However, the [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/Fahrplan_SNCFT.html Fahrplancenter website] does provide comprehensive timetable information.<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]<br />
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]<br />
<br />
===Printed Timetable===<br />
No book for the whole network seems to be available, but printed leaflets for individual routes are available at many stations. <br />
<br />
===Engineering Information===<br />
None. <br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Tunis area]] is available.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*A list of lines and rudimentary map are available on the [http://www.sncft.com.tn/En/network_11_34 SNCFT] web page. This page contains a useful list of lines and their lengths. However, this map predates the construction of the Sousse avoiding line, and the consequent closure of the (former) main line route south from Sousse to Sousse Bab Jedid. Therefore mileages south of Sousse will be correct station-to-station but not cumulatively from Tunis.<br />
<br />
*A system map and plan of the Tunis area are available in [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Maps and Plans - Tunisia]]<br />
<br />
==Gauge==<br />
Standard and Metre.<br />
<br />
==Electrification==<br />
* 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and Tunis Ville – Erriadh.<br />
* 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa.<br />
<br />
==Rule of the road==<br />
Left on SNCFT; right on TGM.<br />
<br />
==Other Railways==<br />
Tunis - Goulette - Marsa (TGM): Electrified standard gauge suburban route from Tunis Marine to La Marsa Plage, owned and operated by the Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu).<br />
<br />
==Tourist Lines==<br />
None, although private tourist services operate over the SNCFT metre gauge line from Metaloui to the scenic Selja gorge.(''"Le Lezard Rouge"'').<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
None.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Tunis.<br />
<br />
==Recent and future changes==<br />
In recent years, there has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved.<br />
The overhead lines on the intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh were energised on 10 August 2011.<br />
<br />
The Tinja - Menzel Bourguiba line lost its passenger service some years ago.<br />
<br />
There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.<br />
<br />
The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.<br />
<br />
Passenger services between Tunisia and Algeria over the Ghardimaou - Sidi El-Hémissi border crossing were due to be reinstated on 14 May 2017.<br />
<br />
A tourist service (''La Rose des Sables'') was due to start in February 2015, covering the non-passenger Kalaâ Kasbah - Kasserine line. Other routes are planned to be added in later years.<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Note that travel to some parts of Tunisia is not advised; see the [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia UK Government Foreign travel advice website].<br />
<br />
Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou but there are no cross-border passenger services as at February 2015; see Recent and Future Changes above.</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Links&diff=35602Links2020-12-24T16:40:54Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other Links */ Rinbad deleted (dead for some years now). Australian para deleted (links from wbe more appropriate - and are updated)</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 Interessengemeinshaft 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 />
[http://www.uic.asso.fr/home/home_en.html International Union of Railways].<br />
<br />
==Signalling and Track==<br />
<br />
[http://www.sh1.org/eisenbahn/index.htm An English language description of German railway signalling].<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
[http://trackmap.net/ Links to railway 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 />
[http://www.rff.fr/pages/docref/cartes/sommaire.asp?lg=en Official maps and diagrams of the French rail network].<br />
<br />
[http://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-e.html 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 />
[http://www.urbanrail.net The UrbanRail.Net website] holds diagrammatic maps and descriptions of the world’s metro systems.<br />
<br />
[http://www.lrta.org/ The Light Rail Transit Association website] has &quot;a complete listing of [http://www.lrta.org/world/worldind.html Light Rail, Light Railway, Tramway &amp; Metro systems throughout the World]&quot;.<br />
<br />
[http://www.blickpunktstrab.net The Blickpunkt Straßenbahn website] contains listings for [http://www.blickpunktstrab.net/bs_liste_index_e.html tramways, metros etc.] throughout the world (mostly German language).<br />
<br />
The Monorail Society website has details of Monorails and <i>Schwebebahnen</i> <br />
in [http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Europe.html Europe] and elsewhere.<br />
<br />
==Heritage and Minor Railways==<br />
<br />
[http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK Heritage Railways].<br />
<br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/index.html FACS-UNECTO] gives details of many French minor railways and the limited number of special trains in France.<br />
<br />
[http://www.gyermekvasut.com 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 />
[http://www.funiculars.net Bruse's Funiculars] - funicular railways around the world - pictures, articles, maps, technical descriptions and much <br />
more.<br />
<br />
[http://www.railserve.com/ Rail''Serve'': The Internet Railroad Directory] - over 9,000 rail-related links.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
[http://www.trainnet.org/IRL/rwlinks.htm International Railway Links from TrainNet.org] <br />
<br />
Useful info and links for Spain at the [http://www.ffe.es/principal_en.asp La Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles] site.</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=27868United Kingdom - General Information2019-09-28T18:48:21Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Country Name */The ‘Kingdom’ is properly the UK - its three constituents on the GB ‘mainland’ are ‘countries’ rather than kingdoms.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the countries of England, Wales, and Scotland. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (owned by [https://www.infracapital.co.uk/home/ Infracapital], an infrastructure equity investor). Direct Rail Services also operates a few Fife commuter services for ScotRail. DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is a printed version of Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable. It is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*East London Line: Managed by Rail for London Limited, whose ultimate owner is Transport for London. <br />
*Eurotunnel: A partnership between the Channel Tunnel Group Limited and France-Manche S.A. that operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the UK and French governments. <br />
*Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between London Heathrow Airport and the junction with the Great Western Main Line near Hayes & Harlington. <br />
*HS1 Ltd: The investor with a 30 years concession from the UK government to operate the high-speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel, though most aspects of day-to-day operation and maintenance are contracted out to Network Rail. <br />
<br />
Crossrail Central Operating Section is the new and yet to open railway under Central London from Portobello Junction (Royal Oak) to Pudding Mill Lane Junction (Bow) and Abbey Wood. It is to be managed by Rail for London (Infrastructure) Limited (not the same as Rail for London Limited), whose ultimate owner is Transport for London.<br />
<br />
Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019. They are to be managed by a lessee, Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground operates mostly on Network Rail lines under a contract let by the Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage: From May 2019 for about a year this line has a full service only at weekends, but just a very few trains early in the morning and late at night Mondays to Fridays. This is to allow a more frequent service on the main line through Stevenage. The full service will be reinstated when an additional track and platform have been completed at Stevenage. <br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 <br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: December 2014<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Reedham (Norfolk) - Great Yarmouth: From 20 October 2018 for resignalling. It was intended that the line would re-open in April 2019, but this has been deferred until late February 2020.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018 until further notice, because of structural problems. It is expected that repairs will not be undertaken until spring/summer 2020.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
A daily service, generally hourly, was introduced between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester via Runcorn and Frodsham on 19 May 2019. Previously the curve between Halton Junction and Frodsham Junction had been used by a single unadvertised train in one direction only on summer Saturdays.<br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back. A service between Abbey Wood and Paddington may start some time between autumn 2020 and spring 2021, with all routes in use no earlier than December 2021.<br />
<br />
A new branch of the LUL Northern Line, from Kennington to Battersea, is expected to open in autumn 2021.<br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used.<br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has announced that it intends to re-open the railway between Kirkcaldy (Thornton North Junction) and Levenmouth for passenger services. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley (May 2019)<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under [[#Trams|Trams]] above; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury. Electric trains ran to Maidenhead from May 2017, to Didcot from January 2018, and to Bristol Parkway from December 2018. The scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby and Market Harborough<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has funded significant electrification in the central lowlands:<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018)<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014). <br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to East Kilbride is expected by 2023/24.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are being introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=27867United Kingdom - General Information2019-09-28T18:38:37Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Country Name */Wales is not properly classified as a ‘Principality’, being a ‘country’ in its own right - albeit under the English crown.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Wales, and of Scotland. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (owned by [https://www.infracapital.co.uk/home/ Infracapital], an infrastructure equity investor). Direct Rail Services also operates a few Fife commuter services for ScotRail. DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is a printed version of Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable. It is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
*East London Line: Managed by Rail for London Limited, whose ultimate owner is Transport for London. <br />
*Eurotunnel: A partnership between the Channel Tunnel Group Limited and France-Manche S.A. that operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the UK and French governments. <br />
*Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between London Heathrow Airport and the junction with the Great Western Main Line near Hayes & Harlington. <br />
*HS1 Ltd: The investor with a 30 years concession from the UK government to operate the high-speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel, though most aspects of day-to-day operation and maintenance are contracted out to Network Rail. <br />
<br />
Crossrail Central Operating Section is the new and yet to open railway under Central London from Portobello Junction (Royal Oak) to Pudding Mill Lane Junction (Bow) and Abbey Wood. It is to be managed by Rail for London (Infrastructure) Limited (not the same as Rail for London Limited), whose ultimate owner is Transport for London.<br />
<br />
Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019. They are to be managed by a lessee, Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground operates mostly on Network Rail lines under a contract let by the Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage: From May 2019 for about a year this line has a full service only at weekends, but just a very few trains early in the morning and late at night Mondays to Fridays. This is to allow a more frequent service on the main line through Stevenage. The full service will be reinstated when an additional track and platform have been completed at Stevenage. <br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 <br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: December 2014<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Reedham (Norfolk) - Great Yarmouth: From 20 October 2018 for resignalling. It was intended that the line would re-open in April 2019, but this has been deferred until late February 2020.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018 until further notice, because of structural problems. It is expected that repairs will not be undertaken until spring/summer 2020.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
A daily service, generally hourly, was introduced between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester via Runcorn and Frodsham on 19 May 2019. Previously the curve between Halton Junction and Frodsham Junction had been used by a single unadvertised train in one direction only on summer Saturdays.<br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back. A service between Abbey Wood and Paddington may start some time between autumn 2020 and spring 2021, with all routes in use no earlier than December 2021.<br />
<br />
A new branch of the LUL Northern Line, from Kennington to Battersea, is expected to open in autumn 2021.<br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used.<br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has announced that it intends to re-open the railway between Kirkcaldy (Thornton North Junction) and Levenmouth for passenger services. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley (May 2019)<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under [[#Trams|Trams]] above; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury. Electric trains ran to Maidenhead from May 2017, to Didcot from January 2018, and to Bristol Parkway from December 2018. The scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby and Market Harborough<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has funded significant electrification in the central lowlands:<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018)<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014). <br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to East Kilbride is expected by 2023/24.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are being introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=27295United Kingdom - General Information2019-05-06T12:37:46Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Temporary Closures: */ Dyce - Huntly closure until 19 Aug (blockade extends to Aberdeen from 10 Aug)</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is a printed version of Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable. It is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage: From May 2019 for about a year this line has a full service only at weekends, but just a very few trains early in the morning and late at night Mondays to Fridays. This is to allow a more frequent service on the main line through Stevenage. The full service will be reinstated when an additional track and platform have been completed at Stevenage. <br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 <br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Cromer - Sheringham: 31 March to 15 May 2019 for rebuilding Sheringham station.<br />
* Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog: 16 March 2019 until further notice, following severe storm damage<br />
* Dyce - Inverurie - Huntly: 4 May to 19 August 2019 Dyce to Inverurie and 15 June to 19 August 2019 Inverurie to Huntly, for route upgrade works. <br />
* Lisburn - Portadown: 26 July to 23 August 2019 for platform works and track renewal at Lurgan.<br />
* Reedham (Norfolk) - Great Yarmouth: From 20 October 2018 for resignalling. It was intended that the line would re-open in April 2019, but may not do so until May 2020.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018 until further notice, because of structural problems.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. <br />
<br />
Restoration of local services between Chester and Liverpool via Frodsham and Runcorn was to resume in December 2018, but this has been postponed until (at least) May 2019.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to some time in 2020, or possibly 2021. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under [[#Trams|Trams]] above; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury. Electric trains ran to Maidenhead from May 2017, to Didcot from January 2018, and to Bristol Parkway from December 2018. The scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby and Market Harborough<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has funded significant electrification in the central lowlands:<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018)<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014). <br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=27294United Kingdom - General Information2019-05-06T10:20:32Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Temporary Closures: */ Huntly spelling error</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is a printed version of Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable. It is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage: From May 2019 for about a year this line has a full service only at weekends, but just a very few trains early in the morning and late at night Mondays to Fridays. This is to allow a more frequent service on the main line through Stevenage. The full service will be reinstated when an additional track and platform have been completed at Stevenage. <br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 <br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Cromer - Sheringham: 31 March to 15 May 2019 for rebuilding Sheringham station.<br />
* Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog: 16 March 2019 until further notice, following severe storm damage<br />
* Dyce - Inverurie - Huntly: 4 May to 9 August 2019 Dyce to Inverurie and 15 June to 9 August 2019 Inverurie to Huntly, for route upgrade works. <br />
* Lisburn - Portadown: 26 July to 23 August 2019 for platform works and track renewal at Lurgan.<br />
* Reedham (Norfolk) - Great Yarmouth: From 20 October 2018 for resignalling. It was intended that the line would re-open in April 2019, but may not do so until May 2020.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018 until further notice, because of structural problems.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. <br />
<br />
Restoration of local services between Chester and Liverpool via Frodsham and Runcorn was to resume in December 2018, but this has been postponed until (at least) May 2019.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to some time in 2020, or possibly 2021. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under [[#Trams|Trams]] above; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury. Electric trains ran to Maidenhead from May 2017, to Didcot from January 2018, and to Bristol Parkway from December 2018. The scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby and Market Harborough<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has funded significant electrification in the central lowlands:<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018)<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014). <br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=27293United Kingdom - General Information2019-05-06T10:17:42Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Temporary Closures: */ Cromer - Sheringham closure period extended by 10 days</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites. The Wikipedia list is usually more up to date and accurate than the DfT schedule!<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there was just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is a printed version of Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable. It is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro. The line between Tinsley North Junction and Rotherham Parkgate is electrified at 750V dc overhead, for use by Sheffield Supertram.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall, allows tram-trains to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate over Network Rail lines. Public services commenced on Thursday 25 October 2018. Sheffield tram-trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of the tram network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network; however the line to Rotherham Parkgate is initially energised at 750 V because there is no 25 kV electrification in the area.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
* Old Oak Common West Junction - Park Royal - Greenford West Junction: Closed to passenger services in December 2018 to facilitate HS2 construction work.<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage: From May 2019 for about a year this line has a full service only at weekends, but just a very few trains early in the morning and late at night Mondays to Fridays. This is to allow a more frequent service on the main line through Stevenage. The full service will be reinstated when an additional track and platform have been completed at Stevenage. <br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 <br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Cromer - Sheringham: 31 March to 15 May 2019 for rebuilding Sheringham station.<br />
* Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog: 16 March 2019 until further notice, following severe storm damage<br />
* Dyce - Inverurie - Huntley: 4 May to 9 August 2019 Dyce to Inverurie and 15 June to 9 August 2019 Inverurie to Huntly, for route upgrade works. <br />
* Lisburn - Portadown: 26 July to 23 August 2019 for platform works and track renewal at Lurgan.<br />
* Reedham (Norfolk) - Great Yarmouth: From 20 October 2018 for resignalling. It was intended that the line would re-open in April 2019, but may not do so until May 2020.<br />
* CairnGorm Mountain Railway: From 28 September 2018 until further notice, because of structural problems.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. There has been more extensive use of the line since 20 May 2018. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Meadowhall South/Tinsley - Tinsley North Junction - Rotherham Central (Sheffield Tram Train operation substantially over a Network Rail freight line, opened on 25 October 2018) <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. <br />
<br />
Restoration of local services between Chester and Liverpool via Frodsham and Runcorn was to resume in December 2018, but this has been postponed until (at least) May 2019.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to some time in 2020, or possibly 2021. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead, though there has been no formal announcement to this effect. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton (February 2019)<br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham (January 2019, but limited electric service, because of delayed delivery of rolling stock)<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under [[#Trams|Trams]] above; October 2018)<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury. Electric trains ran to Maidenhead from May 2017, to Didcot from January 2018, and to Bristol Parkway from December 2018. The scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines.<br />
<br />
* Bedford to Corby and Market Harborough<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and on routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government has funded significant electrification in the central lowlands:<br />
<br />
*Holytown to Kirknewton (Midcalder Jn) via Shotts (Some electric services April 2019, full service May 2019) <br />
<br />
*Croy (Carmuirs West Jn) and Camelon (Carmuirs East Jn) to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa (December 2018)<br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston (December 2018, but occasional use from May 2018)<br />
<br />
*Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High (Phased introduction December 2017 to August 2018)<br />
<br />
*Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014). <br />
<br />
*Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) <br />
<br />
The line from Falkirk to Grangemouth has also been electrified for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=24393United Kingdom - General Information2018-09-25T15:08:04Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Projects authorised or under construction are: */ Frodsham - Runcorn added</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites.<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there is just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is produced in two versions: ''Comprehensive Rail Times for Great Britain'' (the same as Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable) and ''Abbreviated Rail Times for Great Britain'' (Principal Stations on Main Lines and Rural Routes - the same as is found in the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]). The comprehensive timetable is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall will allow trams to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate. Testing was under way during summer 2018. Tram Trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of Supertram's network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network, although the route to Rotherham is being electrified to 750 V.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Old Oak Common and Greenford West Junction via Park Royal will close to passenger services from 10 December 2018, to facilitate HS2 construction work. The line is used by one train each way Mondays to Fridays (currently 10:57 South Ruislip to Paddington and 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe), which will be diverted via Drayton Green. '''The last trains run on Friday 7 December 2018.''' <br />
<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 (This route may gain a more frequent service, possibly from December 2018).<br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Ayr - Stranraer: The railway between Ayr and Stranraer closed at short notice during the evening of 27 August 2018, because of the dangerous condition of the former station hotel at Ayr. Disruption is expected to continue until mid-October.<br />
* Derby: Resignalling and remodelling in the Derby area results in the following closure until 7 October 2018: Derby - Belper - Ambergate - Matlock and Chesterfield (through trains diverted via Trent Junction and Erewash Valley line)<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage (Langley Junction): Although the stated aspiration is to increase the off-peak service between Hertford North and Stevenage, non-provision of a planned additional turn-back platform at Stevenage precludes this. Services north of Watton-at-Stone are expected instead to be replaced by bus from May 2019, in order to accommodate additional Thameslink services on the main line. It was reported that this would continue until at least 2021, but efforts are being made to reinstate the train service a year earlier. Until the service can be (re-)extended to Stevenage, the line is expected to see very few passenger trains or none at all, apart from engineering work diversions.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. Most routes were in use from 20 May 2018. Operational difficulties following introduction of the May 2018 timetable resulted in a supposedly short-term cut in the number of trains. In particular, the new connection from Belle Isle Junction is not used by passenger services at weekends. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. This may happen in December 2018, following resignalling at Wishaw.<br />
<br />
Restoration of local services between Chester and Liverpool via Frodsham and Runcorn were to resume in December 2018, but this has been postponed until (at least) May 2019.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to autumn 2019, when services on the new line will be restricted to the Abbey Wood - Paddington (low level) section only. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
* Manchester (Castlefield Junction) to Newton-le-Willows (December 2013)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under Trams, above)<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury<br />
<br />
The Cardiff scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines. The government has also cancelled schemes for electrification to Windermere and north from Kettering on the Midland Main Line.<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government is funding significant electrification in the central lowlands, including Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) and Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014).<br />
<br />
There was a gradual introduction of electric trains on the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High from December 2017 until August 2018. The lines from Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston were available for electric traction from May 2018, but have seen only occasional use. Regular electrically-worked services are planned from December 2018, when electric services to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa are also due to commence.<br />
<br />
Work is also under way to electrify Holytown to Kirknewton via Shotts, and Falkirk to Grangemouth. The last is for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services from 2018, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=24359United Kingdom - General Information2018-09-20T10:57:09Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Temporary Closures: */ Watton at Stone date amended</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites.<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there is just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is produced in two versions: ''Comprehensive Rail Times for Great Britain'' (the same as Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable) and ''Abbreviated Rail Times for Great Britain'' (Principal Stations on Main Lines and Rural Routes - the same as is found in the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]). The comprehensive timetable is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
It is intended that the railways from Cardiff to Rhymney, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert will transfer from Network Rail to the Welsh Government in September 2019.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall will allow trams to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate. Testing was under way during summer 2018. Tram Trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of Supertram's network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network, although the route to Rotherham is being electrified to 750 V.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Old Oak Common and Greenford West Junction via Park Royal will close to passenger services from 10 December 2018, to facilitate HS2 construction work. The line is used by one train each way Mondays to Fridays (currently 10:57 South Ruislip to Paddington and 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe), which will be diverted via Drayton Green. '''The last trains run on Friday 7 December 2018.''' <br />
<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 (This route may gain a more frequent service, possibly from December 2018).<br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Ayr - Stranraer: The railway between Ayr and Stranraer closed at short notice during the evening of 27 August 2018, because of the dangerous condition of the former station hotel at Ayr. Disruption is expected to continue until mid-October.<br />
* Derby: Resignalling and remodelling in the Derby area results in the following closure until 7 October 2018: Derby - Belper - Ambergate - Matlock and Chesterfield (through trains diverted via Trent Junction and Erewash Valley line)<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage (Langley Junction): Although the stated aspiration is to increase the off-peak service between Hertford North and Stevenage, non-provision of a planned additional turn-back platform at Stevenage precludes this. Services north of Watton-at-Stone are expected instead to be replaced by bus from May 2019, in order to accommodate additional Thameslink services on the main line. It was reported that this would continue until at least 2021, but efforts are being made to reinstate the train service a year earlier. Until the service can be (re-)extended to Stevenage, the line is expected to see very few passenger trains or none at all, apart from engineering work diversions.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. Most routes were in use from 20 May 2018. Operational difficulties following introduction of the May 2018 timetable resulted in a supposedly short-term cut in the number of trains. In particular, the new connection from Belle Isle Junction is not used by passenger services at weekends. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. This may happen in December 2018, following resignalling at Wishaw.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to autumn 2019, when services on the new line will be restricted to the Abbey Wood - Paddington (low level) section only. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
* Manchester (Castlefield Junction) to Newton-le-Willows (December 2013)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under Trams, above)<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury<br />
<br />
The Cardiff scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines. The government has also cancelled schemes for electrification to Windermere and north from Kettering on the Midland Main Line.<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff to Ystrad Mynach, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. Light rail vehicles are to be used from Cardiff to Coryton and routes via Radyr. Tri-mode trains will be used from Rhymney to Penarth, Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan line, using battery power between Rhymney and Ystrad Mynach, and diesel south of Cardiff. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government is funding significant electrification in the central lowlands, including Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) and Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014).<br />
<br />
There was a gradual introduction of electric trains on the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High from December 2017 until August 2018. The lines from Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston were available for electric traction from May 2018, but have seen only occasional use. Regular electrically-worked services are planned from December 2018, when electric services to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa are also due to commence.<br />
<br />
Work is also under way to electrify Holytown to Kirknewton via Shotts, and Falkirk to Grangemouth. The last is for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services from 2018, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=24342France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2018-09-18T06:42:12Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Deletions from Other Sparse Services section */</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 />
Therefore for some entries this list does not represent the service for any specific timetable period and it is not planned to update these entries with each timetable change. 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. These entries are based on the timetable commencing 11 December 2016, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has some 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 this page) 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 this page being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [http://www.sncf.com/fr/prevision-trafic SNCF] website or through the [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==Engineering Diversions==<br />
The headings for routes which have a habit of re-appearing reasonably regularly for engineering diversions are retained but this is no guarantee that such diversions will be scheduled during any given timetable year. Where examples of usage are given to assist in identifying relevant trains, users should compare these with the timetable for the period in which they are interested - where the details are the same then it may be expected that the routing will be the same. ''Reports to bring entries up to date will be welcomed. If any reader can provide details from the train service databases the compilers will be very pleased to hear from them.''<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Details are not generally given below of spurs linking to ''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'' (LGVs) (except in the cases of a few little-used or particularly obscure spurs). An overall schematic of LGVs is available [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] while a more detailed plan identifying the lines used by ''Trains à Grande Vitesse'' (TGV) trains ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here]. More 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'' and it should be assumed that TGVs make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route. <br />
<br />
Where reference is made to TGV services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'', ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites).<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 [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER website]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''Fiches Horaires''. <br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 2016 the ''Régions'' (which date only from 1982) have been merged into ''super-Régions'', although the pre-2016 regional names continue to be used by SNCF - and herein. The ''super-Région'' names are shown in parentheses alongside the old in the lists below.<br />
<br />
There are no entries for the following Régions: Corse (Corse); Haute-Normandie (Normandie); Midi-Pyrénées (Occitanie)<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA" refer to the European Railway Atlas France & Benelux Regional Series 2016, by M.G.Ball. An additional map reference in italics for some entries refers to the Schweers+Wall ''Atlas Ferroviaire de la France Band 1 Nord'', dated 2015.<br />
<br />
SNCF Voyages' most recent on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Obscure services=<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Mulhouse===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69B1'') FR18/1<br />
<br />
Three possible routes exist for <I>TGVs</I> between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard <I>TGV</I> (or beyond) to traverse the Mulhouse area.<br />
<br />
*<b>(a) by means of the original main line via Mulhouse-Dornach, with reversal in Mulhouse Ville</b><br />
Trains with a stop of 9 minutes or more at Mulhouse and taking 46 minutes or less to/from Strasbourg are highly likely to take this route.<br />
<br />
*<b>(b) via the Contournement de Mulhouse and Raccordement de Wanne: Lutterbach (Haut-Rhin) (Bifurcation de Lutterbach) – Mulhouse (via Mulhouse Nord)</b><br />
<br />
This route enables these trains to avoid reversal at Mulhouse. It may be assumed that trains spending only 3-4 minutes at Mulhouse Ville run this way as they do not have time for a reversal. <b>The compilers would welcome confirmation (or contradiction) that the following trains take this route.</b><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9580<br />
| Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 16:15 Strasbourg - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6827 <br />
| Strasbourg - 18:31 Colmar - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6898/9 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 11:24 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9582 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 12:55 Mulhouse Ville - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf <br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| TGV9896 <br />
| Montpellier - 15:02 Mulhouse Ville - Luxembourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6874 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 18:04 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
*<b>(c) via Mulhouse-Dornach – Brunstatt</b><br />
<br />
This direct curve, to the west of Mulhouse, between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt, enables these trains to avoid Mulhouse altogether. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6839<br />
| 06:34 Strasbourg Ville - Montpellier Saint-Roch <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6827<br />
| 18:36 Strasbourg Ville - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6899<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 10:44 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6882/3<br />
| Montpellier Saint-Roch - 18:37 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Flüh [Switzerland] –) frontier – Leymen – frontier (– Rodersdorf [Switzerland])===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69C2'') FR2<br />
<br />
BLT operate through France - see [http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/en/welcome/ Swiss table] > 505 - over this route which is not linked to the French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Vendenheim –) Mundolsheim – Strasbourg via ligne 1 bis on the west side of Hausbergen Yard===<br />
(ERA 31A5, not shown; ''39B1-B2'') FR3<br />
<br />
Track 1 bis runs on the west side of the main lines, veering away at Mundolsheim station to run "behind" Hausbergen yard and coming back alongside the main lines at the south end of the yard, near the PRS / Poste 1. This line '''may''' be used by trains booked more than the usual 15/16/17 mins between Mommenheim and Strasbourg. At January 2018 it was reported as being used (and booked) by the following train:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX <br />
|''86383'' <br />
| Saarbrücken Hbf (Z) - 15:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
(Z): starts from Mommenheim 26 February to 6 April 2018 and from Diemeringen on dates in late Apr/ early May <br />
<br />
It '''may''' be used also by the following train. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SX <br />
|''830933'' <br />
| Sarreguemines - 19:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
In the opposite direction, track 2 bis runs on the east side of the yard, virtually parallel to the main lines. It seems most unlikely it would be used as there is no operational reason for this and it creates further conflictions at Vendenheim.<br />
<br />
<b>The compilers would welcome reports of actual use by the cited trains - or any others, in either direction.</b><br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
=== Raccordement de la Grave: St.Loubès (La Grave d'Ambarès Supérieure) – Ste.Eulalie-Carbon-Blanc (Bifurcation de la Grave)===<br />
(ERA 73A2) FR50<br />
<br />
An east <=> south curve linking the high level (Angoulême) and low level (Saintes) lines. In the past this curve was used by late evening trains southbound to Bordeaux and by early morning and late evening ones northbound from Bordeaux. This pattern probably still applies but details of individual trains are no longer available to the compilers.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de la Grave.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<!---<br />
From the 2011/2012 timetable the following trains, mainly in the early morning and late evening, were scheduled via this curve. '''It cannot be guaranteed that their current equivalents continue to do the same'''. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO <br />
|''5241'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 21:32 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FO <br />
|''8467''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Arcachon<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO<br />
|''8469''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 22:42 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FX<br />
|''8479''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8491''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 00:54 SO Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|''8549''<br />
|18:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8579''<br />
|19:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865023''<br />
|Coutras - 06:12 St Loubes - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865035''<br />
|Coutras - 05:45 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865319''<br />
|Périgeux - 21:36 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865609''<br />
|Bergerac - 06:11 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865727''<br />
|Sarlat/Bergerac - 21:52 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX <br />
|''8406''<br />
|05:00 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuO <br />
|''8408''<br />
|05:40 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''8590''<br />
|Hendaye - 21:13 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MO<br />
|''865030''<br />
|05:44 Bordeaux St Jean - Angoulême<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSO<br />
|''865300''<br />
|05:36 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865322''<br />
|21:52 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865540''<br />
|16:02 Bordeaux St Jean - Limoges Bénédictins <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FSuO<br />
|''865608''<br />
|21:45 Bordeaux St Jean - Bergerac<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865712''<br />
|05:54 Bordeaux St Jean - Sarlat/Bergerac<br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de St.Germain-des-Fossés: Vichy - Roanne===<br />
[fiche 06] (ERA 75A4) FR100<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve is used by through trains between Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand via Vichy when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at St.Germain-des-Fossés. ''It is now the north <=> east main line, from St.Germain-des-Fossés station towards Roanne, that has the less frequent service - see fiche 06.''<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Folligny: Bifurcation km 74,0 – Bifurcation km 74,9===<br />
[fiche Caen-St Lo-Coutances-Granville-Rennes] (ERA 69A4; ''26C2'') FR18/150<br />
<br />
