France - General Information: Difference between revisions

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==National Railway System==
==National Railway System==
===National Railway Operator===
===National Railway Operator===
[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).
[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)
* Fret SNCF (freight)
* KEOLIS (International operations).


[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 by [http://www.alleo.eu/ ''Alleo'' (website not yet functional)], owned jointly by DB and SNCF (50% each). Joint operation to Italy ceased from December 2011: ''Trenitalia'' and ''Veolia-Transdev'' jointly operate the Paris <=> Milano night service and the Marseille <=> Milano day train under the title [https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 ''Thello'']. 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%).
From 1 January 2020 SNCF is to be a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.


Various open-access freight operators (particularly ECR, a DB Schenker 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.
===Other Operators===
*[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%).
 
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.


==Languages==
==Languages==
Line 26: Line 38:
   
   
===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
*''Grandes Lignes'' (long distance services) ''Réseau Intercités'': [http://www.intercites.sncf.com/reseau-intercites/lignes-intercites-lunea-teoz ''Sélectionnez votre ligne INTERCITÉS de jour ou de nuit''].
*''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]
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [http://www.transilien.com/web/site/accueil/etat-trafic/fiches-horaires ''Transilien'' website] ''Fiches horaires en poche''
*''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
*''TER'' (local services elsewhere except Corsica): [http://www.ter-sncf.com/ ''TER'' Website] ''Région'' > ''Fiches Horaires'' > ''fiche''
*''Intercités'' (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the [https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire SNCF journey planner] or  [http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu/ European Rail Timetable] are the best options
*Corsica: [http://www.cf-corse.fr/?-Les-horaires- ''CFde la Corse'' website]
*''Transilien'' (Île de France, including Paris): [https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-editoriale/les-fiches-horaires Fiches horaires]
*''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''
*Corsica: [http://cf-corse.fr/fr/horaires/ Horaires]


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
None in book form. Individual route leaflets (''fiches'') are available for local services and some long distance routes. A few ''Régions'' may still issue their TER fiches as a combined volume.
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].
 
===Real Time Train Tracker===
There are two options for current performance information:
*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
* [http://tinyurl.com/hvcj3lc 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.


===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===
===Engineering, Strike (''grève'') and Current Performance Information===
[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)].  
[http://www.sncf.com/fr/travaux SNCF ''Info trafic'']. Alternatively [http://www.infolignes.com ''Infolignes'' website] or [https://www.train-corse.com/index.php CFC (Corsica)].  
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.
[http://www.espacetrain.com/index.php?page=actu/actu ''Espacetrain''] will give current references in the French media.


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
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
The SNCF [http://www.sncf.com/fr/info-trafic Info Trafic] web page gives two options for current performance information:
* ''Rechercher un train'' is a journey planner with added timekeeping information
* ''Localiser un train'' 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.


===Bus Information===
===Bus Information===
Bus services are very sparse outside large centres of population. Most are run by the Région or Département. See the TER web pages or fiches.
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.


==Maps==
==Maps==
Line 51: Line 66:
*''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.
*''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.
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)
*European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com/index.html European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
*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.
*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.


===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
*A detailed map of the system is available [https://www.dropbox.com/s/id4ri9y4b6ioq6x/RFF%20Map%202012.pdf?dl=0 here].
* ''SNCF Réseau'' system maps are available from [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes their website]. ''Carte complète du réseau ferré en 2018'' (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A zoomable [https://www.sncf-reseau.fr/fr/projets-chantiers-ferroviaires/cartes/carte-interactive-reseau-ferre-francais map] uses Openstreetmap information.  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.
*SNCF Réseau's system maps are available via [http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/maps-of-the-rail-network-275/ their website]. The first map shown ('Interactive maps/Map of the network') is a zoomable map of the basic network. A new [http://flipbook.rff.fr/flipbook-atlas#p=0 on-line interactive map] is now available.
* A new (August 2019) [https://map-beta.graou.info/ SNCF system map] shows detail down to track / signalling level.
*[[Maps and Plans#France|Maps and Plans - France]]


