France (Hauts de France) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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Obscure Services

Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Lille-Flandres Point Z – Lille-Europe AS

[ERT 11] (ERA-E 26A2, not shown; ERA-R 64A3, not shown; S+W 3B1) FR20/655

This 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 used by Ouigo TGVs to and from Tourcoing.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


TGV7669/7668 06:02 Tourcoing - Bordeaux
TGV7867/7866 07:45 Tourcoing - Montpellier Sud de France
SSuO TGV7660/7661 Marseille St Charles - 21:35 TGV Haut Picardie - Tourcoing
TGV7836/7837 Marseille St Charles - 22:07 Paris Charles de Gaulle - Tourcoing

Arras Raccordement Nord: Arras (Bifurcation 199,6km) – Lille (Bifurcation 161,94km)

[ERT 18a, 250] (ERA-E 26B1; ERA-R 64C3; S+W 7A1) FR659

This west to north spur, linking Arras station with the LGV Nord-Europe to the north, is used by TGV trains running non-stop between Arras and Lille (whether Flandres or Europe stations). Any taking 33 minutes or more use the 'classic' line via Douai.

The Izy Thalysnon-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord use the LGV between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the Amiens avoiding line

Lourches (Poste 2) – Somain (Poste 3)

[ERT 257, fiche Lille - St Quentin] (ERA 26B2; ERA-R 64C4; S+W 7C1) FR20/660

This double track line provides an alternative route to the single-track direct line between Douai and Cambrai. Previously used by just one passenger train on weekdays, from December 2019 it is scheduled to be used daily by service K40 between Lille and St Quentin. Trains run every two hours daily, with some additional services Mondays to Fridays, to provide an hourly service at busier times.

Amiens avoiding line: Boves (Bifurcation de Longueau Sud) – Lamotte Brebière (Bifurcation de Camon)

[ERT 18a] (ERA 26C5; ERA-R 67C1; S+W 6B4-6C4) FR700

This curve is used by:

• the Izy Thalys non-stop services between Bruxelles Midi and Paris Nord: visit the Izy website for details of services, which use the LGV between Brussels and Arras but the 'classic' main line south thereof. See also the Arras Raccordement Nord

• the [London Victoria -] Calais Ville - Venezia Santa Lucia VSOE train between Calais and Paris Est: visit the VSOE website for dates and times.

Barreau de Jussy (Mennessis avoiding line): Jussy (Bifurcation de Flavy-le-Martel) – Montescourt (Bifurcation Jussy)

[ERT 258, fiche Amiens - St Quentin/Laon] (ERA 30C1; ERA-R 71A5; S+W 16B1) FR21/701

This curve connects the Chaulnes - Tergnier and St Quentin - Tergnier lines north of Mennessis. It is used by service K20 between Amiens and St Quentin.

From Amiens: 06:46 SSuX, 07:46 SuX, 10:46 SuO, 12:46 SuX, 16:46 SSuX, 17:46 SSux, 18:46, 19:46 SSuX

From St Quentin: 06:16 SSuX, 07:16 SuX, 08:16 SSuX, 09:16 SuO, 12:16 SuX, 17:16 SSuX, 18:16 SuX, 20:16 SuO

Aulnoye-Aymeries avoiding line: Berlaimont (Bifurcation de Berlaimont) – Leval (Bifurcation de Leval Est)

[ERT 262, fiche Lille - Hirson - Charleville] (ERA-R 68A1; S+W 8B2) FR21/661

This line, which passes to the south of Aulnoye-Aymeries station, allows trains to run direct between Hirson and Valenciennes.

SSuX 841902 Hirson - 06:53 Avesnes - Lille Flandres
SSuX 841919 Lille Flandres - Le Poirier Université - Hirson

It was also used by summer dated services in summer 2018:

D1 SSuO 846926 Hirson - 08:00 Avesnes - Dunkerque
D1 SSuO 846952 Dunkerque - 21:01 Valenciennes - Hirson

D1: 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018

Summer Weekend Services

A number of curves in this region have been used by TER Mer 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. These entries contain previous information, until updated with the details for the current summer. From summer 2017 the programme was marketed as "éTER en Hauts-de-France" .