This curve provides a direct connection between Coutances and Granville. It is used in July and August by seasonal through trains between Caen and Granville '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Folligny.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53423 <br />
| Caen - 12:22 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53431 <br />
| Caen - 16:29 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53416 <br />
| 08:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SuO <br />
|TER53444 <br />
| 19:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SO <br />
|TER53442 <br />
| 19:03 Granville - Caen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Granville’s annual carnival takes place every year during the five days that precede Shrove Tuesday. On Sunday 11 February 2018 a <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/loisirs/carnaval-granville-2018 special train]---> special train ran from Caen to Granville and back. It may do so in future years also.<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Saincaize (Nevers avoiding line): La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois – Saincaize===<br />
(ERA 75A5; ''69B2'') FR200 <br />
<br />
There are no regular services over this west <==> south curve <!--- since December 2009---> but it is used for diversions (as in August 2016) when the line north of Nevers is blocked.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Laroche-Migennes: Poste 5 (station south side) - Poste 4 (main line)===<br />
[fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-AUXERRE (TER directs et omnibus)] (ERA 71A2, not shown; ''50D4'') FR201<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Auxerre-St.Gervais and Dijon Ville, between Laroche-Migennes (station south side, voie K, where the trains reverse) and St.Florentin-Vergigny. The east end connection with the former PLM main line at Poste 4 is a grade-separated junction, with separate ''pair'' (up) and ''impair'' (down) ''raccordements''.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de Laroche Migennes.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Perrigny (Dijon): Bifurcation Raccordement Belfort - Perrigny Bifurcation km 318 Chagny lines===<br />
(ERA 71C1; ''66C4'') FR202<br />
<br />
A 2013 high level link south of Dijon between the Dole and Beaune lines, forming part of the non-''LGV'' link between ''LGVs Rhin-Rhône'' and ''Sud-Est''. It avoids conflicts with the ground level routes through the yards and is used by through TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond '''except''' those booked to avoid the Dijon area altogether and call at Lons-le-Saunier (''TGV6836/7'' and ''6874/5''). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Dijon.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Santenay-les-Bains (Chagny ex-Poste 4) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis and Raccordement Nevers===<br />
[fiche DIJON-AUTUN-ETANG-NEVERS] (ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR203<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Chagny. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Chagny (west side platforms) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis===<br />
(ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR18/204<br />
<br />
This route was used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when scheduled to call at Chagny, where they reversed in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). As at December 2017 there do not appear to be any trains booked to take this route.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Rully (Chagny (Poste 1)) – Chagny (west side platforms)===<br />
[fiche MONTCHANIN-CHALON] (ERA 75C5, not shown; ''78B2'', not shown) FR205<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Chalon sur Saône and the Montchanin branch, which call at Chagny in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
<br />
===Redon avoiding line: Severac – Avessac===<br />
[fiche FH04 Rennes Redon Nantes] (ERA 69A2; ''43A4'') FR250<br />
<br />
Used by those trains between Nantes and Rennes '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Redon, nor at Angers St. Laud.<br />
<br />
==Centre Région (Centre)==<br />
<br />
===Les Aubrais/Orléans Area===<br />
(ERA 70B2; ''48C4'') FR300<br />
<br />
The ‘classic’ main lines from Paris to Tours and Vierzon (- Bourges/Limoges) split at Les Aubrais, north of Orléans, bypassing the city centre to the north-west and east respectively. The original main line continues southwards from Les Aubrais to Orléans, which is a terminal station. There are direct curves from Orléans west to the Tours line and east to the Vierzon line. The majority of regional services use these curves whereas there is a much thinner service over the main lines from Les Aubrais avoiding Orléans station:<br />
* towards La Chapelle-St.Mesmin [fiche 2.1], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and the Tours line<br />
* towards St.Cyr-en-Val-La-Source [fiches 1.3, 1.4], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and Vierzon or beyond.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. <br />
<br />
[[File:Orleans.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (Poste 4) – Bifurcation de Tours [ – Monts (Indre-et-Loire)]===<br />
[fiche 2.5] (ERA 70A1, not shown; ''60D3'') FR301<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve from St. Pierre-de-Corps to the Poitiers main line is used by ''TGVs'' and ''Intercités'' running between St-Pierre-des-Corps and Bordeaux. Local trains normally run direct between Monts and Tours, although any exceptions which run via St-Pierre-des-Corps (and hence use this curve) would be shown on fiche 2.5.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Tours4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (poste 4) – Bifurcation Grammont [ – Saumur or Chateau-du-Loir]===<br />
[fiches 2.6 and 2.8] (ERA 70A1; 60D3) FR18/302<br />
<br />
This east <=> west connection bypassing Tours is used by trains running directly between St.Pierre-des-Corps and the Saumur and Château-du-Loir [- Le Mans] lines. Other trains for these lines run direct from or to Tours. Some trains run from or to Tours via St.Pierre-des-Corps, reversing there, but the fiche can be misleading for these trains, with Tours and St.Pierre-des-Corps appearing out of sequence chronologically. '''Travellers are therefore advised to check the timings carefully to establish the exact route of the train.'''<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER60152<br />
| 06:03 Saumur Rive Droite - St Pierre-des-Corps<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4402<br />
| Nantes - 07:48 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13020<br />
| Caen - 11:13 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER57210<br />
| Caen - 13:23 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13022<br />
| Caen - 15:05 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4406<br />
| Nantes - 15:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| FSSuX<br />
| TGV5314<br />
| Nantes - 16:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| IC13030<br />
| Tours - 09:17 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SuO<br />
| TER57238<br />
| Tours - 09:18 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| IC4504<br />
| Lyon-Perrache - 12:03 St Pierre-des-Corps - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Not 7 to 21 Sept, 24 to 28 Sept 2018<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map<br />
[[File:Tours5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Bourges avoiding line: Marmagne – St.Florent-sur-Cher===<br />
[fiche 4.1] (ERA 74C5; ''75B1'') FR303<br />
<br />
This west <=> south curve is used by trains between Vierzon and St.Florent-sur-Cher '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Bourges.<br />
<br />
===Bellébat turning circle (''Musée des Transports de Pithiviers'')===<br />
(ERA 70C2, not shown; ''49A2-A3'') FR304<br />
<br />
See [http://www.amtp-cfpithiviers.com/ their website]. Normally, trains arrive and depart by the long arc of the balloon loop at Bellébat. Exceptionally, the first train of the day arrives, and the last train of the day leaves, by the short arc here instead.<br />
<br />
==Champagne-Ardenne Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Trois Puits: Champagne-Ardenne TGV – Trois Puits [ – Reims]===<br />
[fiche C01 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières - Reims - Paris] (ERA 71B4; ''17A4-B4'') FR350<br />
<br />
This link with ''LGV Est'' is unusual in that through Paris <=> Reims TGVs (not calling at Champagne-Ardenne TGV) use it, as also do non-TGV shuttle trains (navettes) making connections at Champagne-Ardenne TGV - using bay platforms there.<br />
<br />
Note that the fiche 'C31 Navettes gare Champagne-Ardenne TGV' listed in the table seems not to exist.<br />
<br />
===<div id="CH_AL"></div>Raccordement direct de Chalindrey (Culmont-Chalindrey avoiding line): Andilly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Est) – Le Pailly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Sud)===<br />
(ERA 71C2; ''67B1'') FR18/351<br />
<br />
Used by those TGVs between Nancy and Dijon '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culmont-Chalindrey.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6824''<br />
| Nancy Ville - 14:28 Neufchâteau - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6868''<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 11:43 Dijon Ville - Nancy Ville <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Vouziers - Challerange===<br />
(ERA 71B5; ''18B3'') FR18/352 <br />
<br />
Used until 2017 by [http://cftsa.fr CFT du Sud des Ardennes] trains as an extension of their normal operations only during their ''Fête du Rail'' weekend - usually in mid-August. The line is owned by <i>SNCF Réseau</i> and, in view of the condition of the track, permission to operate has not been given for 2018. The line is <i>expected</i> to transfer to other (presumably local authority) ownership, when CFTSA hope to resume operations over the Attigny - Vouziers - Challerange section.<br />
<br />
==Franche-Comté Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV east curve===<br />
(ERA 72A1; ''67D4'') FR18/401<br />
<br />
Used by direct TGVs between Mulhouse and Besançon Viotte. Note that trains between Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station and Besançon Viotte use the west curve.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6837''<br />
| Strasbourg Ville - 12:32 Belfort-Montbéliard TGV - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6875''<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 17:01 Besançon-Viotte - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Île-de-France Région (including Paris) (Île-de-France)==<br />
<br />
The ''LGV Interconnexion'' runs through the country to the east of Paris and links ''LGVs Nord, Est, Sud-Est'' and (by a connection via the southern part of the ''Grande Ceinture'') ''Atlantique''; it is used by all TGVs between these routes. The <i>Petite Ceinture</i> which ran around central Paris is mostly closed, while the <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, which runs round the outer suburbs, is partly closed, partly freight-only and partly used for suburban services; it only carries regular passenger services transferring from one main line to another as shown below. <br />
<br />
===St.Denis – Pantin (Villette Poste 2) (via La Chapelle Poste 6)===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR450<br />
<br />
This is a combination of the links between the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines via Evangile signalbox. It is used only by the '''weekday''' Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL (or elsewhere) ''VSOE'' trains as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Garges-Sarcelles (Bifurcation Pierrefitte Sud) – Noisy le Sec===<br />
(ERA 66A4-A3; ''31B:A1-A2'') FR451<br />
<br />
This is a section of the ''Grande Ceinture'' circular freight route round Paris, linking the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines. It is used only by the ''VSOE'' train between Paris Est and Calais Ville '''on Sunday mornings''', instead of route FR450. Visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lieusaint: Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Crisenoy) – Combs-la-Ville-Quincy===<br />
(ERA 66B1; ''31C4-D4'') FR452<br />
<br />
This is the former northern end of the ''LGV Sud-Est'', now little used (a few trains are routed this way for engineering works or pathing purposes) as most TGVs to and from Paris Gare-de-Lyon run via Triangle de Coubert (Bifurcation Sud – Bifurcation Ouest), joining the main line from Gare-de-Lyon at Bifurcation de Creteil, north of Villeneuve Triage.<br />
<br />
===Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy ''or'' Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Valenton) – Les Saules===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR453<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV-Interconnexion'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud-Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Les Saules.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Massy TGV – Chemin d'Antony (Bifurcation km 23,4)===<br />
(ERA 65C2; ''31A:D4'') FR454<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV Atlantique'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Massy-Palaiseau.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Paris-Bercy-Bourgogne-Pays d'Auvergne===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR455<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Gare-de-Lyon, being located behind carriage sidings outside the station. Relatively little use used to be made of the facility but there are now various regular services [e.g. Bourgogne fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-SENS-PARIS (TER directs)]. Trains also use the goods lines (M1 and M2) to access the station.<br />
<br />
===Paris Gare de Lyon Banlieue – Villeneuve St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 66A3-A2; ''31B:A2-B4'') FR456<br />
<br />
Between the throat of Gare de Lyon and Villeneuve St.Georges there are three sets of tracks - not always following exactly the same alignment - in passenger use: ''1.'' fast lines (1 and 2); ''2.'' suburban or slow lines (1bis and 2bis), and ''3.'' erstwhile goods lines (1M and 2M). The M tracks - which have platforms at most stations - have been observed being used by passenger stock but no definitive information of regular loaded workings is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Villeneuve St.Georges – Vigneux sur Seine===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR457<br />
<br />
Between Villeneuve St.Georges and Vigneux sur Seine there are three pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1B and 2B; ''2.'' 1C and 2C, and ''3.'' 1M and 2M. The B tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST--->. No definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Vigneux sur Seine – Juvisy===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:A4'') FR458<br />
<br />
Between Vigneux sur Seine and Juvisy there are two pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1C and 2C, and ''2.'' 1M and 2M. The northbound track 1M crosses over the Orléans main lines and back again by two bridges north of Juvisy. The C tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST---> and have been observed being used by other passenger stock but no definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Juvisy (PLM-side) – Athis-Mons (via TER tracks)===<br />
(ERA 66A2, not shown; ''31B:A4'', not fully shown) FR459<br />
<br />
Through RER line C trains use Orléans-side platforms (Quais F, G and H). Juvisy RER line C turn-back trains generally use PLM-side platforms (Quai C), reached by tracks 1 TER (inbound - train codes ''JILL'' and ''JADE'') and 2 TER (outbound via overbridge). Together, these save such trains having to make the flat crossing movement which would be necessary if Quai E were used.<br />
<br />
===Dourdan-la-Forêt===<br />
(ERA 65B1, not shown; ''31A4'') FR460<br />
<br />
Dourdan-la-Forêt is a dead-ended single platform on a track parallel to the Vendôme line, used by those RER line C4 trains so advertised. No service mid July to late August.<br />
<br />
===Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard===<br />
(ERA 65C3; ''31B:A2'') FR461<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Montparnasse and comprises additional platforms adjacent to the main running lines about 0.5km from the main station, for those trains so advertised (including - from 10 December 2017 - ''Ouigo'' services with Rennes and Nantes).<br />
<br />
===Versailles Chantiers – St.Cyr l'École===<br />
(ERA 65B3, not shown; ''31A:C3-B3'') FR462<br />
<br />
Main line trains from Paris Montparnasse to Plaisir Grignon or beyond (including Granville line trains) do not use the main lines between Versailles and St.Cyr but a separate alignment (tracks M1/M2 - formerly freight) via Versailles-Matelots, to the north. The east end access to this route - at the west end of Versaille Chantiers - is for westbound trains to use the diveunder, from platforms G, H or J, and for eastbound trains to use the curve on the north side to the RER line C (B1/B2) tracks (rather than the diveunder); there are, however, exceptions to both these general practices.<br />
<br />
No trains have been identified as using the flat junction (Bifurcation de Granville), just west of St.Cyr station, to gain access to the Granville line.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Versailles.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Épluches (Bifurcation d'Épluches) – St.Ouen-l'Aumone-Liesse (Bifurcation de Liesse (Nord))===<br />
(ERA 65C5; ''31A1'') FR18/463<br />
<br />
Some TER line H trains between Paris Nord and Persan Beaumont (usually for Beauvais or beyond) with a non-stop journey time of 35 or more minutes (instead of the normal 27-30 mins) use this route to avoid a conflicting movement on the route via Montsoult-Maffliers.<br />
<br />
Each summer in recent years a single SSuO round trip between Paris Nord and Auvers-sur-Oise has operated via this route, advertised locally<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20601<br />
| 09:38 Paris Nord - Auvers sur Oise (arr 10:22)<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20606<br />
| 18:32 Auvers sur Oise - Paris Nord (arr 19:05)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 7 Jul to 14 Oct 2018; also 15 Aug, '''not''' 1 to 23 Sep, 6, 7 Oct<br />
<br />
Note that because of engineering works, revised arrangements (which may not involve the use of this route) may apply on some dates.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Bezons ''and'' Raccordement de la Folie: Houilles Carrières sur Seine (Bifurcation de Bezons) – Puteaux (Bifurcation de Puteaux)===<br />
(ERA 65C4-C3; ''31A:D2'') FR464<br />
<br />
This west <=> south connection is an alternative to the Mantes la-Jolie - Plaisir Grignon - Versailles line during engineering work.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Piquettes: Mantes la-Jolie – Rosny-sur-Seine===<br />
(ERA 65A4, not shown; ''30B2'') FR465<br />
<br />
This curve connects the south side of Mantes-la-Jolie station (Rouen platforms) and the Le Havre line. It may be used if a train from Paris to the Le Havre line needs to be overtaken by a fast service from Paris to the Rouen line, though this may be necessary only if the ‘slow line’ Rouen platforms are occupied by terminating trains. Any train to the Rouen line calling at platforms F to H must use the Raccordement. The following train has been observed using this route and appears to be booked to use platform H.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| 850003<br />
| Paris St. Lazare - 06:44 Mantes la-Jolie - Rouen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would welcome further observations on use of this curve.'''<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mantes-le-Jolie.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Provins - Villiers-St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 71A5; ''32:C4'') FR18/466<br />
<br />
[http://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] has resumed occasional excursions over this 15 km section of SNCF freight line. Trains are advertised 23 - 29 July 2018 (''festival du patrimoine de Seine et Marne'') and 27 October (''train de la Citrouille'').<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Narbonne: Lézignan (Bifurcation Raccordement Nord) – Port La Nouvelle (Bifurcation Sud)===<br />
(ERA 78C3) FR18/500<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Narbonne is used by two dated train pairs.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| AVE/TGV9726<br />
| Barcelona Sants - 19:56 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3730<br />
| Cerbère - 18:54/19:03/19:29 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau [- Paris Austerlitz]<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3731<br />
| [Paris Austerlitz -] Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:05/08:07 Lézignan - Port Bou<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9729<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:59 Carcassonne - Barcelona Sants<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 27 June - 25 September 2018<br />
<br />
D*: the dates of running are too complex to list<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
(ERA 75C2-79C4) - see FR801<br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
===Novéant – Onville===<br />
[fiches L28 and L30] (ERA 72A4; ''36A1'') FR550<br />
<br />
This section of the former Paris - Metz main line has a service of trains direct between Metz and Onville, some continuing to Bar le Duc (fiche L28) and others to Conflans-Jarny and either Verdun or Longwy (fiche L30).<br />
<br />
===<div id="BOUZ"></div>Bouzonville – Niedaltdorf (Germany)===<br />
(ERA 72A5-B5; ''20B3-C2'') FR18/551<br />
<br />
This line has no regular service but a special shuttle service has operated from Dillingen in conjunction with the Good Friday market at Bouzonville - see Germany route [[Germany_(Saarland)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#NIEDBOUZ|Niedaltdorf – Bouzonville (France)]]. However, freight traffic ceased in 2013 on this line, of which the German section is reportedly to be sold or closed completely. The 2018 service, which was similar to that in previous years, ran on 30 March every two hours from 09:10 to 17:10 from Dillingen (Saar) and 10:15 to 16:15, then 17:45 from Bouzonville.<br />
<br />
===Sarrebourg avoiding line: Sarraltroff – Réding===<br />
[fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section] (ERA 72B4; 55B3) FR552<br />
<br />
This is used by 'classic' trains between Metz and Strasbourg '''''not''''' calling at Sarrebourg. Non-stop TGVs run via the ''LGV Est''; see FR553.<br />
<br />
For the other two sides of the triangle:<br />
* [Berthelming -] Sarraltroff - Sarrebourg: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section<br />
* Sarrebourg - Réding: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Nancy section<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lucy: Rémilly (Bif. km 124,255) - Lesse (Bif. km 306)===<br />
(ERA 72A4; ''36C2'') FR553<br />
<br />
This north west <=> south east connection, south east of Rémilly, is used by TGVs between Luxembourg, Metz and Strasbourg transferring between the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line and the section of ''LGV Est'' east of here. <br />
<br />
<i>Raccordement de Lucy is the opposite angle from the curve which allows through running between Paris and the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line east of here, which formed the eastern exit from ''LGV Est'' until 2016 but which is now used only if ''LGV Est'' east of here is blocked.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. Pending redrawing of the map, note that the eastern and western junctions on LGV Est are both grade-separated (flyovers).<br />
[[File:LGVEst2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Woippy – Maizières-lès-Metz (via Woippy-Triage (west side))===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4, not shown; ''20A3'') FR554<br />
<br />
Some local passenger trains are scheduled to use this route (voies 1B/2B) for pathing purposes; the actual routing is therefore particularly susceptible to the timekeeping not only of the train itself but of those around it. Likely trains can usually be distinguished in the timetable by being allowed longer between Metz Ville and Hagondange. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Uckange: Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) – Hayange (Bif. de Florange)===<br />
[CFL website plus fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 63C2, ''20A3'') FR554A<br />
<br />
This line avoiding Thionville enables trains to run direct between Metz and Longuyon.<br />
<br />
The line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg was completely closed from 10 to 18 February 2018 and two pairs of Monday to Friday rush hour trains between Luxembourg and Metz were diverted via Rodange, Longuyon and Uckange, non-stop to/from Uckange. These diversions are likely to be repeated during a long blockade in July-August 2018.<br />
<br />
<!--- THE FOLLOWING DETAILS HAVE BEEN LEFT COMMENTED OUT SO THAT THEY CAN BE RESURRECTED FOR JULY/AUGUST<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86772<br />
| Metz - 05:47 Uckange - Luxembourg 07:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86710<br />
| Metz - 06:51 Uckange - Luxembourg 08:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86532<br />
| 16:29 Luxembourg - Metz 18:27<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86534<br />
| 17:29 Luxembourg - Metz 19:29<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 12 - 16 February 2018<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Contournement de Metz: Metz Ville – Woippy===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4; ''20A4'') FR555<br />
<br />
The original Metz - Thionville line provides an alternative route to the west of the current main line of 1908. Trains using this line arrive and depart at the south end of Metz Ville station, instead of the north. Non-stop trains booked 17 or more minutes between Metz and Hagondange, or 22 or more minutes between Metz and Thionville, might be expected to run this route as it is 4.5km longer than the main line. The following train was observed in April 2018 taking this route:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX<br />
|''837682'' <br />
| 14:09 Metz Ville - Thionville, <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Esch sur Alzette [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Audun-le-Tiche===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19C2'') FR556<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60c'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Dudelange-Usines [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Volmerange-les-Mines===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19D2'') FR557<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60A'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===<span id="MD"></span>(Lasauvage Carreau [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Saulnes===<br />
(ERA 72A5, not shown; ''19C2'') FR558<br />
<br />
[http://minieresbunn.lu/index.php/fr Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] operates a 700mm gauge preserved mining line into France.<br />
<br />
==Nord Pas-de-Calais Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<u>'''Note on Dates:'''</u> A number of curves in this region have been used by <I> TER Mer</I> summer "dated" weekend services to the coast. As the timetable information for these services is not published until the start of the summer, it is not known at the time of the December timetable change. If shown, these entries will therefore carry the previous year ("FRyy") and contain the previous summer's information until updated with the information for the current summer. From summer 2017 the programme was marketed as "éTER en Hauts-de-France" <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/nord-pas-de-calais/loisirs/bons-plans/eter "éTER en Hauts-de-France"], with the timings of Saturday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20samedi_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131848.pdf here] and Sunday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20dimanche_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131849.pdf here]--->.<br />
<br />
===Calais Fréthun (Bifurcation de Riviere Neuve) – Pont de Coulogne (Bifurcation de Coulogne)===<br />
[fiche 12] (ERA 67B4; ''1B1'') FR18/651<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Calais Ville is used in summer 2018 by "dated" weekend Lille Flandres/Arras <==> Boulogne/Rang-du-Fliers-Verton trains shown non-stop between Hazebrouck and Wimille-Wimereux. <!---See [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/TER%20MER-BD_tcm64-18176_tcm64-53229.pdf SNCF TER]. ---> Note that this route is '''''not''''' used by TGVs to/from Boulogne, which reverse at Calais Fréthun using a connection off the LGV line. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Calais.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO<br />
|''846909'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 08:01 Hazebrouck - Rang-du-Fliers-Verton<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846919'' <br />
|09:25 Lille Flandres - Boulogne Ville<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846962'' <br />
|Boulogne Ville - 17:10 Wimille-Wimereux - Arras<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846935'' <br />
|Rang du Fliers - 17:48 Wimille-Wimereux - Lille Flandres <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018.<br />
<br />
===Lambersart (Bifurcation de St.André) [A] ''or ''Lompret (Bifurcation de 4 Maisons) [B] – Santes (Bifurcation de la Tortue) [C] ''or ''Haubourdin (Bifurcation de Haubourdin) [D] (via Sequedin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1-A1'') FR18/652<br />
<br />
This freight line to the west of Lille, the middle section of which passes Lille Dèlivrance Triage and Sequedin, has triangular junctions at each end (hence the title given above). Route [B] <=> [D] 1s used by a summer "dated" weekend Dunkerque train. See [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20samedis%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198636.pdf L’ÉTER] (Saturdays) and [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20dimanche%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198635.pdf L’ÉTER] (Sundays).<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_Delivrance.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
Note that train 846924 Jeumont - Dunkerque does '''''not''''' take this route.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT1"></div>Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Raccordement de Ronchin – Lille Porte de Douai (Bifurcation de la Justice)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR18/653<br />
<br />
This freight line on the south side of Lille avoids the main station area. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT2|Bif. de Lesquin – Lille Poste 2 connection]] between Bif. de Lesquin and Bif. du Mont de Terre. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926/27'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018. <br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Ronchin (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR17/654<br />
<br />
No use in 2018. This freight line links the lines which diverge at the throat of Lille Flandres station. It was used by a summer 2017 "dated" weekend Dunkerque train, which ran on normal passenger lines via Béthune in 2016 and in 2018 on 4 August 2018 ran via FR17/652 and 653. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
<br />
[[File:Lille_4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Lille-Flandres Point Z – Lille-Europe AS===<br />
(ERA 64A3, not shown; ''3B1'') FR18/655<br />
<br />
This freight line links the Lille-Flandres - Tourcoing line with the ''LGV Nord'' via the Raccordement de Becquerel, which descends alongside the ''Remisage de Lille Fives'' TGV Depot. It is common with the previous entry between Jonctions du Lion d'Or and Lille-Flandres Point Z. It is used by ''Ouigo'' TGVs between Tourcoing and Marseille, Nantes and Rennes: visit the [http://www.ouigo.com/train-pour-tourcoing ''Ouigo''] website for details of services to/from Tourcoing. Part of the route is also used by TGV services from Lille Flandres to Paris and other destinations via L'Aeroport Charles de Gaulle.<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
THESE SERVICES ARE NOW OUT OF DATE <br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SuX<br />
| TGV7633<br />
| 08:29 Tourcoing - Nantes<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7613<br />
| 11:29 Tourcoing - Rennes <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7603<br />
| 19:47 Tourcoing - Lyon Part Dieu <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7600<br />
| Lyon Perrache - 09:52 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7630<br />
| Nantes - 17:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SX<br />
| TGV7610<br />
| Rennes - 21:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT2"></div>Lille Flandres (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; 3B1) FR17/656<br />
<br />
No use in 2018 as on 4 August 2018 the previous years TER MER train ex Dunkerque ran via FR17/652 and 653. This freight line on the south side of Lille links the Bethune line tracks from Lille Flandres station and the Lille Avoiding Line with the Valenciennes line. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT1|Bif. de Lesquin – Bif. de la Justice connection]] between Bif. du Mont de Terre and Bif. de Lesquin.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Avion: Pont de Sallaumines (Bifurcation de Sallaumines Ouest) – Avion (Bifurcation d'Avion)===<br />
(ERA 64B2; ''7A1'') FR657<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Arras - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Sallaumines: Sallaumines (Bifurcation d'Epinette) – Coron de Méricourt (Bifurcation du Sallaumines)===<br />
(ERA 64B3; ''7A1'') FR658<br />
<br />
This north <=> east curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Lille - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_ARN"></div>Arras Raccordement Nord: Arras (Bifurcation 199,6km) – Lille (Bifurcation 161,94km)===<br />
(ERA 64C3; ''7A1'') FR659<br />
<br />
This west <=> north spur, linking Arras station with the ''LGV Nord-Europe'' to the north, is used by trains running non-stop between Arras and Lille (whether -Flandres or -Europe stations) in less than 25 minutes; trains taking 33 minutes or more use the 'classic' line via Douai. <br />
<br />
In addition to long distance <I>TGVs</I>, the spur is used also by:<br />
<br />
• two <I>TERGV</I> commuter trains [fiche Ligne 01 Amiens Arras Lille] each way between Arras and Lille-Europe<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#PR_AAL|Amiens avoiding line]]<br />
<br />
===Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 64C4; ''7C1'') FR18/660<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''843408'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 18:04 Somain - Cambrai<br />
|} <br />
<br />
It was also used by additional services to Lille Braderie [Special Market] on 1/2 September 2018 and in the past by summer dated weekend TER Mer Busigny <==> Cambrai <==> Calais Ville trains. However according to Cambrai Ville station staff the 2018 TER Mer's would run non-stop on the normal passenger route to Douai so '''prospective travellers in future years should make local enquiries.'''<br />
<br />
===Aulnoye-Aymeries avoiding line: Berlaimont (Bifurcation de Berlaimont) – Leval (Bifurcation de Leval Est)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 68A1; ''8B2'') FR661<br />
<br />
This line, which passes to the south of Aulnoye-Aymeries station, is used by two Monday to Friday Hirson <==> Lille round trips '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Aulnoye-Aymeries. <br />
<br />
It was also used by ''summer dated'' services in summer 2017:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846926 <br />
| Hirson - 08:00 Avesnes - Dunkerque <br />
|-<br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846952 <br />
| Dunkerque - 21:01 Valenciennes - Hirson <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
==Pays-de-la-Loire Région (Pays-de-la-Loire)==<br />
<br />
===Sablé-sur-Sarthe Triangle===<br />
[fiche Ligne 28] (ERA 69C2; ''45C4'') FR680<br />
<br />
This triangular junction provides a link southwards from the ''LGV BPL'' to the 'classic' Le Mans - Angers [ - Nantes] line at Sablé-sur-Sarthe.<br />
<br />
*The east <=> south curve ('''Raccordement de Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables ''TGVs'' to run between Paris and Angers [ - Nantes]. This curve is used by all such trains which do '''not''' call at Le Mans. However, it appears that the majority of TGVs which call at Le Mans use the ‘classic’ line between Le Mans and Angers. The following train has been identified as running via the Raccordement as it overtakes a preceding TER en route to Angers: <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
| FX <br />
|''TGV 5228'' <br />
| Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle TGV - 17:02 Le Mans - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would greatly appreciate reports of any other TGVs taking this route between Le Mans and Angers.'''<br />
*The west <=> south curve ('''Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables TER trains to run direct between [Rennes - ] Laval and Angers [ - Nantes].<br />
<br />
==Picardie Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<br />
===<div id="PR_AAL"></div>Amiens avoiding line: Boves (Bifurcation de Longueau Sud) – Lamotte Brebière (Bifurcation de Camon)===<br />
(ERA 67C1 ; ''6B4-C4'') FR700<br />
<br />
This curve is used by:<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#NPC_ARN|Arras Raccordement Nord]]<br />
<br />
• the [London Victoria <==>] Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL ''VSOE'' train as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
<br />
===Barreau de Jussy (Mennessis avoiding line): Jussy (Bifurcation de Flavy-le-Martel) – Montescourt (Bifurcation Jussy)===<br />
[fiche Ligne 25 Amiens - Tergnier Laon / St-Quentin] (ERA 71A5; ''16B1'') FR701<br />
<br />
This curve connects the Chaulnes - Tergnier and St.Quentin - Tergnier lines north of Mennessis. Trains between Amiens and St.Quentin '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Tergnier use this line.<br />
<br />
===Ormoy-Villers – Bifurcation Ageux – (a) Longueil-Ste.Marie ''or'' (b) Le-Meux-Croix-St.Ouen (Bifurcation Rivecourt)===<br />
[fiches Ligne 20 Laon Crépy-en-Valois Paris and Ligne 24 St-Quentin Tergnier Compiègne Paris] (ERA 70C4-C5; ''15D4-D3'') FR702<br />
<br />
This electrified line connects the Paris Nord - Laon and Creil - St.Quentin lines, with a triangular junction at the north end. It is used only when the following diversions are advertised:<br />
*(a) between Paris and Laon (with reversal at Ormoy-Villers) where extended journey times and bus substitution south of Ormoy-Villers apply [fiche Ligne 20] <br />
*(b) between Paris and Compiègne or beyond when shown ''non-stop'' with a journey time of circa 51+ minutes ''(instead of the normal 40 minutes)'' [fiche Ligne 24].<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charente Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Juillé and Raccordement Villognon (north of Angoulême)===<br />
(ERA 73C3, not shown correctly - see [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A9ma_de_la_LGV_Sud_Europe_Atlantique this schematic plan instead]) FR725<br />
<br />
These two links north of Angoulême between ''LGV SEA'' and the 'classic' line are about 7.25km apart but function as a single grade separated junction. The more northerly raccordement (Juillé) is normally used by northbound TGVs serving Angoulême and the more southerly (Villognon) by southbound TGVs. These came into service 2 July 2017.<br />
<br />
==Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur [PACA] Région (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Grand Sud: Avignon TGV (Bifurcation Km 624,0/624,2) – Manduel-Redessan (Suze SEI71 (Bifurcation Km 5,2))===<br />
(ERA 79C4) FR18/750<br />
<br />
The third side of the Triangle des Angles, west of Avignon TGV station, is used only by direct TGVs/AVEs between Marseille and Nîmes or beyond.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9731<br />
| Marseille St Charles - 08:43 Avignon TGV - Madrid Puerta de Atocha <br />
|-<br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9724<br />
| Madrid Puerta de Atocha - 20:25 Nîmes - Marseille St Charles <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===L'Estaque – Marseille St.Charles===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B3-B2) FR751<br />
<br />
Trains between Marseille St. Charles and L'Estaque [- Miramas] calling at Arenc-Euroméditerranée use this route; the trains may use lines on either side of Marseille Maritime Arenc yard (north of Arenc-Euroméditerranée station) which are reversible. All other trains between Marseille and L'Estaque or beyond use the main line.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement des Chartreux: St.Berthelmy – Marseille Blancarde===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B2) FR18/752<br />
<br />
This curve bypassing Marseille St. Charles to the north is used by TGVs to/from Toulon and beyond '''''not''''' calling at Marseille St.Charles, and by the following local services:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881702 <br />
| Les Arcs Draguignan - 08:07 Marseille-Blancarde - Miramas<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881707<br />
| Miramas - 17:07 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881709<br />
| Miramas - 18:12 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Rhône-Alpes Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
''[the southern portion of this line is in Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)]''<br />
<br />
[fiche 05] (ERA 75C2-79C4) FR17/800<br />
<br />
This line runs parallel with the Lyon to Montpellier main line between Givors and Nîmes, though mostly on the opposite bank of the River Rhône, principally as a freight and diversionary route. There are intermediate links between the two routes at St.Rambert d'Albon, Livron and Avignon Centre, and few passenger trains run the full length of the West Bank line. The line is used fairly regularly by passenger trains diverted for engineering work. Certain diverted trains can be identified when they are advertised to call at St.Péray or Le Teil (such calls may appear in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes fiche 05). These stations are on the West Bank line, and are retained so that passengers may board or alight from diverted trains near Valence and Montélimar, respectively.<br />
<br />
For such diversions, readers should check for themselves by means of the [http://www.ter.sncf.com/rhone-alpes/depliant/recherche TER Rhône-Alpes website], fiche 05 and its associated engineering work notices. <br />
<br />
The following sections of route are used from time to time.<br />
*'''(a) Givors Canal – St.Rambert d'Albon'''<br />
Look for extended running times and omitted Vienne stops but no St.Péray stops.<br />
<br />
*'''(b) Givors Canal – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for omitted Vienne and Tain l'Hermitage stops but still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(c) Givors Canal – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but '''''not''''' calling at Vienne or Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(d) Givors Canal – Avignon Centre'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but omitted Vienne stops and still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(e) Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops and omitted Vienne stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(f) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops and still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(g) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but still calling at Vienne<br />
<br />
*'''(h) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(i) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(j) Livron – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops<br />
<br />
*'''(k) Livron – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(l) Avignon Centre – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for trains which normally call at Tarascon but where those stops are omitted - see [https://www.ter.sncf.com/paca/depliant/recherche Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur] fiche 11 bis<br />
<br />
===Ambérieu avoiding line: Ambronay-Priay – Torcieu===<br />
(ERA 75C3) FR801<br />
<br />
Used by TGVs between Bourg-en-Bresse and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Ambérieu.<br />
<br />
===Culoz avoiding line: Seyssel-Corbonod – Vions-Chanaz (Bifurcation de Chambéry===<br />
[fiche 51] (ERA 76A3) FR802<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Bellegarde and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culoz.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Valence TGV - Sillon Alpin Sud: east - south connection at Valence TGV===<br />
(ERA 75C1) FR18/803<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve between the Grenoble - Valence line and ''LGV Méditerranée'' - via Valence TGV platform 5 - is used by TGVs running between Grenoble and points south on the ''LGV Méditerranée''. One train each way between Marseille St. Charles and Annecy ran at weekends in July and August 2016. Details for 2018 were not available at December 2017. <i>It is the opposite angle from the grade-separated Raccordement de Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence which allows through running between Valence and points north via LGV Sud Est.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File: Raccordement du Sillon Alpin.jpg|50px|thumb|none]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
=== Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian===<br />
(ERA 32B3) FR18/804<br />
<br />
This curve is used by trains travelling between Grenoble and Modane which are not required to call at Montmélian.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9247<br />
| Paris Gare de Lyon - 09:41 Grenoble - Milano Porta Garibaldi <br />
|}<br />
D1 15 July to 9 September except 12-14 August<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 />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]]</b><br />
<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche A 08*<br />
| Saales - St.Dié-des-Vosges <br />
| *(fiche Strasbourg Saales St.Dié Epinal). Better service at weekends. ''Service should be restored to more normal level by 2021 on completion of relaying and other work.''<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine) ==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 33<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Hendaye – Irún (Spain) <br />
| There have been no '''standard gauge''' services from Hendaye to Irún since December 2017. The only cross-border services are broad gauge trains: 310 and 313 (Hotel trains from/to Lisboa Santa Apolonia) and IC 280 '''from''' A Coruña .<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 66, 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Summer service plus winter weekends (except 11 January - 29 March 2018)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 09<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant <br />
| Better service at weekends. <b>However, line will be closed from 21 October 2017 until December 2018 for relaying work.</b><br />