Privately produced maps/plans include:
Privately produced maps/plans include:
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] and
* OpenRailwayMap [http://www.openrailwaymap.org/ for France] - a "work in progress"
*Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français].
* [http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.
*[http://carto.metro.free.fr/en/ Carto.Metro] provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.
* [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.
* [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
and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:
* Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_france.php Map of France] - a useful single sheet overview - dated December 2011
* Rail21's [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/florent.brisou/Lignes.htm Le réseau ferré français] - by sector - dated 2013
* Ferrocarta's [http://ferrocarta.net/france/france_en.html Railway Map of France] - by area - dated 2015


==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket. However, 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 is the Today's Railways "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet.
SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see [https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/navigo-monthly-and-weekly-travel-passes Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes] and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany. <!---The best source of information on these used to be ''Today's Railways'' "Railpass Guide Continental Europe" booklet but this does not seem to have been reissued since 2014.--->


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.
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.


Reservations are obligatory for travel on ''TGV'', ''Thalys'', ''ICE'' and ''Eurostar'' services, and on certain categories of service within the ''Intercités'' brand, such as ''Téoz'' and ''Lunéa''. 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'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains.
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.


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.
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.


A large number of local services and connections to ''TGV'' 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.
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.


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.
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.
Line 78: Line 99:
==Infrastructure==
==Infrastructure==
===Infrastructure Authority===
===Infrastructure Authority===
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.
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.


===Network Statement===
===Network Statement===
Line 84: Line 105:


===Gauge===
===Gauge===
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 and Salbris to Valençay.
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.


===Electrification===
===Electrification===
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 TGV 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.
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.


===Rule of the road===
===Rule of the road===
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, as part of the ''LGV Est'' junction at Baudrecourt and in the future, with the completion of the ''LGV Est'' to Strasbourg, at Vendenheim. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used.
Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from ''LGV Est'' at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.


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.  
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.  


An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at  
An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the 
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html].
[http://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/index.html Signaux SNCF] webpage.


===Distances===
===Distances===
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.
The [http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Lignes.htm ''RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français''] gives schematic maps with distances for each station.


[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: click "Dérouler", immediately above the words "Schéma de la ligne", to reveal distances.
[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].


==Other railways==
==Other railways==
Line 107: Line 128:
*[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)
*[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)
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)
*[http://www.trainprovence.com/ Chemins de fer de Provence] (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)
Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.
*[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))
*[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))
*[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)
*[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>
*[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)
*[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>
* various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines <i>No passenger operations</i>


Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.
Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.
Line 125: Line 148:


==Metro==
==Metro==
The [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France website] provides comprehensive information.
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.
 
==Trams==
==Trams==
The [http://www.trams-in-france.net/ Trams in France website] provides comprehensive information. All 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''.
French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its ''Rhônexpress'' eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais''. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former ''Chemin de Fer d'Anzin''. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.
 
[http://www.itransports.fr/index.php itransports.fr] is a web site about public transport provision with zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops. It includes trams, funiculars, etc., and local bus facilities in and around various towns.


Track plans for most or all tram systems in France are available on the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro.tramway.rer.funiculaire site].
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.


See also [[Tram_services_over_obscure_routes#FR|Tram services over obscure routes - France]]
See also [[France_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|France - Tram services over obscure routes]]


==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and future changes==
[http://sncfsociety.org.uk The SNCF Society] provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.
[http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ The French Railways Society] (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.