Calais Fréthun (Bifurcation de Riviere Neuve) – Pont de Coulogne (Bifurcation de Coulogne)

[fiche 12] (ERA-R 67B4; S+W 1B1) FR18/651

This curve avoiding Calais Ville was used in summer 2018 by "dated" weekend trains between Lille Flandres/Arras and Boulogne/Rang-du-Fliers-Verton running non-stop between Hazebrouck and Wimille-Wimereux. 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.


D1 SSuO 846909 Lille Flandres - 08:01 Hazebrouck - Rang-du-Fliers-Verton
D1 SSuO 846919 09:25 Lille Flandres - Boulogne Ville
D1 SSuO 846962 Boulogne Ville - 17:10 Wimille-Wimereux - Arras
D1 SSuO 846935 Rang du Fliers - 17:48 Wimille-Wimereux - Lille Flandres

D1: 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018.

Lambersart (Bifurcation de St.André) or Lompret (Bifurcation de 4 Maisons) – Santes (Bifurcation de la Tortue) or Haubourdin (Bifurcation de Haubourdin) (via Sequedin)

(ERA-R 64A3; S+W 3B1-3A1) FR18/652

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. The route between Bifurcation de 4 Maisons and Bifurcation de Haubourdin was used by a summer "dated" weekend Dunkerque train.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


D1 SSuO 846926 Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]
D1 SSuO 846926 19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]

D1: 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018

Train 846924 Jeumont - Dunkerque did not take this route.

Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Raccordement de Ronchin – Lille Porte de Douai (Bifurcation de la Justice)

(ERA-R 64A3; S+W 3C2-3B1) FR18/653

This freight line on the south side of Lille avoids the main station area.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


D1 SSuO 846926/27 Hirson - 08:41 St Amand les Eaux - Dunkerque [assumed for 2018]
D1 SSuO 846926 19:30 Dunkerque - Hirson [route taken on 4 August 2018]

D1: 7, 8, 21, 22 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2018.

Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Ronchin (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets)

(ERA-R 64A3; S+W 3B1) FR17/654

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 on 4 August 2018 ran via FR17/652 and 653 (previous two entries). Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


Lille Flandres (Bifurcation des Sourds et Mouets) – Bifurcation du Mont de Terre – Lesquin (Bifurcation de Lesquin)

(ERA-R 64A3; S+W 3B1-3C2) FR17/656

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 Bif. de Lesquin – Bif. de la Justice connection between Bif. du Mont de Terre and Bif. de Lesquin.

Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions

Raccordement d'Avion: Pont de Sallaumines (Bifurcation de Sallaumines Ouest) – Avion (Bifurcation d'Avion)

(ERA-R 64B2; S+W 7A1) FR657

This east to south curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Arras - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time. Used by diverted Lille - Amiens services on 13/14 June 2020 and 20/21 June 2020..

Raccordement de Sallaumines: Sallaumines (Bifurcation d'Epinette) – Coron de Méricourt (Bifurcation du Sallaumines)

(ERA-R 64B3; S+W 7A1) FR658

This north to east curve avoiding Lens is used for diversions when the Lille - Douai line is blocked and trains are shown with extended journey time.

Ormoy-Villers – Bifurcation Ageux – Longueil-Ste.Marie or Le-Meux-Croix-St.Ouen (Bifurcation Rivecourt)

[fiches Paris - Laon and Paris - St Quentin] (ERA 27A5; ERA-R 70C4-C5; S+W 15D4-15D3) FR702

This electrified line connects the Paris Nord - Laon and Creil - St.Quentin lines, with a triangular junction at the north end.

  • Longueil-Ste Marie to Ormoy-Villers via the south curve is used between Paris and Laon (with reversal at Ormoy-Villers) when extended journey times and bus substitution south of Ormoy-Villers apply
  • Ormoy-Villers to Le-Meux-Croix-St Ouen via the north curve is used between Paris and Compiègne or beyond when shown non-stop with a journey time of circa 51+ minutes (instead of the normal 41 minutes).

See also