|-<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only (note ** = fiche is at TER Bretagne website, but "hidden" under Loisirs et Tourisme > Lignes touristiques$$ > Tire Bouchon <i>(= Corkscrew)</i> and the current version is not usually available until the summer<br />
<br />
$$ accessed by clicking on the 'Les trains touristiques' tab!)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 31, 32<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
==Limousin Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charentes Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Bressuire - Chantonnay<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions from Other Sparse Services section==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne Région <br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| Bus since June 2018 on account of track washout<br />
|-<br />
| Lorraine Région <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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=24341France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2018-09-18T06:40:44Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Deletions from Other Sparse Services section */ Morlaix - Roscoff now bus</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 />
Therefore for some entries this list does not represent the service for any specific timetable period and it is not planned to update these entries with each timetable change. 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. These entries are based on the timetable commencing 11 December 2016, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has some 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 this page) 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 this page being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [http://www.sncf.com/fr/prevision-trafic SNCF] website or through the [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==Engineering Diversions==<br />
The headings for routes which have a habit of re-appearing reasonably regularly for engineering diversions are retained but this is no guarantee that such diversions will be scheduled during any given timetable year. Where examples of usage are given to assist in identifying relevant trains, users should compare these with the timetable for the period in which they are interested - where the details are the same then it may be expected that the routing will be the same. ''Reports to bring entries up to date will be welcomed. If any reader can provide details from the train service databases the compilers will be very pleased to hear from them.''<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Details are not generally given below of spurs linking to ''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'' (LGVs) (except in the cases of a few little-used or particularly obscure spurs). An overall schematic of LGVs is available [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] while a more detailed plan identifying the lines used by ''Trains à Grande Vitesse'' (TGV) trains ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here]. More 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'' and it should be assumed that TGVs make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route. <br />
<br />
Where reference is made to TGV services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'', ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites).<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 [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER website]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''Fiches Horaires''. <br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 2016 the ''Régions'' (which date only from 1982) have been merged into ''super-Régions'', although the pre-2016 regional names continue to be used by SNCF - and herein. The ''super-Région'' names are shown in parentheses alongside the old in the lists below.<br />
<br />
There are no entries for the following Régions: Corse (Corse); Haute-Normandie (Normandie); Midi-Pyrénées (Occitanie)<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA" refer to the European Railway Atlas France & Benelux Regional Series 2016, by M.G.Ball. An additional map reference in italics for some entries refers to the Schweers+Wall ''Atlas Ferroviaire de la France Band 1 Nord'', dated 2015.<br />
<br />
SNCF Voyages' most recent on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Obscure services=<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Mulhouse===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69B1'') FR18/1<br />
<br />
Three possible routes exist for <I>TGVs</I> between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard <I>TGV</I> (or beyond) to traverse the Mulhouse area.<br />
<br />
*<b>(a) by means of the original main line via Mulhouse-Dornach, with reversal in Mulhouse Ville</b><br />
Trains with a stop of 9 minutes or more at Mulhouse and taking 46 minutes or less to/from Strasbourg are highly likely to take this route.<br />
<br />
*<b>(b) via the Contournement de Mulhouse and Raccordement de Wanne: Lutterbach (Haut-Rhin) (Bifurcation de Lutterbach) – Mulhouse (via Mulhouse Nord)</b><br />
<br />
This route enables these trains to avoid reversal at Mulhouse. It may be assumed that trains spending only 3-4 minutes at Mulhouse Ville run this way as they do not have time for a reversal. <b>The compilers would welcome confirmation (or contradiction) that the following trains take this route.</b><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9580<br />
| Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 16:15 Strasbourg - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6827 <br />
| Strasbourg - 18:31 Colmar - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6898/9 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 11:24 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9582 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 12:55 Mulhouse Ville - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf <br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| TGV9896 <br />
| Montpellier - 15:02 Mulhouse Ville - Luxembourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6874 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 18:04 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
*<b>(c) via Mulhouse-Dornach – Brunstatt</b><br />
<br />
This direct curve, to the west of Mulhouse, between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt, enables these trains to avoid Mulhouse altogether. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6839<br />
| 06:34 Strasbourg Ville - Montpellier Saint-Roch <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6827<br />
| 18:36 Strasbourg Ville - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6899<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 10:44 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6882/3<br />
| Montpellier Saint-Roch - 18:37 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Flüh [Switzerland] –) frontier – Leymen – frontier (– Rodersdorf [Switzerland])===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69C2'') FR2<br />
<br />
BLT operate through France - see [http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/en/welcome/ Swiss table] > 505 - over this route which is not linked to the French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Vendenheim –) Mundolsheim – Strasbourg via ligne 1 bis on the west side of Hausbergen Yard===<br />
(ERA 31A5, not shown; ''39B1-B2'') FR3<br />
<br />
Track 1 bis runs on the west side of the main lines, veering away at Mundolsheim station to run "behind" Hausbergen yard and coming back alongside the main lines at the south end of the yard, near the PRS / Poste 1. This line '''may''' be used by trains booked more than the usual 15/16/17 mins between Mommenheim and Strasbourg. At January 2018 it was reported as being used (and booked) by the following train:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX <br />
|''86383'' <br />
| Saarbrücken Hbf (Z) - 15:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
(Z): starts from Mommenheim 26 February to 6 April 2018 and from Diemeringen on dates in late Apr/ early May <br />
<br />
It '''may''' be used also by the following train. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SX <br />
|''830933'' <br />
| Sarreguemines - 19:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
In the opposite direction, track 2 bis runs on the east side of the yard, virtually parallel to the main lines. It seems most unlikely it would be used as there is no operational reason for this and it creates further conflictions at Vendenheim.<br />
<br />
<b>The compilers would welcome reports of actual use by the cited trains - or any others, in either direction.</b><br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
=== Raccordement de la Grave: St.Loubès (La Grave d'Ambarès Supérieure) – Ste.Eulalie-Carbon-Blanc (Bifurcation de la Grave)===<br />
(ERA 73A2) FR50<br />
<br />
An east <=> south curve linking the high level (Angoulême) and low level (Saintes) lines. In the past this curve was used by late evening trains southbound to Bordeaux and by early morning and late evening ones northbound from Bordeaux. This pattern probably still applies but details of individual trains are no longer available to the compilers.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de la Grave.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<!---<br />
From the 2011/2012 timetable the following trains, mainly in the early morning and late evening, were scheduled via this curve. '''It cannot be guaranteed that their current equivalents continue to do the same'''. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO <br />
|''5241'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 21:32 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FO <br />
|''8467''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Arcachon<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO<br />
|''8469''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 22:42 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FX<br />
|''8479''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8491''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 00:54 SO Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|''8549''<br />
|18:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8579''<br />
|19:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865023''<br />
|Coutras - 06:12 St Loubes - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865035''<br />
|Coutras - 05:45 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865319''<br />
|Périgeux - 21:36 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865609''<br />
|Bergerac - 06:11 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865727''<br />
|Sarlat/Bergerac - 21:52 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX <br />
|''8406''<br />
|05:00 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuO <br />
|''8408''<br />
|05:40 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''8590''<br />
|Hendaye - 21:13 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MO<br />
|''865030''<br />
|05:44 Bordeaux St Jean - Angoulême<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSO<br />
|''865300''<br />
|05:36 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865322''<br />
|21:52 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865540''<br />
|16:02 Bordeaux St Jean - Limoges Bénédictins <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FSuO<br />
|''865608''<br />
|21:45 Bordeaux St Jean - Bergerac<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865712''<br />
|05:54 Bordeaux St Jean - Sarlat/Bergerac<br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de St.Germain-des-Fossés: Vichy - Roanne===<br />
[fiche 06] (ERA 75A4) FR100<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve is used by through trains between Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand via Vichy when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at St.Germain-des-Fossés. ''It is now the north <=> east main line, from St.Germain-des-Fossés station towards Roanne, that has the less frequent service - see fiche 06.''<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Folligny: Bifurcation km 74,0 – Bifurcation km 74,9===<br />
[fiche Caen-St Lo-Coutances-Granville-Rennes] (ERA 69A4; ''26C2'') FR18/150<br />
<br />
This curve provides a direct connection between Coutances and Granville. It is used in July and August by seasonal through trains between Caen and Granville '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Folligny.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53423 <br />
| Caen - 12:22 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53431 <br />
| Caen - 16:29 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53416 <br />
| 08:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SuO <br />
|TER53444 <br />
| 19:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SO <br />
|TER53442 <br />
| 19:03 Granville - Caen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Granville’s annual carnival takes place every year during the five days that precede Shrove Tuesday. On Sunday 11 February 2018 a <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/loisirs/carnaval-granville-2018 special train]---> special train ran from Caen to Granville and back. It may do so in future years also.<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Saincaize (Nevers avoiding line): La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois – Saincaize===<br />
(ERA 75A5; ''69B2'') FR200 <br />
<br />
There are no regular services over this west <==> south curve <!--- since December 2009---> but it is used for diversions (as in August 2016) when the line north of Nevers is blocked.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Laroche-Migennes: Poste 5 (station south side) - Poste 4 (main line)===<br />
[fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-AUXERRE (TER directs et omnibus)] (ERA 71A2, not shown; ''50D4'') FR201<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Auxerre-St.Gervais and Dijon Ville, between Laroche-Migennes (station south side, voie K, where the trains reverse) and St.Florentin-Vergigny. The east end connection with the former PLM main line at Poste 4 is a grade-separated junction, with separate ''pair'' (up) and ''impair'' (down) ''raccordements''.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de Laroche Migennes.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Perrigny (Dijon): Bifurcation Raccordement Belfort - Perrigny Bifurcation km 318 Chagny lines===<br />
(ERA 71C1; ''66C4'') FR202<br />
<br />
A 2013 high level link south of Dijon between the Dole and Beaune lines, forming part of the non-''LGV'' link between ''LGVs Rhin-Rhône'' and ''Sud-Est''. It avoids conflicts with the ground level routes through the yards and is used by through TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond '''except''' those booked to avoid the Dijon area altogether and call at Lons-le-Saunier (''TGV6836/7'' and ''6874/5''). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Dijon.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Santenay-les-Bains (Chagny ex-Poste 4) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis and Raccordement Nevers===<br />
[fiche DIJON-AUTUN-ETANG-NEVERS] (ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR203<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Chagny. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Chagny (west side platforms) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis===<br />
(ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR18/204<br />
<br />
This route was used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when scheduled to call at Chagny, where they reversed in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). As at December 2017 there do not appear to be any trains booked to take this route.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Rully (Chagny (Poste 1)) – Chagny (west side platforms)===<br />
[fiche MONTCHANIN-CHALON] (ERA 75C5, not shown; ''78B2'', not shown) FR205<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Chalon sur Saône and the Montchanin branch, which call at Chagny in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
<br />
===Redon avoiding line: Severac – Avessac===<br />
[fiche FH04 Rennes Redon Nantes] (ERA 69A2; ''43A4'') FR250<br />
<br />
Used by those trains between Nantes and Rennes '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Redon, nor at Angers St. Laud.<br />
<br />
==Centre Région (Centre)==<br />
<br />
===Les Aubrais/Orléans Area===<br />
(ERA 70B2; ''48C4'') FR300<br />
<br />
The ‘classic’ main lines from Paris to Tours and Vierzon (- Bourges/Limoges) split at Les Aubrais, north of Orléans, bypassing the city centre to the north-west and east respectively. The original main line continues southwards from Les Aubrais to Orléans, which is a terminal station. There are direct curves from Orléans west to the Tours line and east to the Vierzon line. The majority of regional services use these curves whereas there is a much thinner service over the main lines from Les Aubrais avoiding Orléans station:<br />
* towards La Chapelle-St.Mesmin [fiche 2.1], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and the Tours line<br />
* towards St.Cyr-en-Val-La-Source [fiches 1.3, 1.4], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and Vierzon or beyond.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. <br />
<br />
[[File:Orleans.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (Poste 4) – Bifurcation de Tours [ – Monts (Indre-et-Loire)]===<br />
[fiche 2.5] (ERA 70A1, not shown; ''60D3'') FR301<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve from St. Pierre-de-Corps to the Poitiers main line is used by ''TGVs'' and ''Intercités'' running between St-Pierre-des-Corps and Bordeaux. Local trains normally run direct between Monts and Tours, although any exceptions which run via St-Pierre-des-Corps (and hence use this curve) would be shown on fiche 2.5.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Tours4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (poste 4) – Bifurcation Grammont [ – Saumur or Chateau-du-Loir]===<br />
[fiches 2.6 and 2.8] (ERA 70A1; 60D3) FR18/302<br />
<br />
This east <=> west connection bypassing Tours is used by trains running directly between St.Pierre-des-Corps and the Saumur and Château-du-Loir [- Le Mans] lines. Other trains for these lines run direct from or to Tours. Some trains run from or to Tours via St.Pierre-des-Corps, reversing there, but the fiche can be misleading for these trains, with Tours and St.Pierre-des-Corps appearing out of sequence chronologically. '''Travellers are therefore advised to check the timings carefully to establish the exact route of the train.'''<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER60152<br />
| 06:03 Saumur Rive Droite - St Pierre-des-Corps<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4402<br />
| Nantes - 07:48 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13020<br />
| Caen - 11:13 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER57210<br />
| Caen - 13:23 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13022<br />
| Caen - 15:05 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4406<br />
| Nantes - 15:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| FSSuX<br />
| TGV5314<br />
| Nantes - 16:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| IC13030<br />
| Tours - 09:17 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SuO<br />
| TER57238<br />
| Tours - 09:18 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| IC4504<br />
| Lyon-Perrache - 12:03 St Pierre-des-Corps - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Not 7 to 21 Sept, 24 to 28 Sept 2018<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map<br />
[[File:Tours5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Bourges avoiding line: Marmagne – St.Florent-sur-Cher===<br />
[fiche 4.1] (ERA 74C5; ''75B1'') FR303<br />
<br />
This west <=> south curve is used by trains between Vierzon and St.Florent-sur-Cher '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Bourges.<br />
<br />
===Bellébat turning circle (''Musée des Transports de Pithiviers'')===<br />
(ERA 70C2, not shown; ''49A2-A3'') FR304<br />
<br />
See [http://www.amtp-cfpithiviers.com/ their website]. Normally, trains arrive and depart by the long arc of the balloon loop at Bellébat. Exceptionally, the first train of the day arrives, and the last train of the day leaves, by the short arc here instead.<br />
<br />
==Champagne-Ardenne Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Trois Puits: Champagne-Ardenne TGV – Trois Puits [ – Reims]===<br />
[fiche C01 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières - Reims - Paris] (ERA 71B4; ''17A4-B4'') FR350<br />
<br />
This link with ''LGV Est'' is unusual in that through Paris <=> Reims TGVs (not calling at Champagne-Ardenne TGV) use it, as also do non-TGV shuttle trains (navettes) making connections at Champagne-Ardenne TGV - using bay platforms there.<br />
<br />
Note that the fiche 'C31 Navettes gare Champagne-Ardenne TGV' listed in the table seems not to exist.<br />
<br />
===<div id="CH_AL"></div>Raccordement direct de Chalindrey (Culmont-Chalindrey avoiding line): Andilly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Est) – Le Pailly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Sud)===<br />
(ERA 71C2; ''67B1'') FR18/351<br />
<br />
Used by those TGVs between Nancy and Dijon '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culmont-Chalindrey.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6824''<br />
| Nancy Ville - 14:28 Neufchâteau - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6868''<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 11:43 Dijon Ville - Nancy Ville <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Vouziers - Challerange===<br />
(ERA 71B5; ''18B3'') FR18/352 <br />
<br />
Used until 2017 by [http://cftsa.fr CFT du Sud des Ardennes] trains as an extension of their normal operations only during their ''Fête du Rail'' weekend - usually in mid-August. The line is owned by <i>SNCF Réseau</i> and, in view of the condition of the track, permission to operate has not been given for 2018. The line is <i>expected</i> to transfer to other (presumably local authority) ownership, when CFTSA hope to resume operations over the Attigny - Vouziers - Challerange section.<br />
<br />
==Franche-Comté Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV east curve===<br />
(ERA 72A1; ''67D4'') FR18/401<br />
<br />
Used by direct TGVs between Mulhouse and Besançon Viotte. Note that trains between Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station and Besançon Viotte use the west curve.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6837''<br />
| Strasbourg Ville - 12:32 Belfort-Montbéliard TGV - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6875''<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 17:01 Besançon-Viotte - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Île-de-France Région (including Paris) (Île-de-France)==<br />
<br />
The ''LGV Interconnexion'' runs through the country to the east of Paris and links ''LGVs Nord, Est, Sud-Est'' and (by a connection via the southern part of the ''Grande Ceinture'') ''Atlantique''; it is used by all TGVs between these routes. The <i>Petite Ceinture</i> which ran around central Paris is mostly closed, while the <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, which runs round the outer suburbs, is partly closed, partly freight-only and partly used for suburban services; it only carries regular passenger services transferring from one main line to another as shown below. <br />
<br />
===St.Denis – Pantin (Villette Poste 2) (via La Chapelle Poste 6)===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR450<br />
<br />
This is a combination of the links between the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines via Evangile signalbox. It is used only by the '''weekday''' Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL (or elsewhere) ''VSOE'' trains as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Garges-Sarcelles (Bifurcation Pierrefitte Sud) – Noisy le Sec===<br />
(ERA 66A4-A3; ''31B:A1-A2'') FR451<br />
<br />
This is a section of the ''Grande Ceinture'' circular freight route round Paris, linking the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines. It is used only by the ''VSOE'' train between Paris Est and Calais Ville '''on Sunday mornings''', instead of route FR450. Visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lieusaint: Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Crisenoy) – Combs-la-Ville-Quincy===<br />
(ERA 66B1; ''31C4-D4'') FR452<br />
<br />
This is the former northern end of the ''LGV Sud-Est'', now little used (a few trains are routed this way for engineering works or pathing purposes) as most TGVs to and from Paris Gare-de-Lyon run via Triangle de Coubert (Bifurcation Sud – Bifurcation Ouest), joining the main line from Gare-de-Lyon at Bifurcation de Creteil, north of Villeneuve Triage.<br />
<br />
===Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy ''or'' Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Valenton) – Les Saules===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR453<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV-Interconnexion'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud-Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Les Saules.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Massy TGV – Chemin d'Antony (Bifurcation km 23,4)===<br />
(ERA 65C2; ''31A:D4'') FR454<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV Atlantique'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Massy-Palaiseau.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Paris-Bercy-Bourgogne-Pays d'Auvergne===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR455<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Gare-de-Lyon, being located behind carriage sidings outside the station. Relatively little use used to be made of the facility but there are now various regular services [e.g. Bourgogne fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-SENS-PARIS (TER directs)]. Trains also use the goods lines (M1 and M2) to access the station.<br />
<br />
===Paris Gare de Lyon Banlieue – Villeneuve St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 66A3-A2; ''31B:A2-B4'') FR456<br />
<br />
Between the throat of Gare de Lyon and Villeneuve St.Georges there are three sets of tracks - not always following exactly the same alignment - in passenger use: ''1.'' fast lines (1 and 2); ''2.'' suburban or slow lines (1bis and 2bis), and ''3.'' erstwhile goods lines (1M and 2M). The M tracks - which have platforms at most stations - have been observed being used by passenger stock but no definitive information of regular loaded workings is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Villeneuve St.Georges – Vigneux sur Seine===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR457<br />
<br />
Between Villeneuve St.Georges and Vigneux sur Seine there are three pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1B and 2B; ''2.'' 1C and 2C, and ''3.'' 1M and 2M. The B tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST--->. No definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Vigneux sur Seine – Juvisy===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:A4'') FR458<br />
<br />
Between Vigneux sur Seine and Juvisy there are two pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1C and 2C, and ''2.'' 1M and 2M. The northbound track 1M crosses over the Orléans main lines and back again by two bridges north of Juvisy. The C tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST---> and have been observed being used by other passenger stock but no definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Juvisy (PLM-side) – Athis-Mons (via TER tracks)===<br />
(ERA 66A2, not shown; ''31B:A4'', not fully shown) FR459<br />
<br />
Through RER line C trains use Orléans-side platforms (Quais F, G and H). Juvisy RER line C turn-back trains generally use PLM-side platforms (Quai C), reached by tracks 1 TER (inbound - train codes ''JILL'' and ''JADE'') and 2 TER (outbound via overbridge). Together, these save such trains having to make the flat crossing movement which would be necessary if Quai E were used.<br />
<br />
===Dourdan-la-Forêt===<br />
(ERA 65B1, not shown; ''31A4'') FR460<br />
<br />
Dourdan-la-Forêt is a dead-ended single platform on a track parallel to the Vendôme line, used by those RER line C4 trains so advertised. No service mid July to late August.<br />
<br />
===Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard===<br />
(ERA 65C3; ''31B:A2'') FR461<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Montparnasse and comprises additional platforms adjacent to the main running lines about 0.5km from the main station, for those trains so advertised (including - from 10 December 2017 - ''Ouigo'' services with Rennes and Nantes).<br />
<br />
===Versailles Chantiers – St.Cyr l'École===<br />
(ERA 65B3, not shown; ''31A:C3-B3'') FR462<br />
<br />
Main line trains from Paris Montparnasse to Plaisir Grignon or beyond (including Granville line trains) do not use the main lines between Versailles and St.Cyr but a separate alignment (tracks M1/M2 - formerly freight) via Versailles-Matelots, to the north. The east end access to this route - at the west end of Versaille Chantiers - is for westbound trains to use the diveunder, from platforms G, H or J, and for eastbound trains to use the curve on the north side to the RER line C (B1/B2) tracks (rather than the diveunder); there are, however, exceptions to both these general practices.<br />
<br />
No trains have been identified as using the flat junction (Bifurcation de Granville), just west of St.Cyr station, to gain access to the Granville line.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Versailles.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Épluches (Bifurcation d'Épluches) – St.Ouen-l'Aumone-Liesse (Bifurcation de Liesse (Nord))===<br />
(ERA 65C5; ''31A1'') FR18/463<br />
<br />
Some TER line H trains between Paris Nord and Persan Beaumont (usually for Beauvais or beyond) with a non-stop journey time of 35 or more minutes (instead of the normal 27-30 mins) use this route to avoid a conflicting movement on the route via Montsoult-Maffliers.<br />
<br />
Each summer in recent years a single SSuO round trip between Paris Nord and Auvers-sur-Oise has operated via this route, advertised locally<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20601<br />
| 09:38 Paris Nord - Auvers sur Oise (arr 10:22)<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20606<br />
| 18:32 Auvers sur Oise - Paris Nord (arr 19:05)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 7 Jul to 14 Oct 2018; also 15 Aug, '''not''' 1 to 23 Sep, 6, 7 Oct<br />
<br />
Note that because of engineering works, revised arrangements (which may not involve the use of this route) may apply on some dates.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Bezons ''and'' Raccordement de la Folie: Houilles Carrières sur Seine (Bifurcation de Bezons) – Puteaux (Bifurcation de Puteaux)===<br />
(ERA 65C4-C3; ''31A:D2'') FR464<br />
<br />
This west <=> south connection is an alternative to the Mantes la-Jolie - Plaisir Grignon - Versailles line during engineering work.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Piquettes: Mantes la-Jolie – Rosny-sur-Seine===<br />
(ERA 65A4, not shown; ''30B2'') FR465<br />
<br />
This curve connects the south side of Mantes-la-Jolie station (Rouen platforms) and the Le Havre line. It may be used if a train from Paris to the Le Havre line needs to be overtaken by a fast service from Paris to the Rouen line, though this may be necessary only if the ‘slow line’ Rouen platforms are occupied by terminating trains. Any train to the Rouen line calling at platforms F to H must use the Raccordement. The following train has been observed using this route and appears to be booked to use platform H.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| 850003<br />
| Paris St. Lazare - 06:44 Mantes la-Jolie - Rouen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would welcome further observations on use of this curve.'''<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mantes-le-Jolie.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Provins - Villiers-St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 71A5; ''32:C4'') FR18/466<br />
<br />
[http://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] has resumed occasional excursions over this 15 km section of SNCF freight line. Trains are advertised 23 - 29 July 2018 (''festival du patrimoine de Seine et Marne'') and 27 October (''train de la Citrouille'').<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Narbonne: Lézignan (Bifurcation Raccordement Nord) – Port La Nouvelle (Bifurcation Sud)===<br />
(ERA 78C3) FR18/500<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Narbonne is used by two dated train pairs.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| AVE/TGV9726<br />
| Barcelona Sants - 19:56 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3730<br />
| Cerbère - 18:54/19:03/19:29 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau [- Paris Austerlitz]<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3731<br />
| [Paris Austerlitz -] Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:05/08:07 Lézignan - Port Bou<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9729<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:59 Carcassonne - Barcelona Sants<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 27 June - 25 September 2018<br />
<br />
D*: the dates of running are too complex to list<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
(ERA 75C2-79C4) - see FR801<br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
===Novéant – Onville===<br />
[fiches L28 and L30] (ERA 72A4; ''36A1'') FR550<br />
<br />
This section of the former Paris - Metz main line has a service of trains direct between Metz and Onville, some continuing to Bar le Duc (fiche L28) and others to Conflans-Jarny and either Verdun or Longwy (fiche L30).<br />
<br />
===<div id="BOUZ"></div>Bouzonville – Niedaltdorf (Germany)===<br />
(ERA 72A5-B5; ''20B3-C2'') FR18/551<br />
<br />
This line has no regular service but a special shuttle service has operated from Dillingen in conjunction with the Good Friday market at Bouzonville - see Germany route [[Germany_(Saarland)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#NIEDBOUZ|Niedaltdorf – Bouzonville (France)]]. However, freight traffic ceased in 2013 on this line, of which the German section is reportedly to be sold or closed completely. The 2018 service, which was similar to that in previous years, ran on 30 March every two hours from 09:10 to 17:10 from Dillingen (Saar) and 10:15 to 16:15, then 17:45 from Bouzonville.<br />
<br />
===Sarrebourg avoiding line: Sarraltroff – Réding===<br />
[fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section] (ERA 72B4; 55B3) FR552<br />
<br />
This is used by 'classic' trains between Metz and Strasbourg '''''not''''' calling at Sarrebourg. Non-stop TGVs run via the ''LGV Est''; see FR553.<br />
<br />
For the other two sides of the triangle:<br />
* [Berthelming -] Sarraltroff - Sarrebourg: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section<br />
* Sarrebourg - Réding: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Nancy section<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lucy: Rémilly (Bif. km 124,255) - Lesse (Bif. km 306)===<br />
(ERA 72A4; ''36C2'') FR553<br />
<br />
This north west <=> south east connection, south east of Rémilly, is used by TGVs between Luxembourg, Metz and Strasbourg transferring between the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line and the section of ''LGV Est'' east of here. <br />
<br />
<i>Raccordement de Lucy is the opposite angle from the curve which allows through running between Paris and the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line east of here, which formed the eastern exit from ''LGV Est'' until 2016 but which is now used only if ''LGV Est'' east of here is blocked.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. Pending redrawing of the map, note that the eastern and western junctions on LGV Est are both grade-separated (flyovers).<br />
[[File:LGVEst2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Woippy – Maizières-lès-Metz (via Woippy-Triage (west side))===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4, not shown; ''20A3'') FR554<br />
<br />
Some local passenger trains are scheduled to use this route (voies 1B/2B) for pathing purposes; the actual routing is therefore particularly susceptible to the timekeeping not only of the train itself but of those around it. Likely trains can usually be distinguished in the timetable by being allowed longer between Metz Ville and Hagondange. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Uckange: Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) – Hayange (Bif. de Florange)===<br />
[CFL website plus fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 63C2, ''20A3'') FR554A<br />
<br />
This line avoiding Thionville enables trains to run direct between Metz and Longuyon.<br />
<br />
The line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg was completely closed from 10 to 18 February 2018 and two pairs of Monday to Friday rush hour trains between Luxembourg and Metz were diverted via Rodange, Longuyon and Uckange, non-stop to/from Uckange. These diversions are likely to be repeated during a long blockade in July-August 2018.<br />
<br />
<!--- THE FOLLOWING DETAILS HAVE BEEN LEFT COMMENTED OUT SO THAT THEY CAN BE RESURRECTED FOR JULY/AUGUST<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86772<br />
| Metz - 05:47 Uckange - Luxembourg 07:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86710<br />
| Metz - 06:51 Uckange - Luxembourg 08:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86532<br />
| 16:29 Luxembourg - Metz 18:27<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86534<br />
| 17:29 Luxembourg - Metz 19:29<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 12 - 16 February 2018<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Contournement de Metz: Metz Ville – Woippy===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4; ''20A4'') FR555<br />
<br />
The original Metz - Thionville line provides an alternative route to the west of the current main line of 1908. Trains using this line arrive and depart at the south end of Metz Ville station, instead of the north. Non-stop trains booked 17 or more minutes between Metz and Hagondange, or 22 or more minutes between Metz and Thionville, might be expected to run this route as it is 4.5km longer than the main line. The following train was observed in April 2018 taking this route:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX<br />
|''837682'' <br />
| 14:09 Metz Ville - Thionville, <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Esch sur Alzette [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Audun-le-Tiche===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19C2'') FR556<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60c'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Dudelange-Usines [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Volmerange-les-Mines===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19D2'') FR557<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60A'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===<span id="MD"></span>(Lasauvage Carreau [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Saulnes===<br />
(ERA 72A5, not shown; ''19C2'') FR558<br />
<br />
[http://minieresbunn.lu/index.php/fr Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] operates a 700mm gauge preserved mining line into France.<br />
<br />
==Nord Pas-de-Calais Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<u>'''Note on Dates:'''</u> A number of curves in this region have been used by <I> TER Mer</I> summer "dated" weekend services to the coast. As the timetable information for these services is not published until the start of the summer, it is not known at the time of the December timetable change. If shown, these entries will therefore carry the previous year ("FRyy") and contain the previous summer's information until updated with the information for the current summer. From summer 2017 the programme was marketed as "éTER en Hauts-de-France" <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/nord-pas-de-calais/loisirs/bons-plans/eter "éTER en Hauts-de-France"], with the timings of Saturday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20samedi_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131848.pdf here] and Sunday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20dimanche_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131849.pdf here]--->.<br />
<br />
===Calais Fréthun (Bifurcation de Riviere Neuve) – Pont de Coulogne (Bifurcation de Coulogne)===<br />
[fiche 12] (ERA 67B4; ''1B1'') FR18/651<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Calais Ville is used in summer 2018 by "dated" weekend Lille Flandres/Arras <==> Boulogne/Rang-du-Fliers-Verton trains shown non-stop between Hazebrouck and Wimille-Wimereux. <!---See [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/TER%20MER-BD_tcm64-18176_tcm64-53229.pdf SNCF TER]. ---> Note that this route is '''''not''''' used by TGVs to/from Boulogne, which reverse at Calais Fréthun using a connection off the LGV line. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Calais.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO<br />
|''846909'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 08:01 Hazebrouck - Rang-du-Fliers-Verton<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846919'' <br />
|09:25 Lille Flandres - Boulogne Ville<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846962'' <br />
|Boulogne Ville - 17:10 Wimille-Wimereux - Arras<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846935'' <br />
|Rang du Fliers - 17:48 Wimille-Wimereux - Lille Flandres <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018.<br />
<br />
===Lambersart (Bifurcation de St.André) [A] ''or ''Lompret (Bifurcation de 4 Maisons) [B] – Santes (Bifurcation de la Tortue) [C] ''or ''Haubourdin (Bifurcation de Haubourdin) [D] (via Sequedin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1-A1'') FR18/652<br />
<br />
This freight line to the west of Lille, the middle section of which passes Lille Dèlivrance Triage and Sequedin, has triangular junctions at each end (hence the title given above). Route [B] <=> [D] 1s used by a summer "dated" weekend Dunkerque train. See [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20samedis%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198636.pdf L’ÉTER] (Saturdays) and [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20dimanche%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198635.pdf L’ÉTER] (Sundays).<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_Delivrance.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
Note that train 846924 Jeumont - Dunkerque does '''''not''''' take this route.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT1"></div>Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Raccordement de Ronchin – Lille Porte de Douai (Bifurcation de la Justice)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR18/653<br />
<br />
This freight line on the south side of Lille avoids the main station area. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT2|Bif. de Lesquin – Lille Poste 2 connection]] between Bif. de Lesquin and Bif. du Mont de Terre. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926/27'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018. <br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Ronchin (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR17/654<br />
<br />
No use in 2018. This freight line links the lines which diverge at the throat of Lille Flandres station. It was used by a summer 2017 "dated" weekend Dunkerque train, which ran on normal passenger lines via Béthune in 2016 and in 2018 on 4 August 2018 ran via FR17/652 and 653. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
<br />
[[File:Lille_4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Lille-Flandres Point Z – Lille-Europe AS===<br />
(ERA 64A3, not shown; ''3B1'') FR18/655<br />
<br />
This freight line links the Lille-Flandres - Tourcoing line with the ''LGV Nord'' via the Raccordement de Becquerel, which descends alongside the ''Remisage de Lille Fives'' TGV Depot. It is common with the previous entry between Jonctions du Lion d'Or and Lille-Flandres Point Z. It is used by ''Ouigo'' TGVs between Tourcoing and Marseille, Nantes and Rennes: visit the [http://www.ouigo.com/train-pour-tourcoing ''Ouigo''] website for details of services to/from Tourcoing. Part of the route is also used by TGV services from Lille Flandres to Paris and other destinations via L'Aeroport Charles de Gaulle.<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
THESE SERVICES ARE NOW OUT OF DATE <br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SuX<br />
| TGV7633<br />
| 08:29 Tourcoing - Nantes<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7613<br />
| 11:29 Tourcoing - Rennes <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7603<br />
| 19:47 Tourcoing - Lyon Part Dieu <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7600<br />
| Lyon Perrache - 09:52 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7630<br />
| Nantes - 17:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SX<br />
| TGV7610<br />
| Rennes - 21:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT2"></div>Lille Flandres (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; 3B1) FR17/656<br />
<br />
No use in 2018 as on 4 August 2018 the previous years TER MER train ex Dunkerque ran via FR17/652 and 653. This freight line on the south side of Lille links the Bethune line tracks from Lille Flandres station and the Lille Avoiding Line with the Valenciennes line. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT1|Bif. de Lesquin – Bif. de la Justice connection]] between Bif. du Mont de Terre and Bif. de Lesquin.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Avion: Pont de Sallaumines (Bifurcation de Sallaumines Ouest) – Avion (Bifurcation d'Avion)===<br />
(ERA 64B2; ''7A1'') FR657<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Arras - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Sallaumines: Sallaumines (Bifurcation d'Epinette) – Coron de Méricourt (Bifurcation du Sallaumines)===<br />
(ERA 64B3; ''7A1'') FR658<br />
<br />
This north <=> east curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Lille - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_ARN"></div>Arras Raccordement Nord: Arras (Bifurcation 199,6km) – Lille (Bifurcation 161,94km)===<br />
(ERA 64C3; ''7A1'') FR659<br />
<br />
This west <=> north spur, linking Arras station with the ''LGV Nord-Europe'' to the north, is used by trains running non-stop between Arras and Lille (whether -Flandres or -Europe stations) in less than 25 minutes; trains taking 33 minutes or more use the 'classic' line via Douai. <br />
<br />
In addition to long distance <I>TGVs</I>, the spur is used also by:<br />
<br />
• two <I>TERGV</I> commuter trains [fiche Ligne 01 Amiens Arras Lille] each way between Arras and Lille-Europe<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#PR_AAL|Amiens avoiding line]]<br />
<br />
===Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 64C4; ''7C1'') FR18/660<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''843408'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 18:04 Somain - Cambrai<br />