===Line closures===
===Line closures===
====Historical and General Background====
====Historical and General Background====
A significant number of local passenger services, mainly in rural areas, were withdrawn during the late 1930s and again in the 1980s, but in most parts of France the Regional Councils now have a strong role in planning and funding local transport and are generally keen to promote railways. The exception, alas, is lines crossing Regional boundaries and where extensive deferred track maintenance has been in force. Many councils are funding new rolling stock and requiring SNCF to introduce improved timetables. However, in November 2009 the French [http://www.ccomptes.fr/Nos-activites/Cour-des-comptes ''Cour des comptes''] ["Court of Accounts"] delivered [http://www.ccomptes.fr/fr/content/download/1307/12845/version/2/file/Rapport-thematique-TER.pdf a report] critical of the value for money of many TER services and recommending bus substitution. Although no specific withdrawals (apart, possibly, from Autun - Avallon) seem to have resulted from that report, some local authorities appear to be adopting a more hard-nosed attitude to SNCF in the provision of their local services. The latest threat to "lesser frequented" TER and secondary services is a proposal in section 5.3.5 of the 27 June 2013 [http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf report] of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission to the Minister of Transport, the Sea and Fishing, with its proposal to experiment "for two to five years" with the replacement by bus of some such services. A committee that will recommend a policy for the loss making ''Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire'' (TET) - mainly ''Intercité'' and overnight trains - will report in six months, with implementation in 2016.
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''").  
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.
 
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.
 
====Services which have been withdrawn permanently (''most recent closures at top'') or for which firm closure dates have been declared====
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:
* Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes.  
* Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.
* Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)
* St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)
* Monts (near Tours) exit from ''LGV Atlantique'' (July 2017).
* Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (<!---11--->December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)
* Baudrecourt exit from ''LGV Est'' (July 2016)
* Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran <!---30-->May 2016)
* Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train <!---1---> November 2015)
* Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)
* Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)
* Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)
* Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)
* Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)
* Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)
 
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:
* ''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)).
* ''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


====Services which have been withdrawn permanently====
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (''most recent "suspensions" at top'')====
The following lines are the most recent permanent closures. ** indicates that the service is "suspended" but with no sign of reopening:


Volvic - Lapeyrouse** (December 2007); Montluçon - Eygurande-Merlines (March 2008); Valençay - Luçay-le-Mâle** (October 2009); the north-western arc of the Paris Grande Ceinture (short-lived through TGV services between Normandy and eastern France) (December 2010); Avallon - Autun and Lourches - Somain (both December 2011); Sarreguemines - Bitche (December 2011; "suspended" but finance for remedial engineering work was later refused by the government so passenger services are definitively withdrawn); Alès - Bessèges (July 2012); passenger services over the Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012); Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line); Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (September 2012: local trains withdrawn by SNCB/NMBS thus severing this international crossing point for passengers); St-Germain-des-Fossés - Gannat ("suspended" since an unknown date in 2012-13); Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple (- Châlons-en-Champagne) (December 2013); Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel** (July 2014); Montréjeau-Luchon** (November 2014); [Clermont-Ferrand -] Volvic - Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (the last train ran on 1 November 2015 and informed sources consider there will be no more); [Paris -] La Ferté Milon - Fismes [- Reims]** (April 2016).
* Ille-sur-Têt - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains remains closed because of a landslide in January near Prades, so will remain operated by bus for the foreseeable future.
* St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.
* Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)
* Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025
* Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))
* St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix is being renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, and Objat to Brive is also to be renewed in 2023)
* Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)
* Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)
* Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)
* [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (<!---19--->December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which <i>should</i> result in resumption of passenger service <i>over that section</i>. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)
* La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)
* 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--->
* Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)
* 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--->)
* Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)
* Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)
* Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)


In the "private" sector, ''Train Touristique de la Mine'' (Petite-Rosselle - Freyming-Merlebach) seems to have closed after the 2010 season; ''Train Touristique d'Ardèche Méridionale'' (Saint-Jean-le-Centenier - Voguë; 14 km) closed after the 2011 season, because of track renewal costs; and two lines closed after the 2012 season: the ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km) because of "bureaucratic" problems (but resumed in 2015 under different management as [http://www.tourisme-aquitaine.fr/en/get-active/leisure-facilities/lot-et-garonne/nerac/chemin-de-fer-tourisque-du-pays-d-albret.html Chemin de fer tourisque du Pays d'Albret]), and ''Le Train Touristique des Monts du Lyonnais'' (CFTB) (Sain-Bel - Saint Foy l'Argentière; 17km) because of track renewal costs demanded by SNCF Réseau. A further line closed after the 2013 season: ''Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois'' (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) (see [http://actaassociation.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pouhuit.pdf the Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois] (page 4)). The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' has been severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange is now used only during their Fête du Rail weekend (see Obscure line FR353). Indeed, the threat of a general reduction in permitted speeds - or even withdrawal of permission to run trains - hangs over all "preserved / heritage" operations on track owned by SNCF.
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:
* ''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


====Services which have been withdrawn temporarily and have some firm reopening date====
====Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (''earliest reopenings at top''):====
The following lines have been temporarily closed but with good expectation of reopening: Annemasse - Genève Eaux Vives: the portion within Switzerland closed permanently from November 2011 but the section between Annemasse and Chêne-Bourg, which closed temporarily from April 2013, is forecast to be reopened in spring 2019 - partly diverted, wholly re-engineered, and linked to Genève Cornavin station. See [http://www.ceva.ch www.ceva.ch]. From the December 2013 the weekday commuter services between Thionville and Apach were replaced by bus, although the existing weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service (see obscure line FR555) will continue. As part of [http://www.der-takt.de/takt-hintergrund/takt-2015/artikeldetails/artikel/mehr-nahverkehr-im-vrt-ab-dezember.html Rheinland-Pfalz's integrated timetable for 2015], all Regionalbahn services were planned - from the timetable change in December 2014 - to be extended from Perl, via Apach, to Thionville, thus restoring daily service. However, this has not occurred.
The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening:  
* Gisors - Serqueux for electrification works finishing in October 2020.
* Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2020 and 2021 for engineering work
* St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which was due to be completed during 2020, although this may overrun
* Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works may extend closure until at least 2023.
* La Roche sur Yon - La Rochelle from March 2020 until the end of May 2021 but work suspension during the Coronavirus lockdown has delayed this. Initially it is planned to restore it as a single line, with passing loops at Luçon and Marans.
* Retiers - Châteaubriant deferred until Summer 2021, following reopening of Rennes - Retiers
* [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021
* Grande Ceinture Ouest: St Germain Grande Ceinture - Noisy-le-Roi closed 7 July 2019. However, the line will re-open  as part of "Tram 13 Express" at the end of 2021.
* [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges from December 2018 (condition of track); however in July 2019 renovations were authorised which are expected to be completed by the end of 2021
* Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from 2020 for work which should be completed by early 2022
* Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026


Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp closed from October 2014 and La Rochelle - La Roche sur Yon was to close in summer 2015 (but now postponed)- both for a minimum of 2 years for major engineering work; Fécamp will reopen in December 2016. Ascq - Orchies closed from June 2015, the service now a taxi on demand. No funding has yet been agreed but the local press think closure is only temporary. Thionville – Bouzonville has been replaced by bus, from probably 3 April 2016, until 28 August 2016.
====Services which are particularly threatened (''earliest threatened closures at top'')====
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures known as at October 2019, 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.


====Services which are particularly threatened====
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:
There are no '''publicly declared''' plans for permanent closures as at December 2015, 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.
* Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)
* The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau  – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. 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.
* Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)
* Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)
* St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)
* Chartres - Courtalain (2019)
* [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)
* Laon - Hirson (2022)
* Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)
* 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)
* 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)