|} <br />
<br />
It was also used by additional services to Lille Braderie [Special Market] on 1/2 September 2018 and in the past by summer dated weekend TER Mer Busigny <==> Cambrai <==> Calais Ville trains. However according to Cambrai Ville station staff the 2018 TER Mer's would run non-stop on the normal passenger route to Douai so '''prospective travellers in future years should make local enquiries.'''<br />
<br />
===Aulnoye-Aymeries avoiding line: Berlaimont (Bifurcation de Berlaimont) – Leval (Bifurcation de Leval Est)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 68A1; ''8B2'') FR661<br />
<br />
This line, which passes to the south of Aulnoye-Aymeries station, is used by two Monday to Friday Hirson <==> Lille round trips '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Aulnoye-Aymeries. <br />
<br />
It was also used by ''summer dated'' services in summer 2017:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846926 <br />
| Hirson - 08:00 Avesnes - Dunkerque <br />
|-<br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846952 <br />
| Dunkerque - 21:01 Valenciennes - Hirson <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
==Pays-de-la-Loire Région (Pays-de-la-Loire)==<br />
<br />
===Sablé-sur-Sarthe Triangle===<br />
[fiche Ligne 28] (ERA 69C2; ''45C4'') FR680<br />
<br />
This triangular junction provides a link southwards from the ''LGV BPL'' to the 'classic' Le Mans - Angers [ - Nantes] line at Sablé-sur-Sarthe.<br />
<br />
*The east <=> south curve ('''Raccordement de Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables ''TGVs'' to run between Paris and Angers [ - Nantes]. This curve is used by all such trains which do '''not''' call at Le Mans. However, it appears that the majority of TGVs which call at Le Mans use the ‘classic’ line between Le Mans and Angers. The following train has been identified as running via the Raccordement as it overtakes a preceding TER en route to Angers: <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
| FX <br />
|''TGV 5228'' <br />
| Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle TGV - 17:02 Le Mans - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would greatly appreciate reports of any other TGVs taking this route between Le Mans and Angers.'''<br />
*The west <=> south curve ('''Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables TER trains to run direct between [Rennes - ] Laval and Angers [ - Nantes].<br />
<br />
==Picardie Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<br />
===<div id="PR_AAL"></div>Amiens avoiding line: Boves (Bifurcation de Longueau Sud) – Lamotte Brebière (Bifurcation de Camon)===<br />
(ERA 67C1 ; ''6B4-C4'') FR700<br />
<br />
This curve is used by:<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#NPC_ARN|Arras Raccordement Nord]]<br />
<br />
• the [London Victoria <==>] Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL ''VSOE'' train as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
<br />
===Barreau de Jussy (Mennessis avoiding line): Jussy (Bifurcation de Flavy-le-Martel) – Montescourt (Bifurcation Jussy)===<br />
[fiche Ligne 25 Amiens - Tergnier Laon / St-Quentin] (ERA 71A5; ''16B1'') FR701<br />
<br />
This curve connects the Chaulnes - Tergnier and St.Quentin - Tergnier lines north of Mennessis. Trains between Amiens and St.Quentin '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Tergnier use this line.<br />
<br />
===Ormoy-Villers – Bifurcation Ageux – (a) Longueil-Ste.Marie ''or'' (b) Le-Meux-Croix-St.Ouen (Bifurcation Rivecourt)===<br />
[fiches Ligne 20 Laon Crépy-en-Valois Paris and Ligne 24 St-Quentin Tergnier Compiègne Paris] (ERA 70C4-C5; ''15D4-D3'') FR702<br />
<br />
This electrified line connects the Paris Nord - Laon and Creil - St.Quentin lines, with a triangular junction at the north end. It is used only when the following diversions are advertised:<br />
*(a) between Paris and Laon (with reversal at Ormoy-Villers) where extended journey times and bus substitution south of Ormoy-Villers apply [fiche Ligne 20] <br />
*(b) between Paris and Compiègne or beyond when shown ''non-stop'' with a journey time of circa 51+ minutes ''(instead of the normal 40 minutes)'' [fiche Ligne 24].<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charente Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Juillé and Raccordement Villognon (north of Angoulême)===<br />
(ERA 73C3, not shown correctly - see [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A9ma_de_la_LGV_Sud_Europe_Atlantique this schematic plan instead]) FR725<br />
<br />
These two links north of Angoulême between ''LGV SEA'' and the 'classic' line are about 7.25km apart but function as a single grade separated junction. The more northerly raccordement (Juillé) is normally used by northbound TGVs serving Angoulême and the more southerly (Villognon) by southbound TGVs. These came into service 2 July 2017.<br />
<br />
==Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur [PACA] Région (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Grand Sud: Avignon TGV (Bifurcation Km 624,0/624,2) – Manduel-Redessan (Suze SEI71 (Bifurcation Km 5,2))===<br />
(ERA 79C4) FR18/750<br />
<br />
The third side of the Triangle des Angles, west of Avignon TGV station, is used only by direct TGVs/AVEs between Marseille and Nîmes or beyond.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9731<br />
| Marseille St Charles - 08:43 Avignon TGV - Madrid Puerta de Atocha <br />
|-<br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9724<br />
| Madrid Puerta de Atocha - 20:25 Nîmes - Marseille St Charles <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===L'Estaque – Marseille St.Charles===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B3-B2) FR751<br />
<br />
Trains between Marseille St. Charles and L'Estaque [- Miramas] calling at Arenc-Euroméditerranée use this route; the trains may use lines on either side of Marseille Maritime Arenc yard (north of Arenc-Euroméditerranée station) which are reversible. All other trains between Marseille and L'Estaque or beyond use the main line.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement des Chartreux: St.Berthelmy – Marseille Blancarde===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B2) FR18/752<br />
<br />
This curve bypassing Marseille St. Charles to the north is used by TGVs to/from Toulon and beyond '''''not''''' calling at Marseille St.Charles, and by the following local services:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881702 <br />
| Les Arcs Draguignan - 08:07 Marseille-Blancarde - Miramas<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881707<br />
| Miramas - 17:07 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881709<br />
| Miramas - 18:12 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Rhône-Alpes Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
''[the southern portion of this line is in Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)]''<br />
<br />
[fiche 05] (ERA 75C2-79C4) FR17/800<br />
<br />
This line runs parallel with the Lyon to Montpellier main line between Givors and Nîmes, though mostly on the opposite bank of the River Rhône, principally as a freight and diversionary route. There are intermediate links between the two routes at St.Rambert d'Albon, Livron and Avignon Centre, and few passenger trains run the full length of the West Bank line. The line is used fairly regularly by passenger trains diverted for engineering work. Certain diverted trains can be identified when they are advertised to call at St.Péray or Le Teil (such calls may appear in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes fiche 05). These stations are on the West Bank line, and are retained so that passengers may board or alight from diverted trains near Valence and Montélimar, respectively.<br />
<br />
For such diversions, readers should check for themselves by means of the [http://www.ter.sncf.com/rhone-alpes/depliant/recherche TER Rhône-Alpes website], fiche 05 and its associated engineering work notices. <br />
<br />
The following sections of route are used from time to time.<br />
*'''(a) Givors Canal – St.Rambert d'Albon'''<br />
Look for extended running times and omitted Vienne stops but no St.Péray stops.<br />
<br />
*'''(b) Givors Canal – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for omitted Vienne and Tain l'Hermitage stops but still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(c) Givors Canal – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but '''''not''''' calling at Vienne or Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(d) Givors Canal – Avignon Centre'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but omitted Vienne stops and still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(e) Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops and omitted Vienne stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(f) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops and still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(g) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but still calling at Vienne<br />
<br />
*'''(h) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(i) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(j) Livron – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops<br />
<br />
*'''(k) Livron – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(l) Avignon Centre – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for trains which normally call at Tarascon but where those stops are omitted - see [https://www.ter.sncf.com/paca/depliant/recherche Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur] fiche 11 bis<br />
<br />
===Ambérieu avoiding line: Ambronay-Priay – Torcieu===<br />
(ERA 75C3) FR801<br />
<br />
Used by TGVs between Bourg-en-Bresse and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Ambérieu.<br />
<br />
===Culoz avoiding line: Seyssel-Corbonod – Vions-Chanaz (Bifurcation de Chambéry===<br />
[fiche 51] (ERA 76A3) FR802<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Bellegarde and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culoz.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Valence TGV - Sillon Alpin Sud: east - south connection at Valence TGV===<br />
(ERA 75C1) FR18/803<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve between the Grenoble - Valence line and ''LGV Méditerranée'' - via Valence TGV platform 5 - is used by TGVs running between Grenoble and points south on the ''LGV Méditerranée''. One train each way between Marseille St. Charles and Annecy ran at weekends in July and August 2016. Details for 2018 were not available at December 2017. <i>It is the opposite angle from the grade-separated Raccordement de Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence which allows through running between Valence and points north via LGV Sud Est.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File: Raccordement du Sillon Alpin.jpg|50px|thumb|none]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
=== Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian===<br />
(ERA 32B3) FR18/804<br />
<br />
This curve is used by trains travelling between Grenoble and Modane which are not required to call at Montmélian.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9247<br />
| Paris Gare de Lyon - 09:41 Grenoble - Milano Porta Garibaldi <br />
|}<br />
D1 15 July to 9 September except 12-14 August<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 />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]]</b><br />
<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche A 08*<br />
| Saales - St.Dié-des-Vosges <br />
| *(fiche Strasbourg Saales St.Dié Epinal). Better service at weekends. ''Service should be restored to more normal level by 2021 on completion of relaying and other work.''<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine) ==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 33<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Hendaye – Irún (Spain) <br />
| There have been no '''standard gauge''' services from Hendaye to Irún since December 2017. The only cross-border services are broad gauge trains: 310 and 313 (Hotel trains from/to Lisboa Santa Apolonia) and IC 280 '''from''' A Coruña .<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 66, 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Summer service plus winter weekends (except 11 January - 29 March 2018)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 09<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant <br />
| Better service at weekends. <b>However, line will be closed from 21 October 2017 until December 2018 for relaying work.</b><br />
|-<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only (note ** = fiche is at TER Bretagne website, but "hidden" under Loisirs et Tourisme > Lignes touristiques$$ > Tire Bouchon <i>(= Corkscrew)</i> and the current version is not usually available until the summer<br />
<br />
$$ accessed by clicking on the 'Les trains touristiques' tab!)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 31, 32<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
==Limousin Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charentes Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Bressuire - Chantonnay<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions from Other Sparse Services section==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne Région <br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| Bus service since June 2018 on account of track washout<br />
|-<br />
| Lorraine Région <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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=24340France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2018-09-18T06:39:02Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Bretagne Région (Bretagne) */ Retiers closure extended</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 />
Therefore for some entries this list does not represent the service for any specific timetable period and it is not planned to update these entries with each timetable change. 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. These entries are based on the timetable commencing 11 December 2016, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has some 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 this page) 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 this page being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [http://www.sncf.com/fr/prevision-trafic SNCF] website or through the [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==Engineering Diversions==<br />
The headings for routes which have a habit of re-appearing reasonably regularly for engineering diversions are retained but this is no guarantee that such diversions will be scheduled during any given timetable year. Where examples of usage are given to assist in identifying relevant trains, users should compare these with the timetable for the period in which they are interested - where the details are the same then it may be expected that the routing will be the same. ''Reports to bring entries up to date will be welcomed. If any reader can provide details from the train service databases the compilers will be very pleased to hear from them.''<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Details are not generally given below of spurs linking to ''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'' (LGVs) (except in the cases of a few little-used or particularly obscure spurs). An overall schematic of LGVs is available [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] while a more detailed plan identifying the lines used by ''Trains à Grande Vitesse'' (TGV) trains ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here]. More 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'' and it should be assumed that TGVs make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route. <br />
<br />
Where reference is made to TGV services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'', ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites).<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 [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER website]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''Fiches Horaires''. <br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 2016 the ''Régions'' (which date only from 1982) have been merged into ''super-Régions'', although the pre-2016 regional names continue to be used by SNCF - and herein. The ''super-Région'' names are shown in parentheses alongside the old in the lists below.<br />
<br />
There are no entries for the following Régions: Corse (Corse); Haute-Normandie (Normandie); Midi-Pyrénées (Occitanie)<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA" refer to the European Railway Atlas France & Benelux Regional Series 2016, by M.G.Ball. An additional map reference in italics for some entries refers to the Schweers+Wall ''Atlas Ferroviaire de la France Band 1 Nord'', dated 2015.<br />
<br />
SNCF Voyages' most recent on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Obscure services=<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Mulhouse===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69B1'') FR18/1<br />
<br />
Three possible routes exist for <I>TGVs</I> between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard <I>TGV</I> (or beyond) to traverse the Mulhouse area.<br />
<br />
*<b>(a) by means of the original main line via Mulhouse-Dornach, with reversal in Mulhouse Ville</b><br />
Trains with a stop of 9 minutes or more at Mulhouse and taking 46 minutes or less to/from Strasbourg are highly likely to take this route.<br />
<br />
*<b>(b) via the Contournement de Mulhouse and Raccordement de Wanne: Lutterbach (Haut-Rhin) (Bifurcation de Lutterbach) – Mulhouse (via Mulhouse Nord)</b><br />
<br />
This route enables these trains to avoid reversal at Mulhouse. It may be assumed that trains spending only 3-4 minutes at Mulhouse Ville run this way as they do not have time for a reversal. <b>The compilers would welcome confirmation (or contradiction) that the following trains take this route.</b><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9580<br />
| Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 16:15 Strasbourg - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6827 <br />
| Strasbourg - 18:31 Colmar - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6898/9 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 11:24 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9582 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 12:55 Mulhouse Ville - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf <br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| TGV9896 <br />
| Montpellier - 15:02 Mulhouse Ville - Luxembourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6874 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 18:04 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
*<b>(c) via Mulhouse-Dornach – Brunstatt</b><br />
<br />
This direct curve, to the west of Mulhouse, between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt, enables these trains to avoid Mulhouse altogether. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6839<br />
| 06:34 Strasbourg Ville - Montpellier Saint-Roch <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6827<br />
| 18:36 Strasbourg Ville - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6899<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 10:44 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6882/3<br />
| Montpellier Saint-Roch - 18:37 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Flüh [Switzerland] –) frontier – Leymen – frontier (– Rodersdorf [Switzerland])===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69C2'') FR2<br />
<br />
BLT operate through France - see [http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/en/welcome/ Swiss table] > 505 - over this route which is not linked to the French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Vendenheim –) Mundolsheim – Strasbourg via ligne 1 bis on the west side of Hausbergen Yard===<br />
(ERA 31A5, not shown; ''39B1-B2'') FR3<br />
<br />
Track 1 bis runs on the west side of the main lines, veering away at Mundolsheim station to run "behind" Hausbergen yard and coming back alongside the main lines at the south end of the yard, near the PRS / Poste 1. This line '''may''' be used by trains booked more than the usual 15/16/17 mins between Mommenheim and Strasbourg. At January 2018 it was reported as being used (and booked) by the following train:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX <br />
|''86383'' <br />
| Saarbrücken Hbf (Z) - 15:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
(Z): starts from Mommenheim 26 February to 6 April 2018 and from Diemeringen on dates in late Apr/ early May <br />
<br />
It '''may''' be used also by the following train. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SX <br />
|''830933'' <br />
| Sarreguemines - 19:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
In the opposite direction, track 2 bis runs on the east side of the yard, virtually parallel to the main lines. It seems most unlikely it would be used as there is no operational reason for this and it creates further conflictions at Vendenheim.<br />
<br />
<b>The compilers would welcome reports of actual use by the cited trains - or any others, in either direction.</b><br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
=== Raccordement de la Grave: St.Loubès (La Grave d'Ambarès Supérieure) – Ste.Eulalie-Carbon-Blanc (Bifurcation de la Grave)===<br />
(ERA 73A2) FR50<br />
<br />
An east <=> south curve linking the high level (Angoulême) and low level (Saintes) lines. In the past this curve was used by late evening trains southbound to Bordeaux and by early morning and late evening ones northbound from Bordeaux. This pattern probably still applies but details of individual trains are no longer available to the compilers.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de la Grave.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<!---<br />
From the 2011/2012 timetable the following trains, mainly in the early morning and late evening, were scheduled via this curve. '''It cannot be guaranteed that their current equivalents continue to do the same'''. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO <br />
|''5241'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 21:32 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FO <br />
|''8467''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Arcachon<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO<br />
|''8469''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 22:42 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FX<br />
|''8479''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8491''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 00:54 SO Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|''8549''<br />
|18:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8579''<br />
|19:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865023''<br />
|Coutras - 06:12 St Loubes - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865035''<br />
|Coutras - 05:45 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865319''<br />
|Périgeux - 21:36 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865609''<br />
|Bergerac - 06:11 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865727''<br />
|Sarlat/Bergerac - 21:52 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX <br />
|''8406''<br />
|05:00 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuO <br />
|''8408''<br />
|05:40 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''8590''<br />
|Hendaye - 21:13 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MO<br />
|''865030''<br />
|05:44 Bordeaux St Jean - Angoulême<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSO<br />
|''865300''<br />
|05:36 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865322''<br />
|21:52 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865540''<br />
|16:02 Bordeaux St Jean - Limoges Bénédictins <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FSuO<br />
|''865608''<br />
|21:45 Bordeaux St Jean - Bergerac<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865712''<br />
|05:54 Bordeaux St Jean - Sarlat/Bergerac<br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de St.Germain-des-Fossés: Vichy - Roanne===<br />
[fiche 06] (ERA 75A4) FR100<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve is used by through trains between Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand via Vichy when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at St.Germain-des-Fossés. ''It is now the north <=> east main line, from St.Germain-des-Fossés station towards Roanne, that has the less frequent service - see fiche 06.''<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Folligny: Bifurcation km 74,0 – Bifurcation km 74,9===<br />
[fiche Caen-St Lo-Coutances-Granville-Rennes] (ERA 69A4; ''26C2'') FR18/150<br />
<br />
This curve provides a direct connection between Coutances and Granville. It is used in July and August by seasonal through trains between Caen and Granville '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Folligny.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53423 <br />
| Caen - 12:22 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53431 <br />
| Caen - 16:29 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53416 <br />
| 08:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SuO <br />
|TER53444 <br />
| 19:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SO <br />
|TER53442 <br />
| 19:03 Granville - Caen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Granville’s annual carnival takes place every year during the five days that precede Shrove Tuesday. On Sunday 11 February 2018 a <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/loisirs/carnaval-granville-2018 special train]---> special train ran from Caen to Granville and back. It may do so in future years also.<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Saincaize (Nevers avoiding line): La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois – Saincaize===<br />
(ERA 75A5; ''69B2'') FR200 <br />
<br />
There are no regular services over this west <==> south curve <!--- since December 2009---> but it is used for diversions (as in August 2016) when the line north of Nevers is blocked.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Laroche-Migennes: Poste 5 (station south side) - Poste 4 (main line)===<br />
[fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-AUXERRE (TER directs et omnibus)] (ERA 71A2, not shown; ''50D4'') FR201<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Auxerre-St.Gervais and Dijon Ville, between Laroche-Migennes (station south side, voie K, where the trains reverse) and St.Florentin-Vergigny. The east end connection with the former PLM main line at Poste 4 is a grade-separated junction, with separate ''pair'' (up) and ''impair'' (down) ''raccordements''.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de Laroche Migennes.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Perrigny (Dijon): Bifurcation Raccordement Belfort - Perrigny Bifurcation km 318 Chagny lines===<br />
(ERA 71C1; ''66C4'') FR202<br />
<br />
A 2013 high level link south of Dijon between the Dole and Beaune lines, forming part of the non-''LGV'' link between ''LGVs Rhin-Rhône'' and ''Sud-Est''. It avoids conflicts with the ground level routes through the yards and is used by through TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond '''except''' those booked to avoid the Dijon area altogether and call at Lons-le-Saunier (''TGV6836/7'' and ''6874/5''). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Dijon.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Santenay-les-Bains (Chagny ex-Poste 4) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis and Raccordement Nevers===<br />
[fiche DIJON-AUTUN-ETANG-NEVERS] (ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR203<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Chagny. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Chagny (west side platforms) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis===<br />
(ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR18/204<br />
<br />
This route was used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when scheduled to call at Chagny, where they reversed in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). As at December 2017 there do not appear to be any trains booked to take this route.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Rully (Chagny (Poste 1)) – Chagny (west side platforms)===<br />
[fiche MONTCHANIN-CHALON] (ERA 75C5, not shown; ''78B2'', not shown) FR205<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Chalon sur Saône and the Montchanin branch, which call at Chagny in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
<br />
===Redon avoiding line: Severac – Avessac===<br />
[fiche FH04 Rennes Redon Nantes] (ERA 69A2; ''43A4'') FR250<br />
<br />
Used by those trains between Nantes and Rennes '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Redon, nor at Angers St. Laud.<br />
<br />
==Centre Région (Centre)==<br />
<br />
===Les Aubrais/Orléans Area===<br />
(ERA 70B2; ''48C4'') FR300<br />
<br />
The ‘classic’ main lines from Paris to Tours and Vierzon (- Bourges/Limoges) split at Les Aubrais, north of Orléans, bypassing the city centre to the north-west and east respectively. The original main line continues southwards from Les Aubrais to Orléans, which is a terminal station. There are direct curves from Orléans west to the Tours line and east to the Vierzon line. The majority of regional services use these curves whereas there is a much thinner service over the main lines from Les Aubrais avoiding Orléans station:<br />
* towards La Chapelle-St.Mesmin [fiche 2.1], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and the Tours line<br />
* towards St.Cyr-en-Val-La-Source [fiches 1.3, 1.4], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and Vierzon or beyond.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. <br />
<br />
[[File:Orleans.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (Poste 4) – Bifurcation de Tours [ – Monts (Indre-et-Loire)]===<br />
[fiche 2.5] (ERA 70A1, not shown; ''60D3'') FR301<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve from St. Pierre-de-Corps to the Poitiers main line is used by ''TGVs'' and ''Intercités'' running between St-Pierre-des-Corps and Bordeaux. Local trains normally run direct between Monts and Tours, although any exceptions which run via St-Pierre-des-Corps (and hence use this curve) would be shown on fiche 2.5.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Tours4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (poste 4) – Bifurcation Grammont [ – Saumur or Chateau-du-Loir]===<br />
[fiches 2.6 and 2.8] (ERA 70A1; 60D3) FR18/302<br />
<br />
This east <=> west connection bypassing Tours is used by trains running directly between St.Pierre-des-Corps and the Saumur and Château-du-Loir [- Le Mans] lines. Other trains for these lines run direct from or to Tours. Some trains run from or to Tours via St.Pierre-des-Corps, reversing there, but the fiche can be misleading for these trains, with Tours and St.Pierre-des-Corps appearing out of sequence chronologically. '''Travellers are therefore advised to check the timings carefully to establish the exact route of the train.'''<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER60152<br />
| 06:03 Saumur Rive Droite - St Pierre-des-Corps<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4402<br />
| Nantes - 07:48 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13020<br />
| Caen - 11:13 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER57210<br />
| Caen - 13:23 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13022<br />
| Caen - 15:05 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4406<br />
| Nantes - 15:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| FSSuX<br />
| TGV5314<br />
| Nantes - 16:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| IC13030<br />
| Tours - 09:17 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SuO<br />
| TER57238<br />
| Tours - 09:18 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| IC4504<br />
| Lyon-Perrache - 12:03 St Pierre-des-Corps - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Not 7 to 21 Sept, 24 to 28 Sept 2018<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map<br />
[[File:Tours5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Bourges avoiding line: Marmagne – St.Florent-sur-Cher===<br />
[fiche 4.1] (ERA 74C5; ''75B1'') FR303<br />
<br />
This west <=> south curve is used by trains between Vierzon and St.Florent-sur-Cher '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Bourges.<br />
<br />
===Bellébat turning circle (''Musée des Transports de Pithiviers'')===<br />
(ERA 70C2, not shown; ''49A2-A3'') FR304<br />
<br />
See [http://www.amtp-cfpithiviers.com/ their website]. Normally, trains arrive and depart by the long arc of the balloon loop at Bellébat. Exceptionally, the first train of the day arrives, and the last train of the day leaves, by the short arc here instead.<br />
<br />
==Champagne-Ardenne Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Trois Puits: Champagne-Ardenne TGV – Trois Puits [ – Reims]===<br />
[fiche C01 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières - Reims - Paris] (ERA 71B4; ''17A4-B4'') FR350<br />
<br />
This link with ''LGV Est'' is unusual in that through Paris <=> Reims TGVs (not calling at Champagne-Ardenne TGV) use it, as also do non-TGV shuttle trains (navettes) making connections at Champagne-Ardenne TGV - using bay platforms there.<br />
<br />
Note that the fiche 'C31 Navettes gare Champagne-Ardenne TGV' listed in the table seems not to exist.<br />
<br />
===<div id="CH_AL"></div>Raccordement direct de Chalindrey (Culmont-Chalindrey avoiding line): Andilly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Est) – Le Pailly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Sud)===<br />
(ERA 71C2; ''67B1'') FR18/351<br />
<br />
Used by those TGVs between Nancy and Dijon '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culmont-Chalindrey.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6824''<br />
| Nancy Ville - 14:28 Neufchâteau - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6868''<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 11:43 Dijon Ville - Nancy Ville <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Vouziers - Challerange===<br />
(ERA 71B5; ''18B3'') FR18/352 <br />
<br />
Used until 2017 by [http://cftsa.fr CFT du Sud des Ardennes] trains as an extension of their normal operations only during their ''Fête du Rail'' weekend - usually in mid-August. The line is owned by <i>SNCF Réseau</i> and, in view of the condition of the track, permission to operate has not been given for 2018. The line is <i>expected</i> to transfer to other (presumably local authority) ownership, when CFTSA hope to resume operations over the Attigny - Vouziers - Challerange section.<br />
<br />
==Franche-Comté Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV east curve===<br />
(ERA 72A1; ''67D4'') FR18/401<br />
<br />
Used by direct TGVs between Mulhouse and Besançon Viotte. Note that trains between Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station and Besançon Viotte use the west curve.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6837''<br />
| Strasbourg Ville - 12:32 Belfort-Montbéliard TGV - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6875''<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 17:01 Besançon-Viotte - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Île-de-France Région (including Paris) (Île-de-France)==<br />
<br />
The ''LGV Interconnexion'' runs through the country to the east of Paris and links ''LGVs Nord, Est, Sud-Est'' and (by a connection via the southern part of the ''Grande Ceinture'') ''Atlantique''; it is used by all TGVs between these routes. The <i>Petite Ceinture</i> which ran around central Paris is mostly closed, while the <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, which runs round the outer suburbs, is partly closed, partly freight-only and partly used for suburban services; it only carries regular passenger services transferring from one main line to another as shown below. <br />
<br />
===St.Denis – Pantin (Villette Poste 2) (via La Chapelle Poste 6)===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR450<br />
<br />
This is a combination of the links between the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines via Evangile signalbox. It is used only by the '''weekday''' Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL (or elsewhere) ''VSOE'' trains as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Garges-Sarcelles (Bifurcation Pierrefitte Sud) – Noisy le Sec===<br />
(ERA 66A4-A3; ''31B:A1-A2'') FR451<br />
<br />
This is a section of the ''Grande Ceinture'' circular freight route round Paris, linking the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines. It is used only by the ''VSOE'' train between Paris Est and Calais Ville '''on Sunday mornings''', instead of route FR450. Visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lieusaint: Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Crisenoy) – Combs-la-Ville-Quincy===<br />
(ERA 66B1; ''31C4-D4'') FR452<br />
<br />
This is the former northern end of the ''LGV Sud-Est'', now little used (a few trains are routed this way for engineering works or pathing purposes) as most TGVs to and from Paris Gare-de-Lyon run via Triangle de Coubert (Bifurcation Sud – Bifurcation Ouest), joining the main line from Gare-de-Lyon at Bifurcation de Creteil, north of Villeneuve Triage.<br />
<br />
===Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy ''or'' Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Valenton) – Les Saules===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR453<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV-Interconnexion'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud-Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Les Saules.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Massy TGV – Chemin d'Antony (Bifurcation km 23,4)===<br />
(ERA 65C2; ''31A:D4'') FR454<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV Atlantique'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Massy-Palaiseau.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Paris-Bercy-Bourgogne-Pays d'Auvergne===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR455<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Gare-de-Lyon, being located behind carriage sidings outside the station. Relatively little use used to be made of the facility but there are now various regular services [e.g. Bourgogne fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-SENS-PARIS (TER directs)]. Trains also use the goods lines (M1 and M2) to access the station.<br />
<br />
===Paris Gare de Lyon Banlieue – Villeneuve St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 66A3-A2; ''31B:A2-B4'') FR456<br />
<br />
Between the throat of Gare de Lyon and Villeneuve St.Georges there are three sets of tracks - not always following exactly the same alignment - in passenger use: ''1.'' fast lines (1 and 2); ''2.'' suburban or slow lines (1bis and 2bis), and ''3.'' erstwhile goods lines (1M and 2M). The M tracks - which have platforms at most stations - have been observed being used by passenger stock but no definitive information of regular loaded workings is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Villeneuve St.Georges – Vigneux sur Seine===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR457<br />
<br />
Between Villeneuve St.Georges and Vigneux sur Seine there are three pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1B and 2B; ''2.'' 1C and 2C, and ''3.'' 1M and 2M. The B tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST--->. No definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Vigneux sur Seine – Juvisy===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:A4'') FR458<br />
<br />
Between Vigneux sur Seine and Juvisy there are two pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1C and 2C, and ''2.'' 1M and 2M. The northbound track 1M crosses over the Orléans main lines and back again by two bridges north of Juvisy. The C tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST---> and have been observed being used by other passenger stock but no definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Juvisy (PLM-side) – Athis-Mons (via TER tracks)===<br />
(ERA 66A2, not shown; ''31B:A4'', not fully shown) FR459<br />
<br />
Through RER line C trains use Orléans-side platforms (Quais F, G and H). Juvisy RER line C turn-back trains generally use PLM-side platforms (Quai C), reached by tracks 1 TER (inbound - train codes ''JILL'' and ''JADE'') and 2 TER (outbound via overbridge). Together, these save such trains having to make the flat crossing movement which would be necessary if Quai E were used.<br />
<br />
===Dourdan-la-Forêt===<br />
(ERA 65B1, not shown; ''31A4'') FR460<br />
<br />
Dourdan-la-Forêt is a dead-ended single platform on a track parallel to the Vendôme line, used by those RER line C4 trains so advertised. No service mid July to late August.<br />
<br />
===Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard===<br />
(ERA 65C3; ''31B:A2'') FR461<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Montparnasse and comprises additional platforms adjacent to the main running lines about 0.5km from the main station, for those trains so advertised (including - from 10 December 2017 - ''Ouigo'' services with Rennes and Nantes).<br />
<br />
===Versailles Chantiers – St.Cyr l'École===<br />
(ERA 65B3, not shown; ''31A:C3-B3'') FR462<br />
<br />
Main line trains from Paris Montparnasse to Plaisir Grignon or beyond (including Granville line trains) do not use the main lines between Versailles and St.Cyr but a separate alignment (tracks M1/M2 - formerly freight) via Versailles-Matelots, to the north. The east end access to this route - at the west end of Versaille Chantiers - is for westbound trains to use the diveunder, from platforms G, H or J, and for eastbound trains to use the curve on the north side to the RER line C (B1/B2) tracks (rather than the diveunder); there are, however, exceptions to both these general practices.<br />
<br />
No trains have been identified as using the flat junction (Bifurcation de Granville), just west of St.Cyr station, to gain access to the Granville line.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Versailles.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Épluches (Bifurcation d'Épluches) – St.Ouen-l'Aumone-Liesse (Bifurcation de Liesse (Nord))===<br />
(ERA 65C5; ''31A1'') FR18/463<br />
<br />
Some TER line H trains between Paris Nord and Persan Beaumont (usually for Beauvais or beyond) with a non-stop journey time of 35 or more minutes (instead of the normal 27-30 mins) use this route to avoid a conflicting movement on the route via Montsoult-Maffliers.<br />
<br />
Each summer in recent years a single SSuO round trip between Paris Nord and Auvers-sur-Oise has operated via this route, advertised locally<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20601<br />
| 09:38 Paris Nord - Auvers sur Oise (arr 10:22)<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20606<br />
| 18:32 Auvers sur Oise - Paris Nord (arr 19:05)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 7 Jul to 14 Oct 2018; also 15 Aug, '''not''' 1 to 23 Sep, 6, 7 Oct<br />
<br />
Note that because of engineering works, revised arrangements (which may not involve the use of this route) may apply on some dates.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Bezons ''and'' Raccordement de la Folie: Houilles Carrières sur Seine (Bifurcation de Bezons) – Puteaux (Bifurcation de Puteaux)===<br />
(ERA 65C4-C3; ''31A:D2'') FR464<br />
<br />
This west <=> south connection is an alternative to the Mantes la-Jolie - Plaisir Grignon - Versailles line during engineering work.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Piquettes: Mantes la-Jolie – Rosny-sur-Seine===<br />
(ERA 65A4, not shown; ''30B2'') FR465<br />
<br />
This curve connects the south side of Mantes-la-Jolie station (Rouen platforms) and the Le Havre line. It may be used if a train from Paris to the Le Havre line needs to be overtaken by a fast service from Paris to the Rouen line, though this may be necessary only if the ‘slow line’ Rouen platforms are occupied by terminating trains. Any train to the Rouen line calling at platforms F to H must use the Raccordement. The following train has been observed using this route and appears to be booked to use platform H.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| 850003<br />
| Paris St. Lazare - 06:44 Mantes la-Jolie - Rouen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would welcome further observations on use of this curve.'''<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mantes-le-Jolie.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Provins - Villiers-St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 71A5; ''32:C4'') FR18/466<br />
<br />
[http://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] has resumed occasional excursions over this 15 km section of SNCF freight line. Trains are advertised 23 - 29 July 2018 (''festival du patrimoine de Seine et Marne'') and 27 October (''train de la Citrouille'').<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Narbonne: Lézignan (Bifurcation Raccordement Nord) – Port La Nouvelle (Bifurcation Sud)===<br />
(ERA 78C3) FR18/500<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Narbonne is used by two dated train pairs.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| AVE/TGV9726<br />
| Barcelona Sants - 19:56 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3730<br />
| Cerbère - 18:54/19:03/19:29 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau [- Paris Austerlitz]<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3731<br />
| [Paris Austerlitz -] Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:05/08:07 Lézignan - Port Bou<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9729<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:59 Carcassonne - Barcelona Sants<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 27 June - 25 September 2018<br />
<br />
D*: the dates of running are too complex to list<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
(ERA 75C2-79C4) - see FR801<br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
===Novéant – Onville===<br />
[fiches L28 and L30] (ERA 72A4; ''36A1'') FR550<br />
<br />
This section of the former Paris - Metz main line has a service of trains direct between Metz and Onville, some continuing to Bar le Duc (fiche L28) and others to Conflans-Jarny and either Verdun or Longwy (fiche L30).<br />
<br />
===<div id="BOUZ"></div>Bouzonville – Niedaltdorf (Germany)===<br />
(ERA 72A5-B5; ''20B3-C2'') FR18/551<br />
<br />
This line has no regular service but a special shuttle service has operated from Dillingen in conjunction with the Good Friday market at Bouzonville - see Germany route [[Germany_(Saarland)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#NIEDBOUZ|Niedaltdorf – Bouzonville (France)]]. However, freight traffic ceased in 2013 on this line, of which the German section is reportedly to be sold or closed completely. The 2018 service, which was similar to that in previous years, ran on 30 March every two hours from 09:10 to 17:10 from Dillingen (Saar) and 10:15 to 16:15, then 17:45 from Bouzonville.<br />
<br />
===Sarrebourg avoiding line: Sarraltroff – Réding===<br />
[fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section] (ERA 72B4; 55B3) FR552<br />
<br />
This is used by 'classic' trains between Metz and Strasbourg '''''not''''' calling at Sarrebourg. Non-stop TGVs run via the ''LGV Est''; see FR553.<br />
<br />
For the other two sides of the triangle:<br />