Likely to close during 2016: much of the Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau  – Béziers line is considered likely to close at the end of 2016, accompanied by Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château and (Marvejols –) Le Monastier – Mende. It is probable that part of the southern end will be retained - Beziers to Bedarieux or possibly Millau. The metre gauge line between Villefranche-Vernet les Bains and La Tour de Carol was considered likely to close on 1 January 2016 but Languedoc-Roussillon Region has agreed to provide funding to renew track between Font-Romeu and La Tour de Carol and to modernize rolling stock. Calvi station (Corsica) is to be re-located on the other side of the last level crossing, thus shortening the line by approximately the length of the current station.
Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):
* Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy
* Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]
* Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin <i>although service doubled from July 2017</i>
* Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the ''Région''
* Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)
<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>


Considered threatened with closure, possibly as early as 2016: Etaples - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise; Morlaix - Roscoff; Metz - Verdun; Nancy - Mirecourt - Merrey [- Culmont-Chalindrey]; St-Claude - Oyonnax [- Bourg-en-Bresse]; Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy; [Grenoble - ] Clelles-Mens - Aspres-sur-Buech [- Veynes-Dévoluy]; [Clermont-Ferrand -] Thiers - Montbrison [- St-Étienne]; [Limoges -] St-Yrieix - Pompadour - Brive la Gaillarde; Montluçon - Guéret [- Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]; Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin; [Aurillac -] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Lamativie (or further west towards Saint-Denis-près-Martel). The Cuneo [IT] - Limone [IT] - Tende [FR] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] - Ventimiglia [IT] line has 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 some funding has now been agreed by Italy. The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines rapid transit system is at present funded up to the end of 2016 but increasing costs are threatening its sustainability.
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 was agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section was closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018.
 
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.
 
The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by ''CFT du Sud des Ardennes'' was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, as at July 2019, these appear to run only between Amagne and Attigny. 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.


===Line openings===
===Line openings===
====LGV related developments====
====LGV (''Lignes à Grande Vitesse'') related developments (''latest developments at top'')====
The opening of the ''Ligne á Grande Vitesse Est'' on 10 June 2007 represented a further phase of the extension of the LGV network. The ''Ligne du Haut-Bugey'' (Bourg-en-Bresse - La Cluse - Bellegarde) was modernised, electrified and reopened (along with the branch to Oyonnax) from December 2010, offering a shorter, slightly faster route to Genève for TGV’s from Paris; however, the overall alignment remains largely unchanged - it is not a "green field" LGV.  
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).


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 TGVs to Barcelona  started at the December 2013 timetable change. A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.
* 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])
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.
* 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.


The first phase of the new ''LGV Rhin-Rhône'', between Villers-Le-Pots (Dijon) and Petit Croix (Mulhouse) opened in December 2011 - see the [http://www.rff.fr/IMG/carte-rr-pleine-page%20.pdf route map]. 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. 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.
The 27 June 2013
[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].


The ''LGV Est'' to Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) was due to open on 3 April 2016 but was deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015. The opening date has now been confirmed as 3 July 2016. In conjunction with this, the 5km section of the Réding - Drulingen line, as far as Brouwiller-Lixheim, will reopen to enable Nancy <==> Strasbourg TGV services to access the LGV.  
====Other developments - Implemented (''latest developments at top'')====
* Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-le-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Treport] from 1 September with the rest buses.
* Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt reopend 6 April 2020
* Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.
* The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow [http://www.ceva.ch link] <!---Rhône-Alpes fiches 40,41,42--->
* St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019.
* The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.
* Rennes - Retiers [- Châteaubriant] reopened 31 August 2019
* Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)
* Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge
* Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye
* <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].
* 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
* 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]).
* A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the ''Ceinture de Bordeaux'') with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.
* [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.
* Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016.
* [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.
* 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.
* The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014.
* Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train.
* Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013.
* A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013.  Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen.
* A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. 
* Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.
* An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.
* Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012.  


Other projects being considered or developed include extensions of existing lines to Rennes (expected to open in the first half of 2017), Bordeaux (expected to open in September 2017), Montpellier (2017) and eventually Perpignan (to connect with the line to Figueres/Figueras [ES] (- Barcelona)), Modane (and Torino). Details of these projects are at the [http://www.rff.fr/fr/le-reseau/le-reseau-en-projets/nouvelles-lignes-2284 SNCF Réseau website]. The 27 June 2013
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:
[http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000396/0000.pdf report] of the ''Mobilité 21'' commission (mentioned above) envisages the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network.
* [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)''.
* [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.
* [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
* [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.
* [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.
* ''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.


====Other developments - Implemented====
====Other developments - Projected====
An east - west curve avoiding St.Germain-des-Fossés opened in December 2006. A light rail system is being developed in Mulhouse; the first phase, which included conversion of the Kruth branch and its linking to the town tramway system, commenced operation in December 2010. Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012. An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais. Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012. A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013. A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013 - but initially only for summer seasonal use. Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013. Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant (opened February 2014, as a tram-train). The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014. [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.


The ''Train Touristique l'Albrèt'' (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the ''Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret'' on 15 March 2015.
The following projects are actually under construction:


====Other developments - Projected====
* Work finally started in 2019 on 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. See [https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/donges-44480/donges-top-depart-pour-le-contournement-ferroviaire-de-la-raffinerie-63c52da7-2822-36c7-bd0a-d1497236a980 press report from May 2019] [https://www.sncf-reseau.com/fr/reseau/bretagne-pays-de-loire/contournement-ferroviaire-sites-industriels-donges/presentation SNCF] themselves state it will be completed in Autumn 2022.
Work is in hand to reopen the following lines: [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_de_Chartres_%C3%A0_Orl%C3%A9ans Chartres - Voves] (reopening now indicated for late 2016), Oloron Ste.Marie - Bedous (reopening targeted for March 2016) and the curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the Ceinture de Bordeaux) with Pessac (targeted for 2016).  
 
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:
* [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....
* [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.
* 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
* [http://rail52.fr/ Rail52] plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020
* 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 with reopening currently scheduled for July 2021.
* [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)
 
<!---
Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines:
* Bedous - Canfranc (planning well in hand)
* Thouars - Parthenay - Niort
* Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte
* Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2021, works expected to start 2018)
* Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line)
* Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare)
* Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine
* Digne - St.Auban
* Rognac - Aix-en-Provence (but since deferred, perhaps permanently)
* Cavaillon - Pertuis
* Gardanne - Carnoules
* Les Arcs - Draguignan
* Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot
* La Suze - La Flèche
* Sathonay - Trévoux* Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland)
* La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train)
* Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues
* Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica)
* Bollwiller - Guebwiller (tram-train operation projected for 2021)
* Chalon-sur-Saône - St.Marcel-lès-Chalon


[http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line, whilst [http://www.musee-mtvs.com/ MTVS] (L'association du Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français) has moved equipment to Crèvecoeur-le- Grand, with a view to starting operations to St-Omer-en-Chaussée. The [http://www.coni-fer.org ''Coni'Fer''] line (Chemin de fer Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe) from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is to be extended 2.5 km northwards to Combe-Motta in July 2015. [http://traintouristiquedubasberry.com Le Train du Bas-Berry] (Argy - La Foulquetière) extended from La Foulquetière into Luçay-le-Mâle station in June 2015; they hope, eventually, to extend services to Valençay.
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.


Regional Councils have, over recent years, expressed intentions of reintroducing passenger services on the following further lines: Bedous - Canfranc, Thouars - Parthenay - Niort, Niort - Fontenay-le-Comte, Voves - Orléans (targeted for 2020), Orléans - Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (targeted for 2019), Quillan - Perpignan (the latter already partly reopened for seasonal tourist service), Valence TGV - Avignon Centre (via the Rhône right-bank line), Colmar - Volgelsheim (Neuf-Brisach Gare), Colmar - Ste.Croix-en-Plaine, Digne - St.Auban, Rognac - Aix-en-Provence, Cavaillon - Pertuis, Gardanne - Carnoules, Les Arcs - Draguignan, Penne - Villeneuve-sur-Lot, La Suze - La Flèche, Sathonay - Trévoux and Chalon-sur-Saône -
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].
St.Marcel-lès-Chalon, Belfort - Delle (closed in September 1992 - targeted for December 2017, to restore connection with the Swiss network), Evian - Saint-Gingolph (Switzerland), La Rochelle la Porte-Dauphine - Pallice (possibly as a tram-train), Armentières - Berguettes-Isbergues, Casamozza - Poggio-Mezzana (Corsica). 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.
   