* [Berthelming -] Sarraltroff - Sarrebourg: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section<br />
* Sarrebourg - Réding: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Nancy section<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lucy: Rémilly (Bif. km 124,255) - Lesse (Bif. km 306)===<br />
(ERA 72A4; ''36C2'') FR553<br />
<br />
This north west <=> south east connection, south east of Rémilly, is used by TGVs between Luxembourg, Metz and Strasbourg transferring between the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line and the section of ''LGV Est'' east of here. <br />
<br />
<i>Raccordement de Lucy is the opposite angle from the curve which allows through running between Paris and the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line east of here, which formed the eastern exit from ''LGV Est'' until 2016 but which is now used only if ''LGV Est'' east of here is blocked.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. Pending redrawing of the map, note that the eastern and western junctions on LGV Est are both grade-separated (flyovers).<br />
[[File:LGVEst2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Woippy – Maizières-lès-Metz (via Woippy-Triage (west side))===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4, not shown; ''20A3'') FR554<br />
<br />
Some local passenger trains are scheduled to use this route (voies 1B/2B) for pathing purposes; the actual routing is therefore particularly susceptible to the timekeeping not only of the train itself but of those around it. Likely trains can usually be distinguished in the timetable by being allowed longer between Metz Ville and Hagondange. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Uckange: Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) – Hayange (Bif. de Florange)===<br />
[CFL website plus fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 63C2, ''20A3'') FR554A<br />
<br />
This line avoiding Thionville enables trains to run direct between Metz and Longuyon.<br />
<br />
The line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg was completely closed from 10 to 18 February 2018 and two pairs of Monday to Friday rush hour trains between Luxembourg and Metz were diverted via Rodange, Longuyon and Uckange, non-stop to/from Uckange. These diversions are likely to be repeated during a long blockade in July-August 2018.<br />
<br />
<!--- THE FOLLOWING DETAILS HAVE BEEN LEFT COMMENTED OUT SO THAT THEY CAN BE RESURRECTED FOR JULY/AUGUST<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86772<br />
| Metz - 05:47 Uckange - Luxembourg 07:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86710<br />
| Metz - 06:51 Uckange - Luxembourg 08:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86532<br />
| 16:29 Luxembourg - Metz 18:27<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86534<br />
| 17:29 Luxembourg - Metz 19:29<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 12 - 16 February 2018<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Contournement de Metz: Metz Ville – Woippy===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4; ''20A4'') FR555<br />
<br />
The original Metz - Thionville line provides an alternative route to the west of the current main line of 1908. Trains using this line arrive and depart at the south end of Metz Ville station, instead of the north. Non-stop trains booked 17 or more minutes between Metz and Hagondange, or 22 or more minutes between Metz and Thionville, might be expected to run this route as it is 4.5km longer than the main line. The following train was observed in April 2018 taking this route:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX<br />
|''837682'' <br />
| 14:09 Metz Ville - Thionville, <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Esch sur Alzette [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Audun-le-Tiche===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19C2'') FR556<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60c'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Dudelange-Usines [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Volmerange-les-Mines===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19D2'') FR557<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60A'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===<span id="MD"></span>(Lasauvage Carreau [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Saulnes===<br />
(ERA 72A5, not shown; ''19C2'') FR558<br />
<br />
[http://minieresbunn.lu/index.php/fr Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] operates a 700mm gauge preserved mining line into France.<br />
<br />
==Nord Pas-de-Calais Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<u>'''Note on Dates:'''</u> A number of curves in this region have been used by <I> TER Mer</I> summer "dated" weekend services to the coast. As the timetable information for these services is not published until the start of the summer, it is not known at the time of the December timetable change. If shown, these entries will therefore carry the previous year ("FRyy") and contain the previous summer's information until updated with the information for the current summer. From summer 2017 the programme was marketed as "éTER en Hauts-de-France" <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/nord-pas-de-calais/loisirs/bons-plans/eter "éTER en Hauts-de-France"], with the timings of Saturday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20samedi_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131848.pdf here] and Sunday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20dimanche_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131849.pdf here]--->.<br />
<br />
===Calais Fréthun (Bifurcation de Riviere Neuve) – Pont de Coulogne (Bifurcation de Coulogne)===<br />
[fiche 12] (ERA 67B4; ''1B1'') FR18/651<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Calais Ville is used in summer 2018 by "dated" weekend Lille Flandres/Arras <==> Boulogne/Rang-du-Fliers-Verton trains shown non-stop between Hazebrouck and Wimille-Wimereux. <!---See [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/TER%20MER-BD_tcm64-18176_tcm64-53229.pdf SNCF TER]. ---> Note that this route is '''''not''''' used by TGVs to/from Boulogne, which reverse at Calais Fréthun using a connection off the LGV line. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Calais.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO<br />
|''846909'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 08:01 Hazebrouck - Rang-du-Fliers-Verton<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846919'' <br />
|09:25 Lille Flandres - Boulogne Ville<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846962'' <br />
|Boulogne Ville - 17:10 Wimille-Wimereux - Arras<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846935'' <br />
|Rang du Fliers - 17:48 Wimille-Wimereux - Lille Flandres <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018.<br />
<br />
===Lambersart (Bifurcation de St.André) [A] ''or ''Lompret (Bifurcation de 4 Maisons) [B] – Santes (Bifurcation de la Tortue) [C] ''or ''Haubourdin (Bifurcation de Haubourdin) [D] (via Sequedin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1-A1'') FR18/652<br />
<br />
This freight line to the west of Lille, the middle section of which passes Lille Dèlivrance Triage and Sequedin, has triangular junctions at each end (hence the title given above). Route [B] <=> [D] 1s used by a summer "dated" weekend Dunkerque train. See [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20samedis%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198636.pdf L’ÉTER] (Saturdays) and [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20dimanche%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198635.pdf L’ÉTER] (Sundays).<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_Delivrance.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
Note that train 846924 Jeumont - Dunkerque does '''''not''''' take this route.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT1"></div>Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Raccordement de Ronchin – Lille Porte de Douai (Bifurcation de la Justice)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR18/653<br />
<br />
This freight line on the south side of Lille avoids the main station area. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT2|Bif. de Lesquin – Lille Poste 2 connection]] between Bif. de Lesquin and Bif. du Mont de Terre. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926/27'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018. <br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Ronchin (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR17/654<br />
<br />
No use in 2018. This freight line links the lines which diverge at the throat of Lille Flandres station. It was used by a summer 2017 "dated" weekend Dunkerque train, which ran on normal passenger lines via Béthune in 2016 and in 2018 on 4 August 2018 ran via FR17/652 and 653. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
<br />
[[File:Lille_4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Lille-Flandres Point Z – Lille-Europe AS===<br />
(ERA 64A3, not shown; ''3B1'') FR18/655<br />
<br />
This freight line links the Lille-Flandres - Tourcoing line with the ''LGV Nord'' via the Raccordement de Becquerel, which descends alongside the ''Remisage de Lille Fives'' TGV Depot. It is common with the previous entry between Jonctions du Lion d'Or and Lille-Flandres Point Z. It is used by ''Ouigo'' TGVs between Tourcoing and Marseille, Nantes and Rennes: visit the [http://www.ouigo.com/train-pour-tourcoing ''Ouigo''] website for details of services to/from Tourcoing. Part of the route is also used by TGV services from Lille Flandres to Paris and other destinations via L'Aeroport Charles de Gaulle.<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
THESE SERVICES ARE NOW OUT OF DATE <br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SuX<br />
| TGV7633<br />
| 08:29 Tourcoing - Nantes<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7613<br />
| 11:29 Tourcoing - Rennes <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7603<br />
| 19:47 Tourcoing - Lyon Part Dieu <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7600<br />
| Lyon Perrache - 09:52 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7630<br />
| Nantes - 17:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SX<br />
| TGV7610<br />
| Rennes - 21:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT2"></div>Lille Flandres (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; 3B1) FR17/656<br />
<br />
No use in 2018 as on 4 August 2018 the previous years TER MER train ex Dunkerque ran via FR17/652 and 653. This freight line on the south side of Lille links the Bethune line tracks from Lille Flandres station and the Lille Avoiding Line with the Valenciennes line. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT1|Bif. de Lesquin – Bif. de la Justice connection]] between Bif. du Mont de Terre and Bif. de Lesquin.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Avion: Pont de Sallaumines (Bifurcation de Sallaumines Ouest) – Avion (Bifurcation d'Avion)===<br />
(ERA 64B2; ''7A1'') FR657<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Arras - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Sallaumines: Sallaumines (Bifurcation d'Epinette) – Coron de Méricourt (Bifurcation du Sallaumines)===<br />
(ERA 64B3; ''7A1'') FR658<br />
<br />
This north <=> east curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Lille - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_ARN"></div>Arras Raccordement Nord: Arras (Bifurcation 199,6km) – Lille (Bifurcation 161,94km)===<br />
(ERA 64C3; ''7A1'') FR659<br />
<br />
This west <=> north spur, linking Arras station with the ''LGV Nord-Europe'' to the north, is used by trains running non-stop between Arras and Lille (whether -Flandres or -Europe stations) in less than 25 minutes; trains taking 33 minutes or more use the 'classic' line via Douai. <br />
<br />
In addition to long distance <I>TGVs</I>, the spur is used also by:<br />
<br />
• two <I>TERGV</I> commuter trains [fiche Ligne 01 Amiens Arras Lille] each way between Arras and Lille-Europe<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#PR_AAL|Amiens avoiding line]]<br />
<br />
===Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 64C4; ''7C1'') FR18/660<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''843408'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 18:04 Somain - Cambrai<br />
|} <br />
<br />
It was also used by additional services to Lille Braderie [Special Market] on 1/2 September 2018 and in the past by summer dated weekend TER Mer Busigny <==> Cambrai <==> Calais Ville trains. However according to Cambrai Ville station staff the 2018 TER Mer's would run non-stop on the normal passenger route to Douai so '''prospective travellers in future years should make local enquiries.'''<br />
<br />
===Aulnoye-Aymeries avoiding line: Berlaimont (Bifurcation de Berlaimont) – Leval (Bifurcation de Leval Est)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 68A1; ''8B2'') FR661<br />
<br />
This line, which passes to the south of Aulnoye-Aymeries station, is used by two Monday to Friday Hirson <==> Lille round trips '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Aulnoye-Aymeries. <br />
<br />
It was also used by ''summer dated'' services in summer 2017:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846926 <br />
| Hirson - 08:00 Avesnes - Dunkerque <br />
|-<br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846952 <br />
| Dunkerque - 21:01 Valenciennes - Hirson <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
==Pays-de-la-Loire Région (Pays-de-la-Loire)==<br />
<br />
===Sablé-sur-Sarthe Triangle===<br />
[fiche Ligne 28] (ERA 69C2; ''45C4'') FR680<br />
<br />
This triangular junction provides a link southwards from the ''LGV BPL'' to the 'classic' Le Mans - Angers [ - Nantes] line at Sablé-sur-Sarthe.<br />
<br />
*The east <=> south curve ('''Raccordement de Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables ''TGVs'' to run between Paris and Angers [ - Nantes]. This curve is used by all such trains which do '''not''' call at Le Mans. However, it appears that the majority of TGVs which call at Le Mans use the ‘classic’ line between Le Mans and Angers. The following train has been identified as running via the Raccordement as it overtakes a preceding TER en route to Angers: <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
| FX <br />
|''TGV 5228'' <br />
| Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle TGV - 17:02 Le Mans - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would greatly appreciate reports of any other TGVs taking this route between Le Mans and Angers.'''<br />
*The west <=> south curve ('''Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables TER trains to run direct between [Rennes - ] Laval and Angers [ - Nantes].<br />
<br />
==Picardie Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<br />
===<div id="PR_AAL"></div>Amiens avoiding line: Boves (Bifurcation de Longueau Sud) – Lamotte Brebière (Bifurcation de Camon)===<br />
(ERA 67C1 ; ''6B4-C4'') FR700<br />
<br />
This curve is used by:<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#NPC_ARN|Arras Raccordement Nord]]<br />
<br />
• the [London Victoria <==>] Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL ''VSOE'' train as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
<br />
===Barreau de Jussy (Mennessis avoiding line): Jussy (Bifurcation de Flavy-le-Martel) – Montescourt (Bifurcation Jussy)===<br />
[fiche Ligne 25 Amiens - Tergnier Laon / St-Quentin] (ERA 71A5; ''16B1'') FR701<br />
<br />
This curve connects the Chaulnes - Tergnier and St.Quentin - Tergnier lines north of Mennessis. Trains between Amiens and St.Quentin '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Tergnier use this line.<br />
<br />
===Ormoy-Villers – Bifurcation Ageux – (a) Longueil-Ste.Marie ''or'' (b) Le-Meux-Croix-St.Ouen (Bifurcation Rivecourt)===<br />
[fiches Ligne 20 Laon Crépy-en-Valois Paris and Ligne 24 St-Quentin Tergnier Compiègne Paris] (ERA 70C4-C5; ''15D4-D3'') FR702<br />
<br />
This electrified line connects the Paris Nord - Laon and Creil - St.Quentin lines, with a triangular junction at the north end. It is used only when the following diversions are advertised:<br />
*(a) between Paris and Laon (with reversal at Ormoy-Villers) where extended journey times and bus substitution south of Ormoy-Villers apply [fiche Ligne 20] <br />
*(b) between Paris and Compiègne or beyond when shown ''non-stop'' with a journey time of circa 51+ minutes ''(instead of the normal 40 minutes)'' [fiche Ligne 24].<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charente Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Juillé and Raccordement Villognon (north of Angoulême)===<br />
(ERA 73C3, not shown correctly - see [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A9ma_de_la_LGV_Sud_Europe_Atlantique this schematic plan instead]) FR725<br />
<br />
These two links north of Angoulême between ''LGV SEA'' and the 'classic' line are about 7.25km apart but function as a single grade separated junction. The more northerly raccordement (Juillé) is normally used by northbound TGVs serving Angoulême and the more southerly (Villognon) by southbound TGVs. These came into service 2 July 2017.<br />
<br />
==Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur [PACA] Région (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Grand Sud: Avignon TGV (Bifurcation Km 624,0/624,2) – Manduel-Redessan (Suze SEI71 (Bifurcation Km 5,2))===<br />
(ERA 79C4) FR18/750<br />
<br />
The third side of the Triangle des Angles, west of Avignon TGV station, is used only by direct TGVs/AVEs between Marseille and Nîmes or beyond.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9731<br />
| Marseille St Charles - 08:43 Avignon TGV - Madrid Puerta de Atocha <br />
|-<br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9724<br />
| Madrid Puerta de Atocha - 20:25 Nîmes - Marseille St Charles <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===L'Estaque – Marseille St.Charles===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B3-B2) FR751<br />
<br />
Trains between Marseille St. Charles and L'Estaque [- Miramas] calling at Arenc-Euroméditerranée use this route; the trains may use lines on either side of Marseille Maritime Arenc yard (north of Arenc-Euroméditerranée station) which are reversible. All other trains between Marseille and L'Estaque or beyond use the main line.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement des Chartreux: St.Berthelmy – Marseille Blancarde===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B2) FR18/752<br />
<br />
This curve bypassing Marseille St. Charles to the north is used by TGVs to/from Toulon and beyond '''''not''''' calling at Marseille St.Charles, and by the following local services:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881702 <br />
| Les Arcs Draguignan - 08:07 Marseille-Blancarde - Miramas<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881707<br />
| Miramas - 17:07 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881709<br />
| Miramas - 18:12 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Rhône-Alpes Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
''[the southern portion of this line is in Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)]''<br />
<br />
[fiche 05] (ERA 75C2-79C4) FR17/800<br />
<br />
This line runs parallel with the Lyon to Montpellier main line between Givors and Nîmes, though mostly on the opposite bank of the River Rhône, principally as a freight and diversionary route. There are intermediate links between the two routes at St.Rambert d'Albon, Livron and Avignon Centre, and few passenger trains run the full length of the West Bank line. The line is used fairly regularly by passenger trains diverted for engineering work. Certain diverted trains can be identified when they are advertised to call at St.Péray or Le Teil (such calls may appear in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes fiche 05). These stations are on the West Bank line, and are retained so that passengers may board or alight from diverted trains near Valence and Montélimar, respectively.<br />
<br />
For such diversions, readers should check for themselves by means of the [http://www.ter.sncf.com/rhone-alpes/depliant/recherche TER Rhône-Alpes website], fiche 05 and its associated engineering work notices. <br />
<br />
The following sections of route are used from time to time.<br />
*'''(a) Givors Canal – St.Rambert d'Albon'''<br />
Look for extended running times and omitted Vienne stops but no St.Péray stops.<br />
<br />
*'''(b) Givors Canal – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for omitted Vienne and Tain l'Hermitage stops but still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(c) Givors Canal – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but '''''not''''' calling at Vienne or Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(d) Givors Canal – Avignon Centre'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but omitted Vienne stops and still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(e) Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops and omitted Vienne stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(f) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops and still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(g) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but still calling at Vienne<br />
<br />
*'''(h) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(i) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(j) Livron – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops<br />
<br />
*'''(k) Livron – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(l) Avignon Centre – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for trains which normally call at Tarascon but where those stops are omitted - see [https://www.ter.sncf.com/paca/depliant/recherche Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur] fiche 11 bis<br />
<br />
===Ambérieu avoiding line: Ambronay-Priay – Torcieu===<br />
(ERA 75C3) FR801<br />
<br />
Used by TGVs between Bourg-en-Bresse and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Ambérieu.<br />
<br />
===Culoz avoiding line: Seyssel-Corbonod – Vions-Chanaz (Bifurcation de Chambéry===<br />
[fiche 51] (ERA 76A3) FR802<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Bellegarde and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culoz.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Valence TGV - Sillon Alpin Sud: east - south connection at Valence TGV===<br />
(ERA 75C1) FR18/803<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve between the Grenoble - Valence line and ''LGV Méditerranée'' - via Valence TGV platform 5 - is used by TGVs running between Grenoble and points south on the ''LGV Méditerranée''. One train each way between Marseille St. Charles and Annecy ran at weekends in July and August 2016. Details for 2018 were not available at December 2017. <i>It is the opposite angle from the grade-separated Raccordement de Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence which allows through running between Valence and points north via LGV Sud Est.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File: Raccordement du Sillon Alpin.jpg|50px|thumb|none]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
=== Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian===<br />
(ERA 32B3) FR18/804<br />
<br />
This curve is used by trains travelling between Grenoble and Modane which are not required to call at Montmélian.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9247<br />
| Paris Gare de Lyon - 09:41 Grenoble - Milano Porta Garibaldi <br />
|}<br />
D1 15 July to 9 September except 12-14 August<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 />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]]</b><br />
<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche A 08*<br />
| Saales - St.Dié-des-Vosges <br />
| *(fiche Strasbourg Saales St.Dié Epinal). Better service at weekends. ''Service should be restored to more normal level by 2021 on completion of relaying and other work.''<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine) ==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 33<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Hendaye – Irún (Spain) <br />
| There have been no '''standard gauge''' services from Hendaye to Irún since December 2017. The only cross-border services are broad gauge trains: 310 and 313 (Hotel trains from/to Lisboa Santa Apolonia) and IC 280 '''from''' A Coruña .<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 66, 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Summer service plus winter weekends (except 11 January - 29 March 2018)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 09<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant <br />
| Better service at weekends. <b>However, line will be closed from 21 October 2017 until December 2018 for relaying work.</b><br />
|-<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only (note ** = fiche is at TER Bretagne website, but "hidden" under Loisirs et Tourisme > Lignes touristiques$$ > Tire Bouchon <i>(= Corkscrew)</i> and the current version is not usually available until the summer<br />
<br />
$$ accessed by clicking on the 'Les trains touristiques' tab!)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 31, 32<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
==Limousin Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charentes Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Bressuire - Chantonnay<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions from Other Sparse Services section==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne Région <br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Lorraine Région <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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services&diff=24339France - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services2018-09-18T06:38:03Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Sablé-sur-Sarthe Triangle */ Suspension of Virgule services removed</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 />
Therefore for some entries this list does not represent the service for any specific timetable period and it is not planned to update these entries with each timetable change. 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. These entries are based on the timetable commencing 11 December 2016, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in [[General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Dates of Running==<br />
SNCF has some 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 this page) 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 this page being up to date at all times and should check on the SNCF journey planner.<br />
'''<br />
Check for alterations in consequence of engineering works and of service reductions at holiday periods at [http://www.sncf.com/fr/prevision-trafic SNCF] website or through the [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER] regional websites.<br />
<br />
==Engineering Diversions==<br />
The headings for routes which have a habit of re-appearing reasonably regularly for engineering diversions are retained but this is no guarantee that such diversions will be scheduled during any given timetable year. Where examples of usage are given to assist in identifying relevant trains, users should compare these with the timetable for the period in which they are interested - where the details are the same then it may be expected that the routing will be the same. ''Reports to bring entries up to date will be welcomed. If any reader can provide details from the train service databases the compilers will be very pleased to hear from them.''<br />
<br />
==LGVs==<br />
Details are not generally given below of spurs linking to ''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'' (LGVs) (except in the cases of a few little-used or particularly obscure spurs). An overall schematic of LGVs is available [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] while a more detailed plan identifying the lines used by ''Trains à Grande Vitesse'' (TGV) trains ''beyond'' the LGV system is [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2015-juin/A3_traficTGV_v1-2.pdf here]. More 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'' and it should be assumed that TGVs make maximum use of LGVs on their line of route. <br />
<br />
Where reference is made to TGV services, this should be taken to include ''Eurostar'', ''Thalys'', ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains as appropriate, where the context so permits and unless otherwise indicated (but remember that ''Ouigo'' and ''Izy'' trains may not show up on Voyages-SNCF or HAFAS-related on-line journey planners - only on their dedicated websites).<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 [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter TER website]: select the relevant ''Région'' and follow ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''Fiches Horaires''. <br />
<br />
==Regions==<br />
From 2016 the ''Régions'' (which date only from 1982) have been merged into ''super-Régions'', although the pre-2016 regional names continue to be used by SNCF - and herein. The ''super-Région'' names are shown in parentheses alongside the old in the lists below.<br />
<br />
There are no entries for the following Régions: Corse (Corse); Haute-Normandie (Normandie); Midi-Pyrénées (Occitanie)<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA" refer to the European Railway Atlas France & Benelux Regional Series 2016, by M.G.Ball. An additional map reference in italics for some entries refers to the Schweers+Wall ''Atlas Ferroviaire de la France Band 1 Nord'', dated 2015.<br />
<br />
SNCF Voyages' most recent on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date: see the [[France_-_General_Information#Maps|General Information Maps]] page for mapping information.<br />
<br />
=Obscure services=<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Mulhouse===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69B1'') FR18/1<br />
<br />
Three possible routes exist for <I>TGVs</I> between Strasbourg and Belfort-Montbéliard <I>TGV</I> (or beyond) to traverse the Mulhouse area.<br />
<br />
*<b>(a) by means of the original main line via Mulhouse-Dornach, with reversal in Mulhouse Ville</b><br />
Trains with a stop of 9 minutes or more at Mulhouse and taking 46 minutes or less to/from Strasbourg are highly likely to take this route.<br />
<br />
*<b>(b) via the Contournement de Mulhouse and Raccordement de Wanne: Lutterbach (Haut-Rhin) (Bifurcation de Lutterbach) – Mulhouse (via Mulhouse Nord)</b><br />
<br />
This route enables these trains to avoid reversal at Mulhouse. It may be assumed that trains spending only 3-4 minutes at Mulhouse Ville run this way as they do not have time for a reversal. <b>The compilers would welcome confirmation (or contradiction) that the following trains take this route.</b><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9580<br />
| Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 16:15 Strasbourg - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6827 <br />
| Strasbourg - 18:31 Colmar - Marseille St-Charles <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuO <br />
| TGV6898/9 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 11:24 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV9582 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 12:55 Mulhouse Ville - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf <br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| TGV9896 <br />
| Montpellier - 15:02 Mulhouse Ville - Luxembourg<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6874 <br />
| Marseille St-Charles - 18:04 Mulhouse Ville - Strasbourg<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
*<b>(c) via Mulhouse-Dornach – Brunstatt</b><br />
<br />
This direct curve, to the west of Mulhouse, between the Colmar line near Mulhouse-Dornach and the Belfort line near Brunstatt, enables these trains to avoid Mulhouse altogether. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6839<br />
| 06:34 Strasbourg Ville - Montpellier Saint-Roch <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6827<br />
| 18:36 Strasbourg Ville - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TGV6899<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 10:44 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV6882/3<br />
| Montpellier Saint-Roch - 18:37 Belfort Montbéliard TGV - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mulhouse_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Flüh [Switzerland] –) frontier – Leymen – frontier (– Rodersdorf [Switzerland])===<br />
(ERA 72C1; ''69C2'') FR2<br />
<br />
BLT operate through France - see [http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/en/welcome/ Swiss table] > 505 - over this route which is not linked to the French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Vendenheim –) Mundolsheim – Strasbourg via ligne 1 bis on the west side of Hausbergen Yard===<br />
(ERA 31A5, not shown; ''39B1-B2'') FR3<br />
<br />
Track 1 bis runs on the west side of the main lines, veering away at Mundolsheim station to run "behind" Hausbergen yard and coming back alongside the main lines at the south end of the yard, near the PRS / Poste 1. This line '''may''' be used by trains booked more than the usual 15/16/17 mins between Mommenheim and Strasbourg. At January 2018 it was reported as being used (and booked) by the following train:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX <br />
|''86383'' <br />
| Saarbrücken Hbf (Z) - 15:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
(Z): starts from Mommenheim 26 February to 6 April 2018 and from Diemeringen on dates in late Apr/ early May <br />
<br />
It '''may''' be used also by the following train. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SX <br />
|''830933'' <br />
| Sarreguemines - 19:30 Mommenheim - Strasbourg <br />
|}<br />
<br />
In the opposite direction, track 2 bis runs on the east side of the yard, virtually parallel to the main lines. It seems most unlikely it would be used as there is no operational reason for this and it creates further conflictions at Vendenheim.<br />
<br />
<b>The compilers would welcome reports of actual use by the cited trains - or any others, in either direction.</b><br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
=== Raccordement de la Grave: St.Loubès (La Grave d'Ambarès Supérieure) – Ste.Eulalie-Carbon-Blanc (Bifurcation de la Grave)===<br />
(ERA 73A2) FR50<br />
<br />
An east <=> south curve linking the high level (Angoulême) and low level (Saintes) lines. In the past this curve was used by late evening trains southbound to Bordeaux and by early morning and late evening ones northbound from Bordeaux. This pattern probably still applies but details of individual trains are no longer available to the compilers.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de la Grave.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<!---<br />
From the 2011/2012 timetable the following trains, mainly in the early morning and late evening, were scheduled via this curve. '''It cannot be guaranteed that their current equivalents continue to do the same'''. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO <br />
|''5241'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 21:32 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FO <br />
|''8467''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Arcachon<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FSSuO<br />
|''8469''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 22:42 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FX<br />
|''8479''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 20:29 Angoulême - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8491''<br />
|Paris Montparnasse - 00:54 SO Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|''8549''<br />
|18:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|FO<br />
|''8579''<br />
|19:29 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865023''<br />
|Coutras - 06:12 St Loubes - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuX<br />
|''865035''<br />
|Coutras - 05:45 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865319''<br />
|Périgeux - 21:36 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865609''<br />
|Bergerac - 06:11 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865727''<br />
|Sarlat/Bergerac - 21:52 Libourne - Bordeaux St Jean<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX <br />
|''8406''<br />
|05:00 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSSuO <br />
|''8408''<br />
|05:40 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse <br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''8590''<br />
|Hendaye - 21:13 Bordeaux St Jean - Paris Montparnasse<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MO<br />
|''865030''<br />
|05:44 Bordeaux St Jean - Angoulême<br />
|- <br />
| <br />
|MSO<br />
|''865300''<br />
|05:36 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SuO<br />
|''865322''<br />
|21:52 Bordeaux St Jean - Périgeux<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865540''<br />
|16:02 Bordeaux St Jean - Limoges Bénédictins <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|FSuO<br />
|''865608''<br />
|21:45 Bordeaux St Jean - Bergerac<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''865712''<br />
|05:54 Bordeaux St Jean - Sarlat/Bergerac<br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de St.Germain-des-Fossés: Vichy - Roanne===<br />
[fiche 06] (ERA 75A4) FR100<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve is used by through trains between Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand via Vichy when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at St.Germain-des-Fossés. ''It is now the north <=> east main line, from St.Germain-des-Fossés station towards Roanne, that has the less frequent service - see fiche 06.''<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Folligny: Bifurcation km 74,0 – Bifurcation km 74,9===<br />
[fiche Caen-St Lo-Coutances-Granville-Rennes] (ERA 69A4; ''26C2'') FR18/150<br />
<br />
This curve provides a direct connection between Coutances and Granville. It is used in July and August by seasonal through trains between Caen and Granville '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Folligny.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53423 <br />
| Caen - 12:22 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53431 <br />
| Caen - 16:29 Coutances - Granville <br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SSuO <br />
|TER53416 <br />
| 08:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SuO <br />
|TER53444 <br />
| 19:05 Granville - Caen<br />
|-<br />
|D<br />
|SO <br />
|TER53442 <br />
| 19:03 Granville - Caen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Granville’s annual carnival takes place every year during the five days that precede Shrove Tuesday. On Sunday 11 February 2018 a <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/loisirs/carnaval-granville-2018 special train]---> special train ran from Caen to Granville and back. It may do so in future years also.<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Saincaize (Nevers avoiding line): La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois – Saincaize===<br />
(ERA 75A5; ''69B2'') FR200 <br />
<br />
There are no regular services over this west <==> south curve <!--- since December 2009---> but it is used for diversions (as in August 2016) when the line north of Nevers is blocked.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Laroche-Migennes: Poste 5 (station south side) - Poste 4 (main line)===<br />
[fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-AUXERRE (TER directs et omnibus)] (ERA 71A2, not shown; ''50D4'') FR201<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Auxerre-St.Gervais and Dijon Ville, between Laroche-Migennes (station south side, voie K, where the trains reverse) and St.Florentin-Vergigny. The east end connection with the former PLM main line at Poste 4 is a grade-separated junction, with separate ''pair'' (up) and ''impair'' (down) ''raccordements''.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Raccordement de Laroche Migennes.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Perrigny (Dijon): Bifurcation Raccordement Belfort - Perrigny Bifurcation km 318 Chagny lines===<br />
(ERA 71C1; ''66C4'') FR202<br />
<br />
A 2013 high level link south of Dijon between the Dole and Beaune lines, forming part of the non-''LGV'' link between ''LGVs Rhin-Rhône'' and ''Sud-Est''. It avoids conflicts with the ground level routes through the yards and is used by through TGVs between Strasbourg and Lyon or beyond '''except''' those booked to avoid the Dijon area altogether and call at Lons-le-Saunier (''TGV6836/7'' and ''6874/5''). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Dijon.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Santenay-les-Bains (Chagny ex-Poste 4) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis and Raccordement Nevers===<br />
[fiche DIJON-AUTUN-ETANG-NEVERS] (ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR203<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Chagny. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Meursault (Bifurcation km 363,0) – Chagny (west side platforms) via Chagny ex-Poste 3bis===<br />
(ERA 75C5; ''78A2-B2'') FR18/204<br />
<br />
This route was used by trains between Dijon and the Montchanin branch when scheduled to call at Chagny, where they reversed in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). As at December 2017 there do not appear to be any trains booked to take this route.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Rully (Chagny (Poste 1)) – Chagny (west side platforms)===<br />
[fiche MONTCHANIN-CHALON] (ERA 75C5, not shown; ''78B2'', not shown) FR205<br />
<br />
Used by through trains between Chalon sur Saône and the Montchanin branch, which call at Chagny in the west side platforms 4 or 5 (track A, B or C). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Chagny_3.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
<br />
===Redon avoiding line: Severac – Avessac===<br />
[fiche FH04 Rennes Redon Nantes] (ERA 69A2; ''43A4'') FR250<br />
<br />
Used by those trains between Nantes and Rennes '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Redon, nor at Angers St. Laud.<br />
<br />
==Centre Région (Centre)==<br />
<br />
===Les Aubrais/Orléans Area===<br />
(ERA 70B2; ''48C4'') FR300<br />
<br />
The ‘classic’ main lines from Paris to Tours and Vierzon (- Bourges/Limoges) split at Les Aubrais, north of Orléans, bypassing the city centre to the north-west and east respectively. The original main line continues southwards from Les Aubrais to Orléans, which is a terminal station. There are direct curves from Orléans west to the Tours line and east to the Vierzon line. The majority of regional services use these curves whereas there is a much thinner service over the main lines from Les Aubrais avoiding Orléans station:<br />
* towards La Chapelle-St.Mesmin [fiche 2.1], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and the Tours line<br />
* towards St.Cyr-en-Val-La-Source [fiches 1.3, 1.4], used by <i>Intercités</i> services between Paris Austerlitz and Vierzon or beyond.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. <br />
<br />
[[File:Orleans.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (Poste 4) – Bifurcation de Tours [ – Monts (Indre-et-Loire)]===<br />
[fiche 2.5] (ERA 70A1, not shown; ''60D3'') FR301<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve from St. Pierre-de-Corps to the Poitiers main line is used by ''TGVs'' and ''Intercités'' running between St-Pierre-des-Corps and Bordeaux. Local trains normally run direct between Monts and Tours, although any exceptions which run via St-Pierre-des-Corps (and hence use this curve) would be shown on fiche 2.5.<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Tours4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===St.Pierre-des-Corps (poste 4) – Bifurcation Grammont [ – Saumur or Chateau-du-Loir]===<br />
[fiches 2.6 and 2.8] (ERA 70A1; 60D3) FR18/302<br />
<br />
This east <=> west connection bypassing Tours is used by trains running directly between St.Pierre-des-Corps and the Saumur and Château-du-Loir [- Le Mans] lines. Other trains for these lines run direct from or to Tours. Some trains run from or to Tours via St.Pierre-des-Corps, reversing there, but the fiche can be misleading for these trains, with Tours and St.Pierre-des-Corps appearing out of sequence chronologically. '''Travellers are therefore advised to check the timings carefully to establish the exact route of the train.'''<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER60152<br />
| 06:03 Saumur Rive Droite - St Pierre-des-Corps<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4402<br />
| Nantes - 07:48 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13020<br />
| Caen - 11:13 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX<br />
| TER57210<br />
| Caen - 13:23 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| IC13022<br />
| Caen - 15:05 Château du Loir - Tours<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| IC4406<br />
| Nantes - 15:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| FSSuX<br />
| TGV5314<br />
| Nantes - 16:57 Saumur Rive Droite - Lyon-Perrache<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| IC13030<br />
| Tours - 09:17 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SuO<br />
| TER57238<br />
| Tours - 09:18 St Pierre-des-Corps - Caen<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| IC4504<br />
| Lyon-Perrache - 12:03 St Pierre-des-Corps - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Not 7 to 21 Sept, 24 to 28 Sept 2018<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map<br />
[[File:Tours5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Bourges avoiding line: Marmagne – St.Florent-sur-Cher===<br />
[fiche 4.1] (ERA 74C5; ''75B1'') FR303<br />
<br />
This west <=> south curve is used by trains between Vierzon and St.Florent-sur-Cher '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Bourges.<br />
<br />
===Bellébat turning circle (''Musée des Transports de Pithiviers'')===<br />
(ERA 70C2, not shown; ''49A2-A3'') FR304<br />
<br />
See [http://www.amtp-cfpithiviers.com/ their website]. Normally, trains arrive and depart by the long arc of the balloon loop at Bellébat. Exceptionally, the first train of the day arrives, and the last train of the day leaves, by the short arc here instead.<br />
<br />
==Champagne-Ardenne Région (Grand Est)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Trois Puits: Champagne-Ardenne TGV – Trois Puits [ – Reims]===<br />
[fiche C01 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières - Reims - Paris] (ERA 71B4; ''17A4-B4'') FR350<br />
<br />
This link with ''LGV Est'' is unusual in that through Paris <=> Reims TGVs (not calling at Champagne-Ardenne TGV) use it, as also do non-TGV shuttle trains (navettes) making connections at Champagne-Ardenne TGV - using bay platforms there.<br />
<br />
Note that the fiche 'C31 Navettes gare Champagne-Ardenne TGV' listed in the table seems not to exist.<br />
<br />
===<div id="CH_AL"></div>Raccordement direct de Chalindrey (Culmont-Chalindrey avoiding line): Andilly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Est) – Le Pailly (Culmont-Chalindrey Bifurcation Raccordement Sud)===<br />
(ERA 71C2; ''67B1'') FR18/351<br />
<br />
Used by those TGVs between Nancy and Dijon '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culmont-Chalindrey.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6824''<br />