   
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.
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.
In the "tourist/heritage" sector:
* [http://www.ttvg.fr Train Touristique Val de Garonne] is seeking to start operations on the Marmande - Casteljaloux line
* [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.
--->
===Older Changes===
For details of older changes see [[France - Older General Information]].


==Special notes==
==Special notes==
Line 209: Line 377:
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about  
on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about  
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on  
all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on  
the ''TGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!
the ''LGV'' network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!
   
   
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  
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  

Revision as of 14:29, 2 September 2020

Country Name

France (France)

National Railway System

National Railway Operator

SNCF Mobilités, a subsidiary of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), is responsible for

  • SNCF Voyageurs (domestic passenger services)
  • Fret SNCF (freight)
  • KEOLIS (International operations).

From 1 January 2020 SNCF is to be a national public company with two subsidiaries: SNCF Réseau and SNCF Mobilités. The capital of the national company will be wholly owned by the state, contrary to earlier plans of the government to have no capital in the company.

Other Operators

  • 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 Thello, having bought out former joint owner Veolia-Transdev. SNCF alone operates the Paris <=> Milano day trains.
  • Eurostar is operated by 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%).

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.

Languages

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.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

  • SNCF: numeric 87 alpha F.
  • Eurotunnel: numeric 69. This is used only for accounting purposes and does not appear on rolling stock.

Timetable

Only some of this material is available in languages other than French

Journey Planner

SNCF website

Downloadable Timetable

  • 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 European Rail Timetable
  • 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 OuiGo and iDTGV websites
  • Intercités (long distance 'classic' services): there appears to be no downloadable timetable material on the SNCF website anymore, so the SNCF journey planner or European Rail Timetable are the best options
  • Transilien (Île de France, including Paris): Fiches horaires
  • TER (local services elsewhere except Corsica): TER Website > Région > Horaires & Trafic > (Votre) Fiches Horaires or Documents horaires à télécharger
  • Corsica: Horaires

Printed Timetable

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 European Rail Timetable.

Real Time Train Tracker

There are two options for current performance information:

  • The SNCF Info Trafic site > DÉCOUVREZ AUSSI > RECHERCHE ITINÉRAIRE > No. de train gives a journey planner with added timekeeping information
  • 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.

Engineering, Strike (grève) and Current Performance Information

SNCF Info trafic. Alternatively Infolignes website or CFC (Corsica). Espacetrain will give current references in the French media.

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

Bus Information

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.

Maps

Printed Maps

  • 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.
  • European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
  • Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich, Band 1 Nord (ISBN 978-3-89494-143-7), published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH (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.

Web-based Maps

  • SNCF Réseau system maps are available from their website. Carte complète du réseau ferré en 2018 (28MB) is the latest zoomable map of the network, distinguishing passenger lines from freight-only lines. A zoomable map uses Openstreetmap information. Note that SNCF Voyages' most recent (undated) on-line passenger network plan is misleading as well as out of date.
  • A new (August 2019) SNCF system map shows detail down to track / signalling level.
  • Maps and Plans - France

Privately produced maps/plans include:

  • OpenRailwayMap for France - a "work in progress"
  • Carto.Metro provides useful track layout plans of various urban areas.
  • Wikipedia's Liste des lignes de chemin de fer de France contains two system maps, as well as much useful information, line by line.
  • 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

and three sites which have some interest but seem no longer to be being up-dated:

Ticketing

SNCF does not offer any type of network ticket (apart from Interrail). However, a range of network tickets is available in the Paris (RATP) area (see Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes and also in some Régions, including - in some cases - cross-border travel into Luxembourg and Germany.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Since the reorganization of 1 January 2015 infrastructure is owned and managed by SNCF Réseau, a subsidiary of SNCF Groupe, which absorbed Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) on that date.