| Nancy Ville - 14:28 Neufchâteau - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6868''<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 11:43 Dijon Ville - Nancy Ville <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Vouziers - Challerange===<br />
(ERA 71B5; ''18B3'') FR18/352 <br />
<br />
Used until 2017 by [http://cftsa.fr CFT du Sud des Ardennes] trains as an extension of their normal operations only during their ''Fête du Rail'' weekend - usually in mid-August. The line is owned by <i>SNCF Réseau</i> and, in view of the condition of the track, permission to operate has not been given for 2018. The line is <i>expected</i> to transfer to other (presumably local authority) ownership, when CFTSA hope to resume operations over the Attigny - Vouziers - Challerange section.<br />
<br />
==Franche-Comté Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
<br />
===Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV east curve===<br />
(ERA 72A1; ''67D4'') FR18/401<br />
<br />
Used by direct TGVs between Mulhouse and Besançon Viotte. Note that trains between Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station and Besançon Viotte use the west curve.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6837''<br />
| Strasbourg Ville - 12:32 Belfort-Montbéliard TGV - Marseille St. Charles<br />
|-<br />
| D<br />
| <br />
| ''TGV6875''<br />
| Marseille St. Charles - 17:01 Besançon-Viotte - Strasbourg Ville<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Île-de-France Région (including Paris) (Île-de-France)==<br />
<br />
The ''LGV Interconnexion'' runs through the country to the east of Paris and links ''LGVs Nord, Est, Sud-Est'' and (by a connection via the southern part of the ''Grande Ceinture'') ''Atlantique''; it is used by all TGVs between these routes. The <i>Petite Ceinture</i> which ran around central Paris is mostly closed, while the <i>Grande Ceinture</i>, which runs round the outer suburbs, is partly closed, partly freight-only and partly used for suburban services; it only carries regular passenger services transferring from one main line to another as shown below. <br />
<br />
===St.Denis – Pantin (Villette Poste 2) (via La Chapelle Poste 6)===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR450<br />
<br />
This is a combination of the links between the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines via Evangile signalbox. It is used only by the '''weekday''' Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL (or elsewhere) ''VSOE'' trains as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Garges-Sarcelles (Bifurcation Pierrefitte Sud) – Noisy le Sec===<br />
(ERA 66A4-A3; ''31B:A1-A2'') FR451<br />
<br />
This is a section of the ''Grande Ceinture'' circular freight route round Paris, linking the Paris Nord and Paris Est main lines. It is used only by the ''VSOE'' train between Paris Est and Calais Ville '''on Sunday mornings''', instead of route FR450. Visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Eastern_Paris_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lieusaint: Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Crisenoy) – Combs-la-Ville-Quincy===<br />
(ERA 66B1; ''31C4-D4'') FR452<br />
<br />
This is the former northern end of the ''LGV Sud-Est'', now little used (a few trains are routed this way for engineering works or pathing purposes) as most TGVs to and from Paris Gare-de-Lyon run via Triangle de Coubert (Bifurcation Sud – Bifurcation Ouest), joining the main line from Gare-de-Lyon at Bifurcation de Creteil, north of Villeneuve Triage.<br />
<br />
===Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy ''or'' Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Valenton) – Les Saules===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR453<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV-Interconnexion'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud-Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Les Saules.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Massy TGV – Chemin d'Antony (Bifurcation km 23,4)===<br />
(ERA 65C2; ''31A:D4'') FR454<br />
<br />
This connection between ''LGV Atlantique'' and the ''Grande Ceinture'' is used by all TGVs between ''LGVs Sud Est, Est'' or ''Nord'' and ''LGV Atlantique''.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Massy-Palaiseau.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Paris-Bercy-Bourgogne-Pays d'Auvergne===<br />
(ERA 66A3; ''31B:A2'') FR455<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Gare-de-Lyon, being located behind carriage sidings outside the station. Relatively little use used to be made of the facility but there are now various regular services [e.g. Bourgogne fiche DIJON-LAROCHE-SENS-PARIS (TER directs)]. Trains also use the goods lines (M1 and M2) to access the station.<br />
<br />
===Paris Gare de Lyon Banlieue – Villeneuve St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 66A3-A2; ''31B:A2-B4'') FR456<br />
<br />
Between the throat of Gare de Lyon and Villeneuve St.Georges there are three sets of tracks - not always following exactly the same alignment - in passenger use: ''1.'' fast lines (1 and 2); ''2.'' suburban or slow lines (1bis and 2bis), and ''3.'' erstwhile goods lines (1M and 2M). The M tracks - which have platforms at most stations - have been observed being used by passenger stock but no definitive information of regular loaded workings is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Villeneuve St.Georges – Vigneux sur Seine===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:B4'') FR457<br />
<br />
Between Villeneuve St.Georges and Vigneux sur Seine there are three pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1B and 2B; ''2.'' 1C and 2C, and ''3.'' 1M and 2M. The B tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST--->. No definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Vigneux sur Seine – Juvisy===<br />
(ERA 66A2; ''31B:A4'') FR458<br />
<br />
Between Vigneux sur Seine and Juvisy there are two pairs of tracks: ''1.'' 1C and 2C, and ''2.'' 1M and 2M. The northbound track 1M crosses over the Orléans main lines and back again by two bridges north of Juvisy. The C tracks are used by RER line D trains, the M tracks by through trains between ''LGVs'' north or east of Paris and the Orléans main line via Valenton [the last were Brive-la-Gaillarde <=> Lille TGVs withdrawn June 2016]<!---TO DELETE THIS BRACKETED REFERENCE AT DEC 2017, I SUGGEST---> and have been observed being used by other passenger stock but no definitive information of other regular loaded use is available - '''reports welcomed'''.<br />
<br />
===Juvisy (PLM-side) – Athis-Mons (via TER tracks)===<br />
(ERA 66A2, not shown; ''31B:A4'', not fully shown) FR459<br />
<br />
Through RER line C trains use Orléans-side platforms (Quais F, G and H). Juvisy RER line C turn-back trains generally use PLM-side platforms (Quai C), reached by tracks 1 TER (inbound - train codes ''JILL'' and ''JADE'') and 2 TER (outbound via overbridge). Together, these save such trains having to make the flat crossing movement which would be necessary if Quai E were used.<br />
<br />
===Dourdan-la-Forêt===<br />
(ERA 65B1, not shown; ''31A4'') FR460<br />
<br />
Dourdan-la-Forêt is a dead-ended single platform on a track parallel to the Vendôme line, used by those RER line C4 trains so advertised. No service mid July to late August.<br />
<br />
===Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard===<br />
(ERA 65C3; ''31B:A2'') FR461<br />
<br />
This station is an annexe to Paris Montparnasse and comprises additional platforms adjacent to the main running lines about 0.5km from the main station, for those trains so advertised (including - from 10 December 2017 - ''Ouigo'' services with Rennes and Nantes).<br />
<br />
===Versailles Chantiers – St.Cyr l'École===<br />
(ERA 65B3, not shown; ''31A:C3-B3'') FR462<br />
<br />
Main line trains from Paris Montparnasse to Plaisir Grignon or beyond (including Granville line trains) do not use the main lines between Versailles and St.Cyr but a separate alignment (tracks M1/M2 - formerly freight) via Versailles-Matelots, to the north. The east end access to this route - at the west end of Versaille Chantiers - is for westbound trains to use the diveunder, from platforms G, H or J, and for eastbound trains to use the curve on the north side to the RER line C (B1/B2) tracks (rather than the diveunder); there are, however, exceptions to both these general practices.<br />
<br />
No trains have been identified as using the flat junction (Bifurcation de Granville), just west of St.Cyr station, to gain access to the Granville line.<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Versailles.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Épluches (Bifurcation d'Épluches) – St.Ouen-l'Aumone-Liesse (Bifurcation de Liesse (Nord))===<br />
(ERA 65C5; ''31A1'') FR18/463<br />
<br />
Some TER line H trains between Paris Nord and Persan Beaumont (usually for Beauvais or beyond) with a non-stop journey time of 35 or more minutes (instead of the normal 27-30 mins) use this route to avoid a conflicting movement on the route via Montsoult-Maffliers.<br />
<br />
Each summer in recent years a single SSuO round trip between Paris Nord and Auvers-sur-Oise has operated via this route, advertised locally<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20601<br />
| 09:38 Paris Nord - Auvers sur Oise (arr 10:22)<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| SSuO<br />
| RER20606<br />
| 18:32 Auvers sur Oise - Paris Nord (arr 19:05)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 7 Jul to 14 Oct 2018; also 15 Aug, '''not''' 1 to 23 Sep, 6, 7 Oct<br />
<br />
Note that because of engineering works, revised arrangements (which may not involve the use of this route) may apply on some dates.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Bezons ''and'' Raccordement de la Folie: Houilles Carrières sur Seine (Bifurcation de Bezons) – Puteaux (Bifurcation de Puteaux)===<br />
(ERA 65C4-C3; ''31A:D2'') FR464<br />
<br />
This west <=> south connection is an alternative to the Mantes la-Jolie - Plaisir Grignon - Versailles line during engineering work.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Piquettes: Mantes la-Jolie – Rosny-sur-Seine===<br />
(ERA 65A4, not shown; ''30B2'') FR465<br />
<br />
This curve connects the south side of Mantes-la-Jolie station (Rouen platforms) and the Le Havre line. It may be used if a train from Paris to the Le Havre line needs to be overtaken by a fast service from Paris to the Rouen line, though this may be necessary only if the ‘slow line’ Rouen platforms are occupied by terminating trains. Any train to the Rouen line calling at platforms F to H must use the Raccordement. The following train has been observed using this route and appears to be booked to use platform H.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D<br />
| SuX<br />
| 850003<br />
| Paris St. Lazare - 06:44 Mantes la-Jolie - Rouen<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would welcome further observations on use of this curve.'''<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Mantes-le-Jolie.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Provins - Villiers-St.Georges===<br />
(ERA 71A5; ''32:C4'') FR18/466<br />
<br />
[http://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] has resumed occasional excursions over this 15 km section of SNCF freight line. Trains are advertised 23 - 29 July 2018 (''festival du patrimoine de Seine et Marne'') and 27 October (''train de la Citrouille'').<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Narbonne: Lézignan (Bifurcation Raccordement Nord) – Port La Nouvelle (Bifurcation Sud)===<br />
(ERA 78C3) FR18/500<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Narbonne is used by two dated train pairs.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| AVE/TGV9726<br />
| Barcelona Sants - 19:56 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3730<br />
| Cerbère - 18:54/19:03/19:29 Perpignan - Toulouse-Matabiau [- Paris Austerlitz]<br />
|-<br />
| D*<br />
| <br />
| 3731<br />
| [Paris Austerlitz -] Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:05/08:07 Lézignan - Port Bou<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9729<br />
| Toulouse-Matabiau - 08:59 Carcassonne - Barcelona Sants<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 27 June - 25 September 2018<br />
<br />
D*: the dates of running are too complex to list<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
(ERA 75C2-79C4) - see FR801<br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
===Novéant – Onville===<br />
[fiches L28 and L30] (ERA 72A4; ''36A1'') FR550<br />
<br />
This section of the former Paris - Metz main line has a service of trains direct between Metz and Onville, some continuing to Bar le Duc (fiche L28) and others to Conflans-Jarny and either Verdun or Longwy (fiche L30).<br />
<br />
===<div id="BOUZ"></div>Bouzonville – Niedaltdorf (Germany)===<br />
(ERA 72A5-B5; ''20B3-C2'') FR18/551<br />
<br />
This line has no regular service but a special shuttle service has operated from Dillingen in conjunction with the Good Friday market at Bouzonville - see Germany route [[Germany_(Saarland)_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services#NIEDBOUZ|Niedaltdorf – Bouzonville (France)]]. However, freight traffic ceased in 2013 on this line, of which the German section is reportedly to be sold or closed completely. The 2018 service, which was similar to that in previous years, ran on 30 March every two hours from 09:10 to 17:10 from Dillingen (Saar) and 10:15 to 16:15, then 17:45 from Bouzonville.<br />
<br />
===Sarrebourg avoiding line: Sarraltroff – Réding===<br />
[fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section] (ERA 72B4; 55B3) FR552<br />
<br />
This is used by 'classic' trains between Metz and Strasbourg '''''not''''' calling at Sarrebourg. Non-stop TGVs run via the ''LGV Est''; see FR553.<br />
<br />
For the other two sides of the triangle:<br />
* [Berthelming -] Sarraltroff - Sarrebourg: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Metz section<br />
* Sarrebourg - Réding: see fiche L19 Strasbourg - Nancy section<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Lucy: Rémilly (Bif. km 124,255) - Lesse (Bif. km 306)===<br />
(ERA 72A4; ''36C2'') FR553<br />
<br />
This north west <=> south east connection, south east of Rémilly, is used by TGVs between Luxembourg, Metz and Strasbourg transferring between the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line and the section of ''LGV Est'' east of here. <br />
<br />
<i>Raccordement de Lucy is the opposite angle from the curve which allows through running between Paris and the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line east of here, which formed the eastern exit from ''LGV Est'' until 2016 but which is now used only if ''LGV Est'' east of here is blocked.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. Pending redrawing of the map, note that the eastern and western junctions on LGV Est are both grade-separated (flyovers).<br />
[[File:LGVEst2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Woippy – Maizières-lès-Metz (via Woippy-Triage (west side))===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4, not shown; ''20A3'') FR554<br />
<br />
Some local passenger trains are scheduled to use this route (voies 1B/2B) for pathing purposes; the actual routing is therefore particularly susceptible to the timekeeping not only of the train itself but of those around it. Likely trains can usually be distinguished in the timetable by being allowed longer between Metz Ville and Hagondange. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_1.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Uckange: Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) – Hayange (Bif. de Florange)===<br />
[CFL website plus fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 63C2, ''20A3'') FR554A<br />
<br />
This line avoiding Thionville enables trains to run direct between Metz and Longuyon.<br />
<br />
The line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg was completely closed from 10 to 18 February 2018 and two pairs of Monday to Friday rush hour trains between Luxembourg and Metz were diverted via Rodange, Longuyon and Uckange, non-stop to/from Uckange. These diversions are likely to be repeated during a long blockade in July-August 2018.<br />
<br />
<!--- THE FOLLOWING DETAILS HAVE BEEN LEFT COMMENTED OUT SO THAT THEY CAN BE RESURRECTED FOR JULY/AUGUST<br />
{| class="ostable"<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86772<br />
| Metz - 05:47 Uckange - Luxembourg 07:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86710<br />
| Metz - 06:51 Uckange - Luxembourg 08:13<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86532<br />
| 16:29 Luxembourg - Metz 18:27<br />
|-<br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| 86534<br />
| 17:29 Luxembourg - Metz 19:29<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: 12 - 16 February 2018<br />
---><br />
<br />
===Contournement de Metz: Metz Ville – Woippy===<br />
[fiche L01B Metz - Hagondange - Thionville - Luxembourg] (ERA 72A4; ''20A4'') FR555<br />
<br />
The original Metz - Thionville line provides an alternative route to the west of the current main line of 1908. Trains using this line arrive and depart at the south end of Metz Ville station, instead of the north. Non-stop trains booked 17 or more minutes between Metz and Hagondange, or 22 or more minutes between Metz and Thionville, might be expected to run this route as it is 4.5km longer than the main line. The following train was observed in April 2018 taking this route:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|<br />
|SSuX<br />
|''837682'' <br />
| 14:09 Metz Ville - Thionville, <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Metz_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===(Esch sur Alzette [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Audun-le-Tiche===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19C2'') FR556<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60c'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===(Dudelange-Usines [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Volmerange-les-Mines===<br />
(ERA 72A5; ''19D2'') FR557<br />
<br />
[http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/fr CFL] > ''Télécharger les horaires'' > ''Trains nationaux'' > ''Afficher'' > ''60A'' operate into France over a route not linked to French national network.<br />
<br />
===<span id="MD"></span>(Lasauvage Carreau [Luxembourg] – ) frontier – Saulnes===<br />
(ERA 72A5, not shown; ''19C2'') FR558<br />
<br />
[http://minieresbunn.lu/index.php/fr Minièresbunn Doihl asbl (MBD)] operates a 700mm gauge preserved mining line into France.<br />
<br />
==Nord Pas-de-Calais Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<u>'''Note on Dates:'''</u> A number of curves in this region have been used by <I> TER Mer</I> summer "dated" weekend services to the coast. As the timetable information for these services is not published until the start of the summer, it is not known at the time of the December timetable change. If shown, these entries will therefore carry the previous year ("FRyy") and contain the previous summer's information until updated with the information for the current summer. From summer 2017 the programme was marketed as "éTER en Hauts-de-France" <!---[https://www.ter.sncf.com/nord-pas-de-calais/loisirs/bons-plans/eter "éTER en Hauts-de-France"], with the timings of Saturday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20samedi_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131848.pdf here] and Sunday trains [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/FH%20dimanche_tcm64-18178_tcm64-131849.pdf here]--->.<br />
<br />
===Calais Fréthun (Bifurcation de Riviere Neuve) – Pont de Coulogne (Bifurcation de Coulogne)===<br />
[fiche 12] (ERA 67B4; ''1B1'') FR18/651<br />
<br />
This curve avoiding Calais Ville is used in summer 2018 by "dated" weekend Lille Flandres/Arras <==> Boulogne/Rang-du-Fliers-Verton trains shown non-stop between Hazebrouck and Wimille-Wimereux. <!---See [http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nord_pas_de_calais/TER%20MER-BD_tcm64-18176_tcm64-53229.pdf SNCF TER]. ---> Note that this route is '''''not''''' used by TGVs to/from Boulogne, which reverse at Calais Fréthun using a connection off the LGV line. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Calais.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO<br />
|''846909'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 08:01 Hazebrouck - Rang-du-Fliers-Verton<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846919'' <br />
|09:25 Lille Flandres - Boulogne Ville<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846962'' <br />
|Boulogne Ville - 17:10 Wimille-Wimereux - Arras<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846935'' <br />
|Rang du Fliers - 17:48 Wimille-Wimereux - Lille Flandres <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018.<br />
<br />
===Lambersart (Bifurcation de St.André) [A] ''or ''Lompret (Bifurcation de 4 Maisons) [B] – Santes (Bifurcation de la Tortue) [C] ''or ''Haubourdin (Bifurcation de Haubourdin) [D] (via Sequedin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1-A1'') FR18/652<br />
<br />
This freight line to the west of Lille, the middle section of which passes Lille Dèlivrance Triage and Sequedin, has triangular junctions at each end (hence the title given above). Route [B] <=> [D] 1s used by a summer "dated" weekend Dunkerque train. See [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20samedis%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198636.pdf L’ÉTER] (Saturdays) and [https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/hauts_de_france/FH%20dimanche%202018_tcm77-191301_tcm77-198635.pdf L’ÉTER] (Sundays).<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_Delivrance.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|D1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
D1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
Note that train 846924 Jeumont - Dunkerque does '''''not''''' take this route.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT1"></div>Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Raccordement de Ronchin – Lille Porte de Douai (Bifurcation de la Justice)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR18/653<br />
<br />
This freight line on the south side of Lille avoids the main station area. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT2|Bif. de Lesquin – Lille Poste 2 connection]] between Bif. de Lesquin and Bif. du Mont de Terre. <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926/27'' <br />
|Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|E1 <br />
|SSuO <br />
|''846926'' <br />
|19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018. <br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_2.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Ronchin (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; ''3B1'') FR17/654<br />
<br />
No use in 2018. This freight line links the lines which diverge at the throat of Lille Flandres station. It was used by a summer 2017 "dated" weekend Dunkerque train, which ran on normal passenger lines via Béthune in 2016 and in 2018 on 4 August 2018 ran via FR17/652 and 653. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
<br />
[[File:Lille_4.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Lille-Flandres Point Z – Lille-Europe AS===<br />
(ERA 64A3, not shown; ''3B1'') FR18/655<br />
<br />
This freight line links the Lille-Flandres - Tourcoing line with the ''LGV Nord'' via the Raccordement de Becquerel, which descends alongside the ''Remisage de Lille Fives'' TGV Depot. It is common with the previous entry between Jonctions du Lion d'Or and Lille-Flandres Point Z. It is used by ''Ouigo'' TGVs between Tourcoing and Marseille, Nantes and Rennes: visit the [http://www.ouigo.com/train-pour-tourcoing ''Ouigo''] website for details of services to/from Tourcoing. Part of the route is also used by TGV services from Lille Flandres to Paris and other destinations via L'Aeroport Charles de Gaulle.<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
THESE SERVICES ARE NOW OUT OF DATE <br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SuX<br />
| TGV7633<br />
| 08:29 Tourcoing - Nantes<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7613<br />
| 11:29 Tourcoing - Rennes <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7603<br />
| 19:47 Tourcoing - Lyon Part Dieu <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7600<br />
| Lyon Perrache - 09:52 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| TGV7630<br />
| Nantes - 17:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SX<br />
| TGV7610<br />
| Rennes - 21:16 Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle TGV - Tourcoing <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File:Lille_5.jpg|50px|thumb|left]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_LMT2"></div>Lille Flandres (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin)===<br />
(ERA 64A3; 3B1) FR17/656<br />
<br />
No use in 2018 as on 4 August 2018 the previous years TER MER train ex Dunkerque ran via FR17/652 and 653. This freight line on the south side of Lille links the Bethune line tracks from Lille Flandres station and the Lille Avoiding Line with the Valenciennes line. It is common with the [[#NPC_LMT1|Bif. de Lesquin – Bif. de la Justice connection]] between Bif. du Mont de Terre and Bif. de Lesquin.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement d'Avion: Pont de Sallaumines (Bifurcation de Sallaumines Ouest) – Avion (Bifurcation d'Avion)===<br />
(ERA 64B2; ''7A1'') FR657<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Arras - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement de Sallaumines: Sallaumines (Bifurcation d'Epinette) – Coron de Méricourt (Bifurcation du Sallaumines)===<br />
(ERA 64B3; ''7A1'') FR658<br />
<br />
This north <=> east curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Lille - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.<br />
<br />
===<div id="NPC_ARN"></div>Arras Raccordement Nord: Arras (Bifurcation 199,6km) – Lille (Bifurcation 161,94km)===<br />
(ERA 64C3; ''7A1'') FR659<br />
<br />
This west <=> north spur, linking Arras station with the ''LGV Nord-Europe'' to the north, is used by trains running non-stop between Arras and Lille (whether -Flandres or -Europe stations) in less than 25 minutes; trains taking 33 minutes or more use the 'classic' line via Douai. <br />
<br />
In addition to long distance <I>TGVs</I>, the spur is used also by:<br />
<br />
• two <I>TERGV</I> commuter trains [fiche Ligne 01 Amiens Arras Lille] each way between Arras and Lille-Europe<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#PR_AAL|Amiens avoiding line]]<br />
<br />
===Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 64C4; ''7C1'') FR18/660<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
|SSuX<br />
|''843408'' <br />
|Lille Flandres - 18:04 Somain - Cambrai<br />
|} <br />
<br />
It was also used by additional services to Lille Braderie [Special Market] on 1/2 September 2018 and in the past by summer dated weekend TER Mer Busigny <==> Cambrai <==> Calais Ville trains. However according to Cambrai Ville station staff the 2018 TER Mer's would run non-stop on the normal passenger route to Douai so '''prospective travellers in future years should make local enquiries.'''<br />
<br />
===Aulnoye-Aymeries avoiding line: Berlaimont (Bifurcation de Berlaimont) – Leval (Bifurcation de Leval Est)===<br />
[fiche 17] (ERA 68A1; ''8B2'') FR661<br />
<br />
This line, which passes to the south of Aulnoye-Aymeries station, is used by two Monday to Friday Hirson <==> Lille round trips '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Aulnoye-Aymeries. <br />
<br />
It was also used by ''summer dated'' services in summer 2017:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846926 <br />
| Hirson - 08:00 Avesnes - Dunkerque <br />
|-<br />
| E1<br />
| SSuO <br />
| 846952 <br />
| Dunkerque - 21:01 Valenciennes - Hirson <br />
|}<br />
<br />
E1: Runs 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018<br />
<br />
==Pays-de-la-Loire Région (Pays-de-la-Loire)==<br />
<br />
===Sablé-sur-Sarthe Triangle===<br />
[fiche Ligne 28] (ERA 69C2; ''45C4'') FR680<br />
<br />
This triangular junction provides a link southwards from the ''LGV BPL'' to the 'classic' Le Mans - Angers [ - Nantes] line at Sablé-sur-Sarthe.<br />
<br />
*The east <=> south curve ('''Raccordement de Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables ''TGVs'' to run between Paris and Angers [ - Nantes]. This curve is used by all such trains which do '''not''' call at Le Mans. However, it appears that the majority of TGVs which call at Le Mans use the ‘classic’ line between Le Mans and Angers. The following train has been identified as running via the Raccordement as it overtakes a preceding TER en route to Angers: <br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D<br />
| FX <br />
|''TGV 5228'' <br />
| Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle TGV - 17:02 Le Mans - Nantes<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''The compilers would greatly appreciate reports of any other TGVs taking this route between Le Mans and Angers.'''<br />
*The west <=> south curve ('''Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe''') enables TER trains to run direct between [Rennes - ] Laval and Angers [ - Nantes].<br />
<br />
==Picardie Région (Hauts-de-France)==<br />
<br />
===<div id="PR_AAL"></div>Amiens avoiding line: Boves (Bifurcation de Longueau Sud) – Lamotte Brebière (Bifurcation de Camon)===<br />
(ERA 67C1 ; ''6B4-C4'') FR700<br />
<br />
This curve is used by:<br />
<br />
• the ''Izy Thalys'' non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the [https://www.izy.com/en/homepage ''Izy''] website for details of services, which use the ''LGV'' between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the [[#NPC_ARN|Arras Raccordement Nord]]<br />
<br />
• the [London Victoria <==>] Calais Ville <==> Venezia SL ''VSOE'' train as between Calais and Paris Est: visit the [http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/ ''VSOE''] website for dates and times.<br />
<br />
===Barreau de Jussy (Mennessis avoiding line): Jussy (Bifurcation de Flavy-le-Martel) – Montescourt (Bifurcation Jussy)===<br />
[fiche Ligne 25 Amiens - Tergnier Laon / St-Quentin] (ERA 71A5; ''16B1'') FR701<br />
<br />
This curve connects the Chaulnes - Tergnier and St.Quentin - Tergnier lines north of Mennessis. Trains between Amiens and St.Quentin '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Tergnier use this line.<br />
<br />
===Ormoy-Villers – Bifurcation Ageux – (a) Longueil-Ste.Marie ''or'' (b) Le-Meux-Croix-St.Ouen (Bifurcation Rivecourt)===<br />
[fiches Ligne 20 Laon Crépy-en-Valois Paris and Ligne 24 St-Quentin Tergnier Compiègne Paris] (ERA 70C4-C5; ''15D4-D3'') FR702<br />
<br />
This electrified line connects the Paris Nord - Laon and Creil - St.Quentin lines, with a triangular junction at the north end. It is used only when the following diversions are advertised:<br />
*(a) between Paris and Laon (with reversal at Ormoy-Villers) where extended journey times and bus substitution south of Ormoy-Villers apply [fiche Ligne 20] <br />
*(b) between Paris and Compiègne or beyond when shown ''non-stop'' with a journey time of circa 51+ minutes ''(instead of the normal 40 minutes)'' [fiche Ligne 24].<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charente Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Juillé and Raccordement Villognon (north of Angoulême)===<br />
(ERA 73C3, not shown correctly - see [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A9ma_de_la_LGV_Sud_Europe_Atlantique this schematic plan instead]) FR725<br />
<br />
These two links north of Angoulême between ''LGV SEA'' and the 'classic' line are about 7.25km apart but function as a single grade separated junction. The more northerly raccordement (Juillé) is normally used by northbound TGVs serving Angoulême and the more southerly (Villognon) by southbound TGVs. These came into service 2 July 2017.<br />
<br />
==Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur [PACA] Région (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)==<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Grand Sud: Avignon TGV (Bifurcation Km 624,0/624,2) – Manduel-Redessan (Suze SEI71 (Bifurcation Km 5,2))===<br />
(ERA 79C4) FR18/750<br />
<br />
The third side of the Triangle des Angles, west of Avignon TGV station, is used only by direct TGVs/AVEs between Marseille and Nîmes or beyond.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9731<br />
| Marseille St Charles - 08:43 Avignon TGV - Madrid Puerta de Atocha <br />
|-<br />
| D <br />
| <br />
| AVE9724<br />
| Madrid Puerta de Atocha - 20:25 Nîmes - Marseille St Charles <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===L'Estaque – Marseille St.Charles===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B3-B2) FR751<br />
<br />
Trains between Marseille St. Charles and L'Estaque [- Miramas] calling at Arenc-Euroméditerranée use this route; the trains may use lines on either side of Marseille Maritime Arenc yard (north of Arenc-Euroméditerranée station) which are reversible. All other trains between Marseille and L'Estaque or beyond use the main line.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement des Chartreux: St.Berthelmy – Marseille Blancarde===<br />
[fiche Ligne 07] (ERA 79B2) FR18/752<br />
<br />
This curve bypassing Marseille St. Charles to the north is used by TGVs to/from Toulon and beyond '''''not''''' calling at Marseille St.Charles, and by the following local services:<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881702 <br />
| Les Arcs Draguignan - 08:07 Marseille-Blancarde - Miramas<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881707<br />
| Miramas - 17:07 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| SSuX <br />
| 881709<br />
| Miramas - 18:12 L'Estaque - Toulon<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Rhône-Alpes Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
<br />
===Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches===<br />
''[the southern portion of this line is in Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)]''<br />
<br />
[fiche 05] (ERA 75C2-79C4) FR17/800<br />
<br />
This line runs parallel with the Lyon to Montpellier main line between Givors and Nîmes, though mostly on the opposite bank of the River Rhône, principally as a freight and diversionary route. There are intermediate links between the two routes at St.Rambert d'Albon, Livron and Avignon Centre, and few passenger trains run the full length of the West Bank line. The line is used fairly regularly by passenger trains diverted for engineering work. Certain diverted trains can be identified when they are advertised to call at St.Péray or Le Teil (such calls may appear in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes fiche 05). These stations are on the West Bank line, and are retained so that passengers may board or alight from diverted trains near Valence and Montélimar, respectively.<br />
<br />
For such diversions, readers should check for themselves by means of the [http://www.ter.sncf.com/rhone-alpes/depliant/recherche TER Rhône-Alpes website], fiche 05 and its associated engineering work notices. <br />
<br />
The following sections of route are used from time to time.<br />
*'''(a) Givors Canal – St.Rambert d'Albon'''<br />
Look for extended running times and omitted Vienne stops but no St.Péray stops.<br />
<br />
*'''(b) Givors Canal – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for omitted Vienne and Tain l'Hermitage stops but still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(c) Givors Canal – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but '''''not''''' calling at Vienne or Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(d) Givors Canal – Avignon Centre'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but omitted Vienne stops and still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(e) Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops and omitted Vienne stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(f) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Livron (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops and still calling at Valence<br />
<br />
*'''(g) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Loriol (Livron south junction) (via St.Péray)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray stops but still calling at Vienne<br />
<br />
*'''(h) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but still calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(i) Salaise (St.Rambert d'Albon north junction) – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for St.Péray and Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(j) Livron – Avignon Centre (via Le Teil)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops<br />
<br />
*'''(k) Livron – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for Le Teil stops but running direct to Nîmes without calling at Avignon Centre<br />
<br />
*'''(l) Avignon Centre – Nîmes (Poste 1) (via Remoulins)'''<br />
Look for trains which normally call at Tarascon but where those stops are omitted - see [https://www.ter.sncf.com/paca/depliant/recherche Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur] fiche 11 bis<br />
<br />
===Ambérieu avoiding line: Ambronay-Priay – Torcieu===<br />
(ERA 75C3) FR801<br />
<br />
Used by TGVs between Bourg-en-Bresse and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Ambérieu.<br />
<br />
===Culoz avoiding line: Seyssel-Corbonod – Vions-Chanaz (Bifurcation de Chambéry===<br />
[fiche 51] (ERA 76A3) FR802<br />
<br />
Used by trains between Bellegarde and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard '''''not''''' scheduled to call at Culoz.<br />
<br />
===Raccordement Valence TGV - Sillon Alpin Sud: east - south connection at Valence TGV===<br />
(ERA 75C1) FR18/803<br />
<br />
This east <=> south curve between the Grenoble - Valence line and ''LGV Méditerranée'' - via Valence TGV platform 5 - is used by TGVs running between Grenoble and points south on the ''LGV Méditerranée''. One train each way between Marseille St. Charles and Annecy ran at weekends in July and August 2016. Details for 2018 were not available at December 2017. <i>It is the opposite angle from the grade-separated Raccordement de Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence which allows through running between Valence and points north via LGV Sud Est.</i><br />
<br />
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.<br />
[[File: Raccordement du Sillon Alpin.jpg|50px|thumb|none]]<br style="clear: both" /><br />
<br />
=== Montmélian avoiding line - Raccordement de Montmélian===<br />
(ERA 32B3) FR18/804<br />
<br />
This curve is used by trains travelling between Grenoble and Modane which are not required to call at Montmélian.<br />
<br />
{| class="ostable" <br />
| D1<br />
| <br />
| TGV9247<br />
| Paris Gare de Lyon - 09:41 Grenoble - Milano Porta Garibaldi <br />
|}<br />
D1 15 July to 9 September except 12-14 August<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 />
<b>Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as <br />
[[France_-_General_Information#Services_which_are_particularly_threatened|Particularly Threatened]]</b><br />
<br />
==Alsace Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche A 08*<br />
| Saales - St.Dié-des-Vosges <br />
| *(fiche Strasbourg Saales St.Dié Epinal). Better service at weekends. ''Service should be restored to more normal level by 2021 on completion of relaying and other work.''<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Aquitaine Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine) ==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 33<br />
| Le Verdon - Pointe-de-Grave<br />
| Summer service only; Pointe-de-Grave does not appear on the fiche outside the summer<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
| Hendaye – Irún (Spain) <br />
| There have been no '''standard gauge''' services from Hendaye to Irún since December 2017. The only cross-border services are broad gauge trains: 310 and 313 (Hotel trains from/to Lisboa Santa Apolonia) and IC 280 '''from''' A Coruña .<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Auvergne Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 66, 81<br />
| Neussargues - St Chély-d'Apcher<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Basse-Normandie Région (Normandie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Trouville-Deauville - Dives-Cabourg<br />
| ** (fiche Dives Cabourg-Trouville Deauville-Paris). Summer service plus winter weekends (except 11 January - 29 March 2018)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bourgogne Région (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Clamecy - Corbigny<br />
| ** (fiche CORBIGNY/CLAMECY/AVALLON-AUXERRE-PARIS BERCY)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Bretagne Région (Bretagne)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 09<br />
| Retiers - Châteaubriant <br />
| Better service at weekends. <b>However, line will be closed from 21 October 2017 until end of August 2018 for relaying work.</b><br />
|-<br />
| fiche **<br />
| Auray - Quiberon<br />
| Summer service only (note ** = fiche is at TER Bretagne website, but "hidden" under Loisirs et Tourisme > Lignes touristiques$$ > Tire Bouchon <i>(= Corkscrew)</i> and the current version is not usually available until the summer<br />
<br />
$$ accessed by clicking on the 'Les trains touristiques' tab!)<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Languedoc-Roussillon Région (Occitanie)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiches 31, 32<br />
| Mende - Le Monastier-Pin-Moriès [ - Marvejols]<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
<!---<br />
==Limousin Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin<br />
| <br />
|}<br />
---><br />
<br />
==Lorraine Région (Grand Est)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche L02<br />
| Thionville – Apach – frontier (– Perl [Germany])<br />
| Weekend service only <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Poitou-Charentes Région (Nouvelle Aquitaine)==<br />
{| class="osstable3"<br />
| fiche 10<br />
| Bressuire - Chantonnay<br />
| Better service on summer weekends<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=Deletions since previous edition=<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| <br />
| <br />
| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Deletions from Other Sparse Services section==<br />
<br />
{| class="dpetable3"<br />
| Bretagne Région <br />
| Morlaix - Roscoff<br />
| now more than one train on weekdays<br />
|-<br />
| Lorraine Région <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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=24333United Kingdom - General Information2018-09-17T16:28:13Z<p>Richard Maund: /* New and reinstated passenger services in recent years: */ South Tynedale</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites.<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there is just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is produced in two versions: ''Comprehensive Rail Times for Great Britain'' (the same as Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable) and ''Abbreviated Rail Times for Great Britain'' (Principal Stations on Main Lines and Rural Routes - the same as is found in the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]). The comprehensive timetable is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall will allow trams to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate. Testing was under way during summer 2018. Tram Trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of Supertram's network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network, although the route to Rotherham is being electrified to 750 V.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Old Oak Common and Greenford West Junction via Park Royal will close to passenger services from 10 December 2018, to facilitate HS2 construction work. The line is used by one train each way Mondays to Fridays (currently 10:57 South Ruislip to Paddington and 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe), which will be diverted via Drayton Green. '''The last trains run on Friday 7 December 2018.''' <br />
<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 (This route may gain a more frequent service, possibly from December 2018).<br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Ayr - Stranraer: The railway between Ayr and Stranraer closed at short notice during the evening of 27 August 2018, because of the dangerous condition of the former station hotel at Ayr. Consequent train service alterations include withdrawal of services between Kilmarnock and Barassie Junction. Disruption is expected to continue until mid-October.<br />
* Derby: Resignalling and remodelling in the Derby area results in the following closure until 7 October: Derby - Belper - Ambergate - Matlock and Chesterfield (through trains diverted via Trent Junction and Erewash Valley line)<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage (Langley Junction): Although the stated aspiration is to increase the off-peak service between Hertford North and Stevenage, non-provision of a planned additional turn-back platform at Stevenage precludes this. Services north of Watton-at-Stone are expected instead to be replaced by bus from a date to be determined (the original target of December 2018 is unlikely to be met), in order to accommodate additional Thameslink services on the main line. It was reported that this would continue until at least 2021, but efforts are being made to reinstate the train service a year earlier. Until the service can be (re-)extended to Stevenage, the line is expected to see very few passenger trains or none at all, apart from engineering work diversions.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. Most routes were in use from 20 May 2018. Operational difficulties following introduction of the May 2018 timetable resulted in a supposedly short-term cut in the number of trains. In particular, the new connection from Belle Isle Junction is not used by passenger services at weekends. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* South Tynedale Railway extended from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) from the 2018 season<br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. This may happen in December 2018, following resignalling at Wishaw.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to autumn 2019, when services on the new line will be restricted to the Abbey Wood - Paddington (low level) section only. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
* Manchester (Castlefield Junction) to Newton-le-Willows (December 2013)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under Trams, above)<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury<br />
<br />
The Cardiff scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines. The government has also cancelled schemes for electrification to Windermere and north from Kettering on the Midland Main Line.<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff (to Merthyr, Aberdare etc), which is meant to be jointly-funded with the UK Government. This may involve conversion to a form of light rapid transit. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government is funding significant electrification in the central lowlands, including Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) and Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014).<br />
<br />
There has been a gradual introduction of electric trains on the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High. A few services were electrically-worked from December 2017 and most were electric by July 2018. The lines from Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston were available for electric traction from May 2018, but have seen only occasional use. Regular electrically-worked services are planned from December 2018.<br />
<br />
Further work is under way to electrify from the Carmuirs triangle to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa; Holytown to Kirknewton via Shotts; and Falkirk to Grangemouth. The last is for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services from 2018, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=24332United Kingdom - General Information2018-09-17T16:26:56Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Projects authorised or under construction are: */ various updated</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites.<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there is just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is produced in two versions: ''Comprehensive Rail Times for Great Britain'' (the same as Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable) and ''Abbreviated Rail Times for Great Britain'' (Principal Stations on Main Lines and Rural Routes - the same as is found in the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]). The comprehensive timetable is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall will allow trams to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate. Testing was under way during summer 2018. Tram Trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of Supertram's network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network, although the route to Rotherham is being electrified to 750 V.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Old Oak Common and Greenford West Junction via Park Royal will close to passenger services from 10 December 2018, to facilitate HS2 construction work. The line is used by one train each way Mondays to Fridays (currently 10:57 South Ruislip to Paddington and 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe), which will be diverted via Drayton Green. '''The last trains run on Friday 7 December 2018.''' <br />
<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 (This route may gain a more frequent service, possibly from December 2018).<br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Ayr - Stranraer: The railway between Ayr and Stranraer closed at short notice during the evening of 27 August 2018, because of the dangerous condition of the former station hotel at Ayr. Consequent train service alterations include withdrawal of services between Kilmarnock and Barassie Junction. Disruption is expected to continue until mid-October.<br />
* Derby: Resignalling and remodelling in the Derby area results in the following closure until 7 October: Derby - Belper - Ambergate - Matlock and Chesterfield (through trains diverted via Trent Junction and Erewash Valley line)<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage (Langley Junction): Although the stated aspiration is to increase the off-peak service between Hertford North and Stevenage, non-provision of a planned additional turn-back platform at Stevenage precludes this. Services north of Watton-at-Stone are expected instead to be replaced by bus from a date to be determined (the original target of December 2018 is unlikely to be met), in order to accommodate additional Thameslink services on the main line. It was reported that this would continue until at least 2021, but efforts are being made to reinstate the train service a year earlier. Until the service can be (re-)extended to Stevenage, the line is expected to see very few passenger trains or none at all, apart from engineering work diversions.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. Most routes were in use from 20 May 2018. Operational difficulties following introduction of the May 2018 timetable resulted in a supposedly short-term cut in the number of trains. In particular, the new connection from Belle Isle Junction is not used by passenger services at weekends. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. This may happen in December 2018, following resignalling at Wishaw.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to autumn 2019, when services on the new line will be restricted to the Abbey Wood - Paddington (low level) section only. Existing services between Paddington (existing ground level platforms) and Heathrow Airport and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield will not be diverted and linked to the newly constructed section until later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation would be funded, and can only be regarded as definitively dead. <!---Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.---><br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam), but faces strong local opposition.<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
* Manchester (Castlefield Junction) to Newton-le-Willows (December 2013)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under Trams, above)<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury<br />
<br />
The Cardiff scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines. The government has also cancelled schemes for electrification to Windermere and north from Kettering on the Midland Main Line.<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff (to Merthyr, Aberdare etc), which is meant to be jointly-funded with the UK Government. This may involve conversion to a form of light rapid transit. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government is funding significant electrification in the central lowlands, including Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) and Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014).<br />
<br />
There has been a gradual introduction of electric trains on the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High. A few services were electrically-worked from December 2017 and most were electric by July 2018. The lines from Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston were available for electric traction from May 2018, but have seen only occasional use. Regular electrically-worked services are planned from December 2018.<br />
<br />
Further work is under way to electrify from the Carmuirs triangle to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa; Holytown to Kirknewton via Shotts; and Falkirk to Grangemouth. The last is for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services from 2018, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=24331United Kingdom - General Information2018-09-17T16:19:03Z<p>Richard Maund: /* New and reinstated passenger services in recent years: */ Swanage and Llangollen entries updated</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites.<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there is just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is produced in two versions: ''Comprehensive Rail Times for Great Britain'' (the same as Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable) and ''Abbreviated Rail Times for Great Britain'' (Principal Stations on Main Lines and Rural Routes - the same as is found in the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]). The comprehensive timetable is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall will allow trams to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate. Testing was under way during summer 2018. Tram Trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of Supertram's network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network, although the route to Rotherham is being electrified to 750 V.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Old Oak Common and Greenford West Junction via Park Royal will close to passenger services from 10 December 2018, to facilitate HS2 construction work. The line is used by one train each way Mondays to Fridays (currently 10:57 South Ruislip to Paddington and 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe), which will be diverted via Drayton Green. '''The last trains run on Friday 7 December 2018.''' <br />
<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 (This route may gain a more frequent service, possibly from December 2018).<br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Ayr - Stranraer: The railway between Ayr and Stranraer closed at short notice during the evening of 27 August 2018, because of the dangerous condition of the former station hotel at Ayr. Consequent train service alterations include withdrawal of services between Kilmarnock and Barassie Junction. Disruption is expected to continue until mid-October.<br />
* Derby: Resignalling and remodelling in the Derby area results in the following closure until 7 October: Derby - Belper - Ambergate - Matlock and Chesterfield (through trains diverted via Trent Junction and Erewash Valley line)<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage (Langley Junction): Although the stated aspiration is to increase the off-peak service between Hertford North and Stevenage, non-provision of a planned additional turn-back platform at Stevenage precludes this. Services north of Watton-at-Stone are expected instead to be replaced by bus from a date to be determined (the original target of December 2018 is unlikely to be met), in order to accommodate additional Thameslink services on the main line. It was reported that this would continue until at least 2021, but efforts are being made to reinstate the train service a year earlier. Until the service can be (re-)extended to Stevenage, the line is expected to see very few passenger trains or none at all, apart from engineering work diversions.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. Most routes were in use from 20 May 2018. Operational difficulties following introduction of the May 2018 timetable resulted in a supposedly short-term cut in the number of trains. In particular, the new connection from Belle Isle Junction is not used by passenger services at weekends. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 and 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway from Spring 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. A seasonal weekend service in conjunction with SouthWestern Railway operated in 2018, and it is hoped to operate every summer in future. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus for 2019<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. This may happen in December 2018, following resignalling at Wishaw.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to autumn 2019. The Shenfield is expected to be introduced later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation will be funded. Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.<br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* South Tynedale Railway plans to extend their operation from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) - intended to open in July 2017 - have been postponed ''sine die''<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam).<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
* Manchester (Castlefield Junction) to Newton-le-Willows (December 2013)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under Trams, above)<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury<br />
<br />
The Cardiff scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines. The government has also cancelled schemes for electrification to Windermere and north from Kettering on the Midland Main Line.<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff (to Merthyr, Aberdare etc), which is meant to be jointly-funded with the UK Government. This may involve conversion to a form of light rapid transit. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government is funding significant electrification in the central lowlands, including Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) and Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014).<br />
<br />
There has been a gradual introduction of electric trains on the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High. A few services were electrically-worked from December 2017 and most were electric by July 2018. The lines from Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston were available for electric traction from May 2018, but have seen only occasional use. Regular electrically-worked services are planned from December 2018.<br />
<br />
Further work is under way to electrify from the Carmuirs triangle to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa; Holytown to Kirknewton via Shotts; and Falkirk to Grangemouth. The last is for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services from 2018, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_-_General_Information&diff=24330United Kingdom - General Information2018-09-17T16:15:47Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Temporary Closures: */ Derby and Watton items updated</p>
<hr />
<div>==Country Name==<br />
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<br />
<br />
Nomenclature: &quot;Great Britain&quot; comprises the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales. &quot;United Kingdom&quot; (in full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) comprises Great Britain and the Province of Northern Ireland. &quot;British Isles&quot; is a purely geographical description for the British mainland and the island of Ireland; the latter contains the Province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are usually regarded as part of the British Isles, although independent of the UK government. All but the Republic of Ireland (which is entirely independent of the UK) are under the British Crown (monarchy).<br />
<br />
==National Railway System==<br />
Most infrastructure in Great Britain is owned by [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail], a company controlled by the government's [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport Department for Transport] (DfT). Most passenger train services are provided by operators under franchise agreements with DfT, [https://tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London], [http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk Merseytravel], [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland] or the [http://gov.wales/topics/transport/?lang=en Welsh Government]. Most franchisees are subsidiaries of major bus companies or national railways from other countries, principally Deutsche Bahn and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The Scottish Government intends to introduce a public-sector bidder for the next ScotRail franchise, with [http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/ David MacBrayne Limited] as a likely candidate. Full details of passenger train operators are given by links from the [http://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/uk-rail-industry/passenger-freight-track.html Rail Delivery Group] website. Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites. Passenger train operations collectively are known as 'National Rail'.<br />
<br />
The operator of each train is indicated in the electronic National Rail Timetable and <br />
its printed derivatives by means of two-letter codes; for a de-coder and a chronology of <br />
privatisation and transfer/re-branding of Great Britain's passenger railway franchises to <br />
date go to the [http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/ Rail Chronology] website. Basic customer information about and links to the websites of each TOC are available through the [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx National Rail] website. Some further information about franchise periods and past franchisees can be found in the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-schedule DfT] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_trains_in_the_United_Kingdom Wikipedia] websites.<br />
<br />
A small number of operators provide passenger services on the national network which are not franchised by the DfT. These include [http://www.eurostar.com/ ''Eurostar''] which is a unitary undertaking (Eurostar <br />
International Ltd) managed by SNCF, which has a 55% interest in the company. Private investors acquired the UK government's 40% stake in 2015 and SNCB/NMBS owns the remaining 5%. In addition<br />
* [http://www.eurotunnel.com/ Eurotunnel] operates a shuttle service for motor vehicles through the Channel Tunnel; this does not carry foot-passengers (although cyclists can be carried by arrangement)<br />
* [http://www.nymr.co.uk/ North Yorkshire Moors Railway] operates timetabled steam trains through between Pickering/Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby during the summer.<br />
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ Swanage Railway] intends to run a service between Swanage and Wareham during the summer from 2019. Trains were operated on behalf of Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways in 2017, but there in 2018 there is just a limited Saturday service by the local franchisee, South Western Railway. <br />
* [http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/ West Coast Railways] operates timetabled steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig during the summer. <br />
<br />
Railways in Northern Ireland are owned by Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which remains state-owned) and are operated as the [http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/ N I Railways] (NIR) division of Translink.<br />
<br />
All freight trains in Great Britain are operated by competing companies under "open access" conditions. The <i>principal</i> companies are: [http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/rail-uk-en/start/ DB Cargo UK] <br />
(formerly English Welsh and Scottish Railway, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn of Germany); [https://www.freightliner.co.uk/ Freightliner] (owned by US railroad Genesee & Wyoming Inc); [http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ Colas Rail] (part of the Bouyuges group); [http://www.directrailservices.com/ Direct Rail Services] (owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority); and [http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ GB Railfreight] (part of the Hector Rail Group). Direct Rail Services also operates a limited number of passenger trains for Greater Anglia (Norwich - Yarmouth), Northern Rail (Cumbrian Coast) and ScotRail (Fife commuter). DB Cargo UK, in particular, and GB Railfreight, to a lesser extent, operate charter passenger trains. GB Railfreight also operates the Caledonian Sleeper trains on behalf of the franchisee, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any revenue freight trains in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
Neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Isles (îles Anglo-Normands) is legally part of the UK but the Isle of Man's active railways and tramways are to <br />
be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website] and under [[#Trams|Trams]] respectively.<br />
<br />
==Official Website==<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink]<br />
<br />
==Language==<br />
English. In addition Welsh is spoken in most parts of Wales, <br />
and Gaelic is used to a limited extent in north-west Scotland.<br />
<br />
==Currency==<br />
Pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes, <br />
which are valid throughout the UK and usually accepted without question. Channel <br />
Islands and Manx notes (but not coins) are technically legal tender in the UK, <br />
but are best changed at banks.<br />
<br />
==UIC code==<br />
* United Kingdom: numeric 70; alpha GB<br />
* Eurotunnel: numeric 69 (used only for accounting purposes and not shown on rolling stock).<br />
<br />
Historically, the only British rolling stock to show UIC numbers were wagons passed to work on the now defunct train ferries from Harwich and Dover or through the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar class 374 trains, which entered service in 2015, were the first UK-registered passenger stock to have UIC numbers, otherwise known as the European Vehicle Number (EVN). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST [https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/RIS-2453-RST%20Iss%201.pdf Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering], introduced in December 2017, requires the EVN to be used in Great Britain, but this is voluntary for existing vehicles not used on international traffic. UIC numbering is not used by NI Railways.<br />
<br />
==Timetable==<br />
===Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)===<br />
The official National Rail timetable is published on Network Rail's website (see below), twice yearly (in mid December, to meet an [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0844 EC directive], and mid May). Services on Mondays to Fridays, on Saturdays (or Mondays to Saturdays) and on Sundays are usually different and laid out separately in the timetable; there may be several alternative Sunday services, to allow for engineering work, during the currency of a timetable. [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe] provides a comprehensive guide to printed and on-line public transport timetables.<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner]<br />
<br />
The [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites provide a quick-reference way of checking the latest schedule (or amendment) for any particular train<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetable====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable-enrt/ Electronic National Rail Timetable]<br />
<br />
====Working (Staff) Timetables====<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/working-timetable/ Network Rail Working Timetables]<br />
<br />
You can also check for the latest variations to working timetable details for specific trains on the [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] websites.<br />
<br />
[http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/working-timetables London Underground working timetables]. DLR is not included.<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
<i>Rail Times for Great Britain</i> published by [https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/railtimes/ Middleton Press] is produced in two versions: ''Comprehensive Rail Times for Great Britain'' (the same as Network Rail's electronic National Rail Timetable) and ''Abbreviated Rail Times for Great Britain'' (Principal Stations on Main Lines and Rural Routes - the same as is found in the [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable]). The comprehensive timetable is a limited edition that needs to be ordered from the publisher. Train operators (apart from TfL Rail, operators of London - Shenfield local service) produce timetable leaflets or booklets for specific services, which should be available at relevant stations. Long-distance operators manage to include all of their services in a single booklet, but Great Western is the only train operator to publish a single timetable book with details of all local services. This has to be paid for.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.html National Rail's future engineering works] <br />
<br />
===Northern Ireland===<br />
<br />
====Journey Planner====<br />
On the [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink home page].<br />
<br />
====Downloadable Timetables====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/ NIRailways Timetables]<br />
<br />
====Printed Timetable====<br />
A series of four free leaflets is available.<br />
<br />
====Engineering Information====<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/NI-Railways/nirailways-travel-updates/ NIRailways Travel Updates]<br />
<br />
==Maps==<br />
===Printed Maps===<br />
*The timetable book of all of Great Western's services comes with a passenger network map for the whole of Great Britain. <br />
*The ''Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland'' by S.K. Baker gives detailed and accurate coverage of the UK railway system, and is widely available. It is mostly at 1:350,000, but with enlargements of many urban areas; an updated edition is published every 2-3 years.<br />
*[http://www.trackmaps.co.uk TrackMaps] publish a series of track diagrams (formerly Quail Track Diagrams) in regional volumes, based on the former British Rail regions.<br />
*Northern Ireland Railways are in a volume covering the whole of Ireland published by [http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ Quail Map Co].<br />
*Historic atlases have been published by various other publishers.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
*Maps showing where the operators ply are at [http://www.barrydoe.co.uk/ Barry Doe's] (see National Rail Passenger Operators' map) and [http://www.projectmapping.co.uk Project Mapping] websites.<br />
*Thorsten Büker's [http://bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php Map of British Isles and Ireland network].<br />
*[http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php Rail Map online].<br />
<br />
==Ticketing==<br />
There is no distance-related fare tariff in the UK, and fares are charged on a market basis. Certain fares are regulated and the amount by which franchised train companies can increase some fares is specified by the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
Standard walk-on fares are high, but a wide range of discounted fares is available. These are subject to restrictions as to days and times when they can be used. It can be difficult to obtain accurate information as to fares and their availability, even from official enquiry offices, because the pricing structure is complicated and the different train companies are all making their own special offers. The most heavily discounted fares usually oblige the passenger to travel on specified trains (with no opportunity to alter these) - and only a limited number of tickets may be issued for each service. Train operators are increasingly introducing special offers that can only be taken up through their website. Higher fares are charged for use of domestic trains on HS1, the high-speed line to Kent, except for through tickets between Kent and destinations beyond London. <br />
<br />
Tickets for any rail journey in the UK can be purchased from any franchised operator's website, but the best price may be available from the operator whose service is being used. Various other websites act as 'consolidators' and will compare what is available in order to offer the best deal. It is sometimes possible to obtain a lower price for a journey by splitting it and buying a different ticket for each section. In such cases it is necessary to travel on a train that stops at stations where the validity of one ticket ends and another starts. This requirement does not apply if at least one of the tickets is a season ticket, rail rover or similar. It may also be found that a ticket to a station beyond one's destination is cheaper, but conditions need to be checked carefully. A break of journey may not be permitted, requiring an excess fare to be paid if exiting at an intermediate station.<br />
<br />
Overseas visitors should endeavour to purchase a rover ticket, such as a [http://www.britrail.net/ BritRail] or InterRail pass, before travelling to the UK. Various rail rovers are available within the UK, but they do not offer the value or wide validity of those available to foreign visitors, and many are not valid until after the morning peak period.<br />
<br />
In various areas where all stations have automatic ticket machines, including on the London Underground and most other tram and metro networks, a penalty fares system applies. Passengers found without a ticket are likely to have to pay a fine on the spot.<br />
<br />
There is only limited use of smart cards on the national rail system, but they are widely used in urban areas, particularly London. <br />
<br />
First class seating tends now to be found only on principal routes; in Northern Ireland it is limited to principal trains on the international route between Belfast and Dublin (where NIRailways call it &quot;First plus&quot; while partner Iarnród Éireann call it &quot;Premium&quot;). Eurostar maintain three classes: Standard; Leisure Select; Business Premier. On some trains, including many of those operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southeastern and Southern, there is no difference between first class and standard class seating.<br />
<br />
==Infrastructure==<br />
===Infrastructure Authority===<br />
*Great Britain: [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/ Network Rail]<br />
*Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited, through a subsidiary NIR Networks Limited<br />
<br />
===Network Statement===<br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/network-statement/ Network Rail]. The Sectional Appendices are available <br />
[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ here] (scroll down to list of PDFs).<br />
<br />
[http://www.translink.co.uk/Corporate/About-Us/Publications/network-statement/ Translink]<br />
<br />
===Gauge===<br />
*Great Britain: Standard<br />
*Northern Ireland: 1600 mm [5 feet 3 inches]<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
*Great Britain: Mostly 25 kV 50 Hz. 750 V dc third rail is used on some lines in south east England and around Liverpool. The line between Pelaw and Sunderland is electrified at 1500V dc overhead, to allow use by Tyne & Wear Metro.<br />
*Northern Ireland: no electrified lines.<br />
<br />
===Rule of the road===<br />
Left.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
*Distances are shown on Railway Track Diagrams published by [https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/ TRACKmaps]. Distances are also available in Network Rail's [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-commercial-partners/information-operating-companies/national-electronic-sectional-appendix/ Sectional Appendices] (scroll down for list of available PDFs).<br />
*Distances for Northern Ireland are also available on-line:<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-nc.html Derry and Larne lines]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/railref/ref-bd.html Bangor line]<br />
**[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/RailRef/ref-gd.html Dublin line]<br />
<br />
==Other railways==<br />
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel under a long-term concession from the two governments. HS1 Ltd (owner of the link between London and the Channel tunnel) is held by private capital under a 30-year concession from the government. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited owns the railway between Hayes & Harlington and London Heathrow Airport. Facilities exist for special through running between the national system and some tourist lines. British American Railway Services (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings of the USA) operate two lines (Weardale Railway and Dartmoor Railway); both function principally as tourist lines.<br />
<br />
==Tourist lines==<br />
A current listing of UK and Irish heritage railways can be found at the [http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php UK and Irish Heritage Railways website].<br />
<br />
==Metro==<br />
London, Newcastle, <br />
Glasgow. Although part of the national railway system, the Merseyrail Electrics <br />
network in Liverpool is like a Metro. There are two separate networks in London. The Underground system is 660V dc third and fourth rail; the Docklands Light Railway is a fully-automated 750V dc third rail system. Glasgow and Merseyrail are third <br />
rail and Newcastle is 1500 V dc overhead. Glasgow Subway is 4 feet (1,219mm) gauge and was originally cable-worked. There are several lines where London Underground and <br />
main line trains share the same tracks. The Tyne & Wear Metro (Newcastle) operates to Sunderland over the Network Rail line from Pelaw. London Overground is part of the <br />
national system on which the franchising has (in effect) been devolved to the <br />
Mayor of London.<br />
<br />
==Trams==<br />
Birmingham/Wolverhampton (Midland Metro), Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh,<br />
Llandudno (cable worked), Manchester, Nottingham, Seaton (Devon) and Sheffield. The Croydon, <br />
Manchester, Midland Metro, Nottingham and Seaton systems include extensive running over <br />
routes that were previously part of the national railway system. The Manchester and Nottingham systems have been considerably extended in recent years and an extension of Midland Metro in Birmingham city centre came into use in 2016. Further extensions to Midland Metro are planned. A second route through Manchester city centre came into use on 26 February 2017 and a branch to Trafford Park is under construction.<br />
<br />
The Seaton and Llandudno lines are essentially tourist operations, and both are narrow gauge. <br />
There are other tourist lines of a mile or more at the National Tramway Museum <br />
(Crich, near Matlock) and at Beamish Open Air Museum (near Gateshead), plus <br />
several other shorter lines. <br />
<br />
The Isle of Man has three narrow gauge tramways, which operate on a seasonal basis: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway - along the promenade in Douglas; the Manx Electric Railway - an inter-urban line between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey; and the Snaefell Mountain Railway - from Laxey to Snaefell Summit. <br />
After a period of uncertainty, the threat that the horse tramway line in Douglas might be shortened seems to have been seen off by a vote in Tynwald (the Manx parliament) in January 2017. <br />
<br />
The Tinsley Chord, which connects the Sheffield tram system to a freight line near Meadowhall will allow trams to run between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham Parkgate. Testing was under way during summer 2018. Tram Trains are dual voltage vehicles that can run on the 750 V Overhead Lines (OHLE) of Supertram's network and the 25 kV OHLE of the national rail network, although the route to Rotherham is being electrified to 750 V.<br />
<br />
Track plans for most of the significant tram systems in the United Kingdom are available on the [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/track/diagrams0.shtm Railway Codes site].<br />
<br />
==Recent and Future Changes== <br />
Most aspects of national railway operations are privatised, but infrastructure ownership has reverted to the public sector. There continues to be debate about the fragmented, expensive and complex nature of the system that has emerged, under the general oversight of the Department for Transport.<br />
<br />
===Route Closures and Service Reductions===<br />
Having undergone extensive cut backs in the 1960s, the present passenger network seems relatively secure. The closure of a passenger railway in the UK currently involves a lengthy legal process, and short-notice closures usually occur only if there is a sudden and dramatic infrastructure failure,or if the closure is deemed a &quot;minor closure&quot;. Passenger services via the Channel Tunnel, or in connection with them, do not enjoy statutory protection from closure. <br />
<br />
Some routes have been reduced to just one or two trains per day (or, in some cases, per week) in order to reduce operating costs without having to go through the closure procedure. These are included in the list of [http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm sparse services].<br />
<br />
A newly-introduced passenger service can be designated as "experimental" for a period up to five years, during which time it may be withdrawn without the usual closure procedure needing to be followed. The passenger service between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction is "experimental" for five years from 13 December 2015. <br />
<br />
====Passenger services to be withdrawn====<br />
* The railway between Old Oak Common and Greenford West Junction via Park Royal will close to passenger services from 10 December 2018, to facilitate HS2 construction work. The line is used by one train each way Mondays to Fridays (currently 10:57 South Ruislip to Paddington and 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe), which will be diverted via Drayton Green. '''The last trains run on Friday 7 December 2018.''' <br />
<br />
* The railway between Nottingham and Worksop is to be diverted at Whitwell to allow expansion of a dolomite quarry. This will eliminate Whitwell Tunnel. No date is set for this, but planning permission to expand the quarry was granted in 2018.<br />
<br />
* Planned diversion of trains between Belfast and Dublin to a new terminal facility - [http://www.translink.co.uk/Translink-Footer/the-hub/ the Belfast Hub] - to be constructed close to Belfast Great Victoria Street may see the end of regular passenger services between Central Junction (Adelaide) and City Junction (City Hospital).<br />
<br />
* The London Underground service between Croxley and Watford is to be withdrawn in event of the Croxley rail link opening, which will divert services to Watford High Street. There is now considerable doubt as to whether the project will proceed.<br />
<br />
====Closures and significant service reductions in recent years are==== <br />
<br />
'''Line closed'''<br />
<br />
* Forres station and the line through it were replaced in October 2017 by a new station and line to the north. The new line is approximately on the original 1858 alignment of the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway, which was not normally used by passenger trains after the line south to Dunkeld & Birnam, thence Perth, opened in 1863. The last trains via the old station ran on 6 October and the new line and station came into use on 17 October. <br />
<br />
'''Passenger service withdrawn, line still open for other than regular passenger traffic:'''<br />
<br />
* Westbury East Loop Junction - Hawkeridge Junction: Service withdrawn May 2016, when the experimental service of one train each day, Monday to Friday, non-stop between Reading and Bath Spa ceased. <br />
<br />
'''Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:'''<br />
<br />
* Wishaw - Holytown: December 2014 (This route may gain a more frequent service, possibly from December 2018).<br />
<br />
* [Holytown - ] Mossend East Junction - South Junction [ - Motherwell]: Reduced to single round trip in December 2014, and subsequently reduced to one journey in one direction only.<br />
<br />
Fuller details of these services can be found in the listing of [https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php <b>''Passenger train Services over Unusual Lines''</b>].<br />
<br />
====Temporary Closures:==== <br />
<br />
Work to upgrade the UK rail network is increasingly leading to lines being closed for extended periods. Severe weather and the age of much railway infrastructure has resulted in more temporary closures caused by landslips and other problems with earthworks. Current and planned temporary closures of four weeks or more are ''(earliest reopenings are listed first)'':<br />
* Ayr - Stranraer: The railway between Ayr and Stranraer closed at short notice during the evening of 27 August 2018, because of the dangerous condition of the former station hotel at Ayr. Consequent train service alterations include withdrawal of services between Kilmarnock and Barassie Junction. Disruption is expected to continue until mid-October.<br />
* Derby: Resignalling and remodelling in the Derby area results in the following closure until 7 October: Derby - Belper - Ambergate - Matlock and Chesterfield (through trains diverted via Trent Junction and Erewash Valley line)<br />
* Watton-at-Stone - Stevenage (Langley Junction): Although the stated aspiration is to increase the off-peak service between Hertford North and Stevenage, non-provision of a planned additional turn-back platform at Stevenage precludes this. Services north of Watton-at-Stone are expected instead to be replaced by bus from a date to be determined (the original target of December 2018 is unlikely to be met), in order to accommodate additional Thameslink services on the main line. It was reported that this would continue until at least 2021, but efforts are being made to reinstate the train service a year earlier. Until the service can be (re-)extended to Stevenage, the line is expected to see very few passenger trains or none at all, apart from engineering work diversions.<br />
<br />
===Re-openings and Openings===<br />
<br />
Most projects involve upgrading existing routes, but some openings have occurred or are about to do so. <br />
<br />
====New and reinstated passenger services in recent years:==== <br />
<br />
Extensive rebuilding of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and New Cross Gate was completed at the beginning of January 2018, but with traffic management and automatic train operation still to be fully commissioned. The line between Blackfriars and London Bridge (Metropolitan Junction) had been out of use since December 2014. The new Thameslink timetable is being introduced in phases, with the full service running planned from December 2019. Some passenger trains started using the rebuilt route between Blackfriars and Bricklayers Arms Junction (New Cross Gate) on 9 January 2018. The project includes a new line between the Thameslink station at St Pancras International and the East Coast Main Line at Belle Isle Junction, north of King's Cross. A limited passenger service over the line to Belle Isle Junction commenced on 26 February 2018. Most routes were in use from 20 May 2018. Operational difficulties following introduction of the May 2018 timetable resulted in a supposedly short-term cut in the number of trains. In particular, the new connection from Belle Isle Junction is not used by passenger services at weekends. <br />
<br />
Other new passenger services are: <br />
<br />
* Water Street Junction - Irwell Street Junction (Ordsall Chord), allows passenger trains to run direct between Deansgate and Manchester Victoria (December 2017)<br />
<br />
* New line at Forres (see closures above) (October 2017)<br />
<br />
* Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Pen Mill (December 2015 - "experimental" for five years) <br />
<br />
* Bicester South Junction - Gavray Junction, allows trains to run between London Marylebone and Oxford (October 2015) (until 10 December 2016 trains ran only as far as Oxford Parkway, but now run through to Oxford)<br />
<br />
* Newcraighall - Tweedbank (Borders Railway) (September 2015)<br />
<br />
* Whiteplatts Jn - Todmorden Jn (Todmorden Curve), allows trains to run direct between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Ebbw Vale Parkway - Ebbw Vale Town (May 2015)<br />
<br />
Remodelling the railway at Reading has included construction of a new dive-under from the Wokingham line to the north side of the station, with a limited passenger service, a flyover west of the station used by fast trains to and from Didcot and an alternative route between Reading West and the north side of Reading station. <br />
<br />
A number of new curves and flyovers have been built, in order to increase network capacity by reducing conflicting moves. A flyover at Hitchin, used by most passenger trains towards the Cambridge line, came into use in 2013. New curves north of Ipswich and north of Doncaster are normally used only by freight trains. At Norton Bridge a new flyover to and from the Stoke-on-Trent line and a new down slow line towards Crewe came into use in March 2016. <br />
<br />
On tourist / heritage railways:<br />
<br />
* the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran inaugural passenger trains to Worthing level crossing (North Elmham) on 19 & 20 May 2018, but regular services continue to terminate at Dereham. The railway aspires to continue to County School. <br />
* the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway extended passenger services to Broadway in 2018.<br />
* the Gwili Railway extended their operation from Bronwydd Arms to Abergwili Junction (in the outskirts of Carmarthen) from 2 July 2017.<br />
* the Swanage Railway completed the restoration of a link with the national network when they reopened the line between Norden and Worgret Junction; through trains between Swanage and Wareham, on a seasonal basis, resumed on 13 June 2017. No service is expected in 2018, but it is hoped to operate every summer from 2019. <br />
* the [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/the-mountsorrel-branch/ Mountsorrel branch], off the Great Central Railway, opened in autumn 2015 for occasional trains only, with the expectation of regular services to and from the branch from 2019.<br />
* Llangollen Railway extended passenger services from Carrog to a provisional terminus at Corwen in October 2014, and expect to extend slightly further, to their definitive Corwen terminus during 2018<br />
* The first (very short) section of the Aln Valley Railway officially opened in October 2013, from a new station on the edge of Alnwick, with a longer run available from December 2017. It is planned that the railway will reach the National Rail station at Alnmouth in 2020.<br />
* The first section of the re-opened Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line, is in operation between Woody Bay and Killington Lane. Extensions towards Lynton and to Blackmoor Gate are planned as the next phase of reconstruction.<br />
<br />
====Projects authorised or under construction are:==== <br />
<br />
There are proposals to extend the Dalmuir to Whifflet service to Wishaw via Holytown, which would introduce half-hourly trains between Mossend North and Mossend East and between Holytown and Wishaw, in place of the current very sparse service. This may happen in December 2018, following resignalling at Wishaw.<br />
<br />
Crossrail (now known as the "Elizabeth Line") is a new line, almost entirely in tunnel, linking the railways from Paddington and from Liverpool Street, together with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood. Trains were due to start running between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport in December 2018, but this has been put back to autumn 2019. The Shenfield is expected to be introduced later.<br />
<br />
Work is well under way on constructing a branch of the LUL Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea, for completion in 2020. <br />
<br />
A grade-separated junction is being built at Werrington Junction, north of Peterborough. It is expected that passenger trains to and from Spalding will run via a new dive-under, so the present connection may become little-used. <br />
<br />
Work has started on construction of a high speed railway (HS2) from London to Birmingham, but the line will not be opened until 2026 at the earliest. A flythrough of the route is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkoGvw9kbA here]. It is to be followed by ''Phase 2a'' as far as Crewe, for which parliamentary powers are being sought in the 2017-19 session. It is intended that the line will subsequently be extended to Manchester and Leeds, with completion in the mid-2030s. A second Crossrail line, linking lines in North East and South West London, is being designed so that parliamentary powers for its construction can be sought.<br />
<br />
Preliminary work on construction of a link between the LUL Watford branch and the former Croxley Green branch was undertaken in 2016. However, the project has stalled, because of lack of agreement as to how further cost escalation will be funded. Should the scheme continue, which seems increasingly unlikely, it will result in the closure of Watford LUL station, but the re-opening of most of the Croxley Green branch.<br />
<br />
The DfT is seeking to get private companies to reopen railways or build new ones. It is intended that [http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ East West Rail] will deliver the design, reconstruction and operation of the derelict line between Calvert and Bletchley. The longer-term objective is to re-introduce trains between Oxford and Cambridge. [https://heathrowrail.com/ Heathrow Southern Railway] intends to build a new railway south-west from Heathrow Airport to link with the Staines to Windsor line, together with a branch to Virginia Water or Chertsey. Both of these schemes will require a Transport & Works Act Order and an application was made for the East West Rail one in July 2018. <br />
<br />
In the private sector:<br />
* South Tynedale Railway plans to extend their operation from Lintley to Slaggyford (on the trackbed of the former Haltwhistle - Alston branch) - intended to open in July 2017 - have been postponed ''sine die''<br />
* The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway is constructing an extension from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead, with a planned completion date of 2020.<br />
* Moorland & City Railways have a stated intention to reopen the line between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek Brook Junction, to a junction with the Churnet Valley Railway, but progress seems to be languishing.<br />
* Most ambitiously, the two Great Central Railways at Loughborough are being linked by means of a reinstated bridge over the Midland Main Line. <br />
* The Rother Valley Railway has applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to rebuild the railway between Robertsbridge and Junction Road (Bodiam).<br />
* The Royal Deeside Railway is extending its line to Crathes West Lodge.<br />
* Strathspey Railway is extending to Grantown-on-Spey and during summer 2014 and 2015 offered a limited service between its normal terminus at Broomhill and the river bridge at Dulnain.<br />
* The Helston Railway provides a short ride near Prospidnick, but plans to extend to Helston and eventually to Gwinear Road.<br />
<br />
===Electrification===<br />
<br />
Main line electrification in Great Britain came to a virtual standstill following railway privatisation, because private-sector train operators and rolling stock companies preferred the flexibility of diesel traction. The only schemes to proceed were between Crewe and Kidsgrove (near Stoke on Trent) (electrified for diversionary use), the reconstructed Larkhall branch line in Scotland and High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) [see below].<br />
<br />
In 2009 Department for Transport policy shifted towards extending electrification, with significant schemes proposed and a few implemented. However, greatly increased costs have resulted in projects being curtailed and delayed. Poor cost estimating, increased safety standards, over-specification and loss of practical experience of electrification appear to be among the causes. In July 2017 the UK Government announced an end to plans for further railway electrification in England and Wales, with reliance instead on bi-mode diesel/electric trains. This will include converting some electric multiple-units to bi-mode working. There have also been experiments with battery operation. In contrast, the Scottish Government requires Network Rail to develop an electrification technical specification that can deliver an "efficient and affordable rolling programme of electrification". <br />
<br />
Electrification schemes recently completed in England are:<br />
<br />
* Barnt Green to Bromsgrove (July 2018)<br />
<br />
* Preston to Blackpool North (May 2018)<br />
<br />
* Manchester Victoria to Ordsall Lane Junction (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Wigan (Springs Branch Junction) to Huyton via St Helens (May 2015)<br />
<br />
* Earlestown to Edge Hill (March 2015)<br />
<br />
* Manchester (Castlefield Junction) to Newton-le-Willows (December 2013)<br />
<br />
Schemes under way and to be completed in England and Wales comprise:<br />
<br />
* Manchester to Preston via Bolton<br />
<br />
* Meadowhall to Rotherham (in connection with the Sheffield tram-train scheme; see under Trams, above)<br />
<br />
* Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley <br />
<br />
* Gospel Oak to Woodgrange Park via South Tottenham<br />
<br />
* London (Heathrow Airport Junction) to Cardiff, Chippenham and Newbury<br />
<br />
The Cardiff scheme has been cut back to omit Swansea, Bristol, Oxford and the Thames Valley branch lines. The government has also cancelled schemes for electrification to Windermere and north from Kettering on the Midland Main Line.<br />
<br />
In July 2018 the Transport Secretary provided assurances that the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from Manchester to Leeds and York will include both major civil engineering work and electrification as part of a rolling programme.<br />
<br />
The Welsh Government is sponsoring electrification of the Valley Lines from Cardiff (to Merthyr, Aberdare etc), which is meant to be jointly-funded with the UK Government. This may involve conversion to a form of light rapid transit. <br />
<br />
The Scottish Government is funding significant electrification in the central lowlands, including Cumbernauld to Springburn and Mossend (Motherwell) (May 2014) and Rutherglen to Whifflet (December 2014).<br />
<br />
There has been a gradual introduction of electric trains on the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh (Newbridge Junction) via Falkirk High. A few services were electrically-worked from December 2017 and most were electric by July 2018. The lines from Cumbernauld and Croy (Greenhill Upper Jn) to Polmont via Falkirk Grahamston were available for electric traction from May 2018, but have seen only occasional use. Regular electrically-worked services are planned from December 2018.<br />
<br />
Further work is under way to electrify from the Carmuirs triangle to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa; Holytown to Kirknewton via Shotts; and Falkirk to Grangemouth. The last is for freight traffic, but there are proposals to reinstate a passenger service. Transport Scotland is pressing Network Rail to make more progress. Electrification to Perth and to East Kilbride are regarded as priorities.<br />
<br />
===Older Changes===<br />
For details of changes more than five years ago see [[United_Kingdom - Older General Information]].<br />
<br />
==Special Notes==<br />
Trains, other than<i> Eurostar</i>, are not identified in timetables and on departure sheets by numbers. Services are publicly identified by their journey and departure time, but with variations to allow for intermediate stops. There is no standard convention, but as an example a train would be described as the 09:00 London King's Cross to Edinburgh, though at an intermediate stop would probably be announced as the &quot;10:32 Doncaster to Edinburgh, the 09:00 from King's Cross&quot;. An alpha-numeric system is used for operating purposes and these train reporting numbers can be found at [http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced Realtime Trains] and [http://www.opentraintimes.com/ OpenTrainTimes] or through [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info traveline] (remember to uncheck all Mode of Transport boxes except &quot;Train&quot; and ensure end points are &quot;Railway Station&quot;); in the results see the column labelled "Service&quot;. Some operators have their own four-digit train numbering systems for reservation purposes which is displayed on train sides and reservation tickets.<br />
<br />
Departure sheets listing trains from a station in chronological order are rarely used. The usual format is to list destinations in alphabetic order, and provide details of all trains to each. Most stations have electronic displays, which indicate all departures (and often arrivals) within the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
It is unusual for information displays and announcements at stations and on trains to be in any language other than English (and Welsh in Wales), though station name signs in Scotland appear in Gaelic as well as English. Multi-lingual information is normally restricted to dedicated airport services and those using the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
No stations sell international tickets or can make international reservations, though there are facilities to make through bookings from certain stations by Eurostar. <!---International tickets and reservations are available at the We Know London Tourist Services desk in the shopping mall at St Pancras International station.---> Even the range of tickets available from Eurostar is very limited. For guidance on booking travel to and from Europe visit [http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#How%20do%20I%20book? The Man in Seat Sixty-One]'s website or see advice from [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44929.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Some carriages remain in service where it is necessary to open a window and use an outside handle to open an external door from inside but (apart from heritage operations and older carriages used on charter trains) all doors are now centrally locked when trains are underway. Selective door opening is increasingly used, particularly in London and South East England. Trains are longer than some station platforms and only doors within the platform are unlocked. Announcements and visual displays advise passengers which carriages they need to be in if wishing to alight. This also happens to a limited extent on the London Underground, but usually only affecting the rearmost pair of doors. <br />
<br />
Facing pairs of seats in trains have traditionally had the same number, being distinguished by being either &quot;facing&quot; or &quot;back&quot; relative to the direction of travel. They are distinguished on seat reservation labels and tickets by suffixes F and B. This can cause some confusion with seat reservations on trains that reverse en route. The practice is being replaced by most operators by numbering each seat uniquely, particularly on new trains.<br />
<br />
There are very few long-distance overnight trains in Great Britain (and none in Northern Ireland). Couchettes are not provided and seating, when available, is in saloons with non-reclinable seats, where passengers may have no control of the lighting. Completely new trains are to be introduced on Anglo-Scottish overnight services from 2018, with four categories of accommodation.<br />
<br />
Taking bicycles, other than folding ones, by train can be difficult. Space may be limited and some operators require advance reservations for bicycles. More information can be found at [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx National Rail].<br />
<br />
Train services at weekends, and especially Saturday evening and Sunday until mid-afternoon, can be extensively altered because of [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx engineering work]. With the paucity of alternative routes and a growing aversion to temporary single line working, buses frequently substitute for trains in such circumstances. There are an increasing number of initiatives to give extended overnight possessions Mondays to Thursdays, in order to reduce the extent of weekend closures. This results in late evening trains being replaced by buses.<br />
<br />
The risk of terrorism in Great Britain should not be over-stated - but this is due in part to stringent precautions, so very few stations have left luggage facilities. Unattended luggage may be removed by the police and processes to check that it is safe can be very destructive.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiasts are welcomed on stations - for guidance when on and about stations refer to [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/ Network Rail's] advice.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Navbox United Kingdom}}</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=24329France - General Information2018-09-17T15:40:29Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other developments - Projected */ Belfort Delle (will it RO in Dec???)</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* 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 />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least December 2021 pending relaying work for which some funding was agreed in July 2018, although extensive studies are required)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angouleme (storm damage spring 2018; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track; note: the whole section Nexon - Brive had anyway been considered "at risk")<br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until at least December 2018<br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
The following reopenings have credible dates:<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Mons to Aulnoye<br />
<br />
The following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - targeted to reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=24328France - General Information2018-09-17T15:39:16Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other developments - Implemented (latest developments at top) */ Virgule Sable qualification removed (reopened)</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* 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 />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least December 2021 pending relaying work for which some funding was agreed in July 2018, although extensive studies are required)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angouleme (storm damage spring 2018; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track; note: the whole section Nexon - Brive had anyway been considered "at risk")<br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until at least December 2018<br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
The following reopenings have credible dates:<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Mons to Aulnoye<br />
<br />
The following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - will reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=24327France - General Information2018-09-17T15:37:36Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (most recent "suspensions" at top) */ Virgule Sable deleted (having reopened)</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* 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 />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least December 2021 pending relaying work for which some funding was agreed in July 2018, although extensive studies are required)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angouleme (storm damage spring 2018; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track; note: the whole section Nexon - Brive had anyway been considered "at risk")<br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until at least December 2018<br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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]. <i>This has been "temporarily" suspended since 22 January 2018 - see "Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening section", above.</i><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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
The following reopenings have credible dates:<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Mons to Aulnoye<br />
<br />
The following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - will reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=24326France - General Information2018-09-17T15:30:23Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ reopened entries now deleted</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* 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 />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least December 2021 pending relaying work for which some funding was agreed in July 2018, although extensive studies are required)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angouleme (storm damage spring 2018; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track; note: the whole section Nexon - Brive had anyway been considered "at risk")<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (22 January 2018 - until at least September 2018; signalling problems)<br />
<!---REMEMBER ALSO TO AMEND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS - IMPLEMENTED SECTION WHEN THIS DOES EVENTUALLY REOPEN---><br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until at least December 2018<br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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]. <i>This has been "temporarily" suspended since 22 January 2018 - see "Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening section", above.</i><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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
The following reopenings have credible dates:<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Mons to Aulnoye<br />
<br />
The following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - will reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=24325France - General Information2018-09-17T15:20:21Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (most recent "suspensions" at top) */ Nexon-Brive edited</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* 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 />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least December 2021 pending relaying work for which some funding was agreed in July 2018, although extensive studies are required)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angouleme (storm damage spring 2018; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track; note: the whole section Nexon - Brive had anyway been considered "at risk")<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (22 January 2018 - until at least September 2018; signalling problems)<br />
<!---REMEMBER ALSO TO AMEND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS - IMPLEMENTED SECTION WHEN THIS DOES EVENTUALLY REOPEN---><br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Breil-sur-Roya - Tende [ - Vievola - Limone [IT]] until 28 April 2018 for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection <!---PACA fiche 05---> <b><i>Reopening delayed - no revised date yet known.</i></b><br />
* Marseille - Gardanne - Aix en Provence until 31 August 2018 for modernisation scheme<br />
* Limoges - Le Dorat until 12 July 2018 for track relaying<br />
* Nice - Digne [CF de Provence] no through service until 14 July 2018 for track relaying (closed section and bus replacement move as work progresses) <br />
* Thionville - Bettembourg [LU] from 14 July 2018 until 24 August 2018 ''and also for other shorter periods during 2018''<br />
* Paris: La Défense - Nation (line RER A) from 28 July until 26 August 2018<br />
* Saales - St. Die until end of August 2018<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until the end of August 2018 <!---Bretagne fiche 9---><br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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]. <i>This has been "temporarily" suspended since 22 January 2018 - see "Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening section", above.</i><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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
The following reopenings have credible dates:<br />
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge<br />
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont - will reopen December 2018 with two trains each way from Mons to Aulnoye<br />
<br />
The following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - will reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_Austria_-_Switzerland&diff=24083Border Crossings: Austria - Switzerland2018-08-18T20:29:31Z<p>Richard Maund: Now only one crossing in use according to Verein Rhein-Schauen current plan.</p>
<hr />
<div>Note: Despite a common electrification system, different designs of overhead line and pantographs prevents through working by electric trains without special arrangements. <br />
<br />
Until 2006, the Internationale Rheinregulierung (IRR) operated a works railway (43 km long, 750 mm gauge, electrified at 750V dc overhead) for construction and maintetance purposes for the River Rhein as it enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The association [http://www.rheinschauen.at/ Verein Rhein-Schauen] operates passenger trains over this railway, partially with steam engines. The principal section is that on the east side between Werkhof Lustenau and the lake, but specials may operate on the rest of the remaining network - see [https://www.rheinschauen.at/images/simplegallery/bahn/Streckenbersicht.jpg plan]. There were three border crossings (but now only one), listed below <br />
<br />
==Mäder IRR - Kriessern IRR==<br />
[E] on a railway bridge over the Rhine for the Kadelberg quarry at Koblach. No longer in use, the track south of Zollamt Kriessern (near Mäder) having been lifted in 2012. <br />
<br />
==Lustenau Wiesenrain IRR - Widnau IRR==<br />
[E] on a combined road/railway steel bridge over the Rhein. Still in use in 2018.<br />
<br />
==(Bregenz -) Lustenau Markt ÖBB - St Margarethen SBB==<br />
[E] ÖBB works local trains to St Margrethen. SBB works international trains to/from Lindau, using SBB Cargo Re 421 locomotives. These are 421 371 to 421 397 (formerly 11371 to 11397) all of which have a DB/ÖBB pantograph and the necessary safety systems.<br />
<br />
==Höchst Bruggerloch IRR - St.Margrethen IRR==<br />
[E] along the left-bank (i.e. west side) Rhein flood embankment (leading to the end of the embankment in Lake Constance). No longer in use.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox Austria}}<br />
{{Navbox Switzerland}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|Austria - Switzerland]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_Austria_-_Switzerland&diff=24082Border Crossings: Austria - Switzerland2018-08-18T20:24:50Z<p>Richard Maund: First IRR bridge and line south thereof lifted 2012 - see https://www.rheinschauen.at/museum-baehnle/rheinbaehnle</p>
<hr />
<div>Note: Despite a common electrification system, different designs of overhead line and pantographs prevents through working by electric trains without special arrangements. <br />
<br />
Until 2006, the Internationale Rheinregulierung (IRR) operated a works railway (43 km long, 750 mm gauge, electrified at 750V dc overhead) for construction and maintetance purposes for the River Rhein as it enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The association [http://www.rheinschauen.at/ Verein Rhein-Schauen] operates passenger trains over this railway, partially with steam engines. The principal section is that on the east side between Werkhof Lustenau and the lake, but specials may operate on the rest of the remaining network - see [https://www.rheinschauen.at/images/simplegallery/bahn/Streckenbersicht.jpg plan]. There were three border crossings (but now only two), listed below <br />
<br />
==Mäder IRR - Kriessern IRR==<br />
[E] on a railway bridge over the Rhine for the Kadelberg quarry at Koblach. This crossing is no longer in use, the track south of Zollamt Kriessern (near Mäder) having been lifted in 2012. <br />
<br />
==Lustenau Wiesenrain IRR - Widnau IRR==<br />
[E] on a combined road/railway steel bridge over the Rhein. Observed in use for special trains in 2007.<br />
<br />
==(Bregenz -) Lustenau Markt ÖBB - St Margarethen SBB==<br />
[E] ÖBB works local trains to St Margrethen. SBB works international trains to/from Lindau, using SBB Cargo Re 421 locomotives. These are 421 371 to 421 397 (formerly 11371 to 11397) all of which have a DB/ÖBB pantograph and the necessary safety systems.<br />
<br />
==Höchst Bruggerloch IRR - St.Margrethen IRR==<br />
[E] along the left-bank (i.e. west side) Rhein flood embankment (leading to the end of the embankment in Lake Constance). Observed in use for special trains in 2007, but the remaining usable track on the Austrian side is short.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox Austria}}<br />
{{Navbox Switzerland}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|Austria - Switzerland]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Border_Crossings:_Austria_-_Switzerland&diff=24081Border Crossings: Austria - Switzerland2018-08-18T20:14:36Z<p>Richard Maund: IRR website URL given no longer applies (there may be a replacement, not yet found)</p>
<hr />
<div>Note: Despite a common electrification system, different designs of overhead line and pantographs prevents through working by electric trains without special arrangements. <br />
<br />
Until 2006, the Internationale Rheinregulierung (IRR) operated a works railway (43 km long, 750 mm gauge, electrified at 750V dc overhead) for construction and maintetance purposes for the River Rhein as it enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The association [http://www.rheinschauen.at/ Verein Rhein-Schauen] operates passenger trains over this railway, partially with steam engines. Normally only the section on the east side between Werkhof Lustenau and the lake is in used, but specials may operate on the rest of the remaining network. However the future for all but the first mentioned section is uncertain. There were three border crossings, listed below.<br />
<br />
==Mäder IRR - Kriessern IRR==<br />
[E] on a railway bridge over the Rhine for the quarry at Koblach. This crossing is no longer in use, the track is not complete south of the former Werkhof Widnau.<br />
<br />
==Lustenau Wiesenrain IRR - Widnau IRR==<br />
[E] on a combined road/railway steel bridge over the Rhein. Observed in use for special trains in 2007.<br />
<br />
==(Bregenz -) Lustenau Markt ÖBB - St Margarethen SBB==<br />
[E] ÖBB works local trains to St Margrethen. SBB works international trains to/from Lindau, using SBB Cargo Re 421 locomotives. These are 421 371 to 421 397 (formerly 11371 to 11397) all of which have a DB/ÖBB pantograph and the necessary safety systems.<br />
<br />
==Höchst Bruggerloch IRR - St.Margrethen IRR==<br />
[E] along the left-bank (i.e. west side) Rhein flood embankment (leading to the end of the embankment in Lake Constance). Observed in use for special trains in 2007, but the remaining usable track on the Austrian side is short.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Border Crossings - General Information]]<br />
<br />
{{Navbox Austria}}<br />
{{Navbox Switzerland}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Border Crossings|Austria - Switzerland]]</div>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=23773France - General Information2018-07-05T10:50:46Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Other developments - Projected */ Le Train du Bas Berry extn delayed</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (early June 2018 pending restoration of track washout)<br />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least 2023 (or perhaps 2025...) pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Nexon - Brive (track fault)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenan - Angouleme (storm damage; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track)<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (22 January 2018 - until at least September 2018; signalling problems)<br />
<!---REMEMBER ALSO TO AMEND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS - IMPLEMENTED SECTION WHEN THIS DOES EVENTUALLY REOPEN---><br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Breil-sur-Roya - Tende [ - Vievola - Limone [IT]] until 28 April 2018 for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection <!---PACA fiche 05---> <b><i>Reopening delayed - no revised date yet known.</i></b><br />
* Marseille - Gardanne - Aix en Provence until 31 August 2018 for modernisation scheme<br />
* Limoges - Le Dorat until 12 July 2018 for track relaying<br />
* Nice - Digne [CF de Provence] no through service until 14 July 2018 for track relaying (closed section and bus replacement move as work progresses) <br />
* Thionville - Bettembourg [LU] from 14 July 2018 until 24 August 2018 ''and also for other shorter periods during 2018''<br />
* Paris: La Défense - Nation (line RER A) from 28 July until 26 August 2018<br />
* Saales - St. Die until end of August 2018<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until the end of August 2018 <!---Bretagne fiche 9---><br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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]. <i>This has been "temporarily" suspended since 22 January 2018 - see "Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening section", above.</i><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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
There are no other relevant passenger opening or reopening developments with imminent implementation dates but the following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - will reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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>Richard Maundhttps://www.egtre.info/w/index.php?title=France_-_General_Information&diff=23772France - General Information2018-07-05T10:47:52Z<p>Richard Maund: /* Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top): */ Aix closure</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 SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services), SNCF Logistique (freight) and KEOLIS (International operations).<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). Other international services are operated jointly with neighbouring administrations using various concocted trading names such as ''TGV Lyria'' (Switzerland). 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. Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' operates the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the marketing name [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello''], having bought out former joint owner ''Veolia-Transdev''. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains. ''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 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 />
===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'' and ''iDTGV'' (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''] and [https://www.idtgv.com/en ''iDTGV''] websites<br />
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/intercites/horaires-travaux-lignes Fiches horaires]<br />
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]<br />
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter ''TER'' Website] > ''Région'' > ''Horaires & Trafic'' > ''(Votre) Fiches Horaires'' or ''Documents horaires à télécharger''<br />
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ 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 />
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===<br />
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [http://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 />
There are two options for current performance information:<br />
*The SNCF [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/info-trafic/gl Info Trafic] site > ''DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI'' > ''RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE'' > ''No. de train'' gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information<br />
* [http://www.sncf.com/sncv1/fr/geolocalisation Réseau SNCF En Temps Réel] gives a map of the network showing the location of trains. Click on a train symbol to find its location or on a station for real time arrivals and departures.<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 />
*''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 />
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)<br />
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)<br />
*Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH ([http://www.schweers-wall.de website] in French, German, English and Italian) shows railways in northern half of France at 1:300.000 scale, with enlargements for Paris and principal cities. Single and double-track lines, electrified and freight-only railways are distinguished. Some tramways are indicated. Tourist lines are identified and named, and the gauge of narrow-gauge lines is stated. Lines out of use and those entirely closed are also shown. Details can be confused in congested areas, particularly because parallel lines are used to show railways with more than two tracks. Rivers, canals and forests are marked.<br />
<br />
===Web-based Maps===<br />
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré français'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A [http://flipbook.sncf-reseau.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 flip-book version] (95MB) as at March 201'''5''' is also available. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ext/editorial/guide-voyageur/carte-destinations.pdf passenger network plan] is misleading as well as out of date.<br />
<br />
Privately produced maps/plans include:<br />
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"<br />
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.<br />
* [http://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 />
* [http://www.anciennesvoiesferrees.fr/mapAVF.php Old Railways] provides a map showing the route network - including abandoned lines - as an overlay to satellite imaging; it is, alas, weak on details such as triangular junctions, and incorrectly shows some lines as "passenger" which are now freight-only<br />
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:<br />
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011<br />
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013<br />
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015<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 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 />
<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.<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 />
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the <br />
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.<br />
<br />
===Distances===<br />
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.<br />
<br />
[http://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 />
*[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 />
*[http://www.trains-en-voyage.com/dossiers/infrastructure/reseaux_industriels/hbl.htm Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine] (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) <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 />
[http://www.trainstouristiques.veolia-transport.com/ Veolia Transport] [previously Connex, Vivendi, CGE and affiliate CFTA] operate passenger trains on the branches from Guingamp to Carhaix and Paimpol (including La Vapeur du Trieux) and Chemins de Fer de Provence (see above).<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) [http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm (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 />
<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 />
[http://www.velorailsdefrance.com/index.php?page=federation Vélos-rail de France website]. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the <br />
[http://www.trains-fr.org/unecto/_annu/cftfede.htm 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==<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 is to be replaced by a "real" tramway in September 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 />
* 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 />
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)<br />
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)<br />
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)<br />
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers)<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 />
* Morlaix - Roscoff (early June 2018 pending restoration of track washout)<br />
<!---* Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3): the last regular all-year train (latterly one way only) was replaced by bus from July 2017 - <i>but another one-way only train was reinstated from 28 August 2017, so this entry can be deleted in early course.</i>---><br />
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary until at least 2023 (or perhaps 2025...) pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Nexon - Brive (track fault)<br />
* Saillat-Chassenan - Angouleme (storm damage; unknown duration)<br />
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - condition of track)<br />
* <i>Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe</i>: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (22 January 2018 - until at least September 2018; signalling problems)<br />
<!---REMEMBER ALSO TO AMEND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS - IMPLEMENTED SECTION WHEN THIS DOES EVENTUALLY REOPEN---><br />
* Perpignan - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains (December 2017; following level crossing accident) <br />
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)<br />
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)<br />
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey] (<!---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>.)<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 />
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)<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<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 />
* Breil-sur-Roya - Tende [ - Vievola - Limone [IT]] until 28 April 2018 for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection <!---PACA fiche 05---> <b><i>Reopening delayed - no revised date yet known.</i></b><br />
* Marseille - Gardanne - Aix en Provence until 31 August 2018 for modernisation scheme<br />
* Limoges - Le Dorat until 12 July 2018 for track relaying<br />
* Nice - Digne [CF de Provence] no through service until 14 July 2018 for track relaying (closed section and bus replacement move as work progresses) <br />
* Thionville - Bettembourg [LU] from 14 July 2018 until 24 August 2018 ''and also for other shorter periods during 2018''<br />
* Paris: La Défense - Nation (line RER A) from 28 July until 26 August 2018<br />
* Saales - St. Die until end of August 2018<br />
* Retiers - Châteaubriant until the end of August 2018 <!---Bretagne fiche 9---><br />
* Annemasse - La Roche-sur-Foron until December 2018 for track work<br />
* Gisors - Serqueux until late 2019 for electrification works <br />
* Beauvais - Abancourt - Le Tréport Mers-les-Bains until December 2019<br />
* Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland is now closed permanently but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station - follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42---><br />
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for engineering work <br />
* Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon local government funding for renewal work is expected to lead to reopening in 2019<!---Auvergne fiche 11---><br />
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which should be completed during 2020<br />
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020<br />
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021<br />
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2019 for work which should be completed by early 2022<br />
<br />
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====<br />
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at January 2018, but "local reports" suggest 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 />
A number of lines are at risk of "suspension" from the date shown owing to the poor state of the infrastructure. Until funding is obtained from local or central government such "suspension" would prove fatal: <br />
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)<br />
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close (in part or in whole) but a two year experimental agreement between central government and the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Région has secured the line until the end of 2018. Similarly threatened were Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (closed from December 2017) and [Marvejols – ] Le Monastier – Mende; it remains to be seen how the pro-public transport Occitanie Région deals with these lines. <br />
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)<br />
* Arches - Bruyères - St.Dié-des-Vosges (December 2018)<br />
* Plans to construct a significant deviation involving closure of part of the existing line between Nantes and St.Nazaire, and a relocated Donges station, to avoid the refinery there, have received a "''déclaration d'utilité publique''" so work should start in 2019 for completion in 2021 - see [http://www.mobilicites.com/011-6647-Declaration-d-utilite-publique-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-Donges.html press report].<br />
* Lille - Comines (2019)<br />
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)<br />
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)<br />
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)<br />
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)<br />
* Laon - Hirson (2022)<br />
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)<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 - see [http://calvi-altrimente.eklablog.com/deplacement-de-la-gare-si-peu-d-interet-a106908008 webpage] (no specific threat date)<br />
* Lamballe - Dinan (an on-going speed reduction, on account of condition of infrastructure, will turn into a threat of closure if expenditure is not authorised)(no specific threat date) <br />
<br />
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):<br />
* Morlaix - Roscoff [now transferred to Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening, above]<br />
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy<br />
* [Limoges - ] St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat [ -Brive la Gaillarde] ''or even the whole line south of St-Yrieix-la-Perche.'' St-Yrieix-la-Perche - Objat is currently temporarily suspended - see above.<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 />
<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 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, the subject of high level disagreement between the two administrations, are threatened although funding has been agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section is closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018 <i>(see suspended services, above)</i>.<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 />
<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 have declared their intention to divest themselves of the eastern end of the line but CFTSA hope that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) may resume beyond Attigny, possibly in 2019. This 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 (''Ligne á Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====<br />
An overall schematic of LGV lines is [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/LGV.gif here] 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]. Or refer to [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_lignes_%C3%A0_grande_vitesse_en_France Wikipedia page] (in French).<br />
<br />
* Nîmes to Montpellier (''Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")'') (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/contournement-nimes-montpellier-un-chantier link]). 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/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona) - follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan link] and a [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/nouvelle-ligne/ligne-nouvelle-montpellier-perpignan later link])<br />
* Two extensions of ''LGV Atlantique'' both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-sud-europe-atlantique Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link]) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/france-europe/lgv-bretagne-pays-loire Bretagne-Pays de la Loire BPL link]) - 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. A schematic plan of the new lines is at [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/sites/default/files/upload/_Carte/2017/Carte_TGV_Atlantique_2017.pdf this page]. For LGV SEA, [http://www.lisea.fr/actualites-lisea/publications/ this webpage] contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.<br />
* The [http://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/protest-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/lgv-est-europeenne 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/Figueras [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 <br />
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf 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 [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 />
* <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]. <i>This has been "temporarily" suspended since 22 January 2018 - see "Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening section", above.</i><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 />
* 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 />
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. <br />
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but only for limited summer seasonal use. <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 />
* [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://www.ajecta.fr/ AJECTA] resumed occasional excursions over the 15 km section of SNCF freight line between Provins and Villiers-St.Georges on 15 April 2017, after last having used this section in 2004<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 />
There are no other relevant passenger opening or reopening developments with imminent implementation dates but the following projects are actually under construction:<br />
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992 - will reopen 9 December 2018, to restore connection with the Swiss network)<br />
* Voves - Orléans (closed to passengers in February 1942 - targeted to restore the through route Chartres - Voves - Orléans in 2020)<br />
<br />
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:<br />
* [http://www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com/ Le Train du Bas Berry - SABA] hope 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 from 17 June 2018. <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 trains have run over it; the society hope to start public services at some future date.<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] with possibility of reopening in 2018<br />
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020<br />
* CF Touristique de la Mure (St.Georges de Commiers - La Mure; 33 km; metre gauge) was closed by a major rock fall after the 2010 season. In July 2017 the local authority declared that work was to start to enable reopening of the section between a new station at La Mure and Le Grand Balcon - a site overlooking the lake of Monteynard (presumably short of the major rock fall at La Clapisse) - see [http://www.20minutes.fr/lyon/2096895-20170630-isere-petit-train-mure-devrait-reprendre-service-2020 press report] (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years so reopening seems unlikely before the 2021 season.<br />
* [http://cftsa.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: potential travellers should <br />
check carefully for such temporary closures. See [[#Engineering and strike (grève) Information|Engineering and strike (grève) Information]] above.<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 />
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===<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 />
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=See also=<br />
{{Navbox France}}</div>Richard Maund