Network Statement

The Network.

Gauge

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.

Electrification

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.

Rule of the road

Left, except in Alsace and Lorraine, which were part of Germany between 1871 and 1918, where right hand running is the rule and German-style signalling can still be found. The change from left to right hand running is made on the flat at Mulhouse, but at all other locations there are flyovers. These are west of Molsheim, west of Sarrebourg, north of Ars-sur-Moselle, west of Rombas-Clouange, west of Fontoy, and at the eastern exits from LGV Est at Vendenheim near Strasbourg and at the earlier exit at Baudrecourt. The arrangements at Ars-sur-Moselle, near Metz, are particularly complicated as the railway is quadruple track. Reversible signalling is extensively used. Between Annemasse and Geneve [SBB] is also right hand running to reduce conflicts at La-Praille [SBB] and Annemasse.

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.

An explanation (in French) of French signalling practice is at the Signaux SNCF webpage.

Distances

The RAIL21 - Le réseau ferré français gives schematic maps with distances for each station.

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 (if the word "afficher" also appears, a schematic plan is not yet available). A full list of all the lines for which schematic plans are available is here.

Other railways

  • 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)
  • Montenvers Mer de Glace (Chamonix - Montenvers; 5 km, metre gauge, electrified 11kV 50Hz, rack-worked, operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)
  • 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)
  • Chemins de fer de Provence (Nice - Digne; metre gauge; operated by Veolia - see below)

Closed between La Mure and Digne due to a tunnel collapse on 20 February 2019.

  • 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))
  • Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine (network of standard gauge freight lines in the Béning area; operated by VFLI (see above) since 2001) No passenger operations
  • 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) No passenger operations
  • various port authorities' standard gauge freight lines No passenger operations

Eurotunnel SA, in partnership with UK company Eurotunnel plc, has a concession to operate the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkestone.

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).

Tourist lines

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) (UNECTO) and by the magazine 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.

A list of tourist lines incorporating links to their websites is available on Wikipedia.

Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines - see the Vélos-rail de France website. These lines are also shown - as Cyclorail, Cyclo-draisine or Vélorail - in the UNECTO list.

Metro

Marseille, Paris. Metro systems at Lille, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Rennes and Toulouse feature rubber tyred VAL systems. Either the UrbanRail or the carto.metro website is probably the best starting point - the former with schematic plans, the latter with track plans. itransports.fr has zoomable geographical maps showing all public transport stations and stops in and around various towns.

Trams

French tram systems are either of recent construction or extensively modernised. Lyon T3 tram route from Part-Dieu and its Rhônexpress eastward extension to Aéroport Saint Exupéry use part of the trackbed of the former Chemin de Fer de l'Est Lyonnais. Part of the Valenciennes system is over the trackbed of the former Chemin de Fer d'Anzin. Clermont Ferrand and Nancy are guided rubber tyred systems, rather than "steel-wheel on steel-rail" tramways, although Nancy have declared their intention of replacing their current system (to close "by 2022") with a "real" tramway. The guided rubber tyred system at Caen closed on 31 December 2017 and was replaced by a "real" tramway in July 2019.

Either the UrbanRail or the 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 Trams in France which provides useful comprehensive information until its last up-date in 2014. 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.

See also France - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and future changes

The French Railways Society (formerly The SNCF Society) provides a useful round-up (in English) of French news each month.

Line closures

Historical and General Background

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"). 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 statement by the transport minister, which contains maps of routes involved.

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.

Services which have been withdrawn permanently (most recent closures at top) or for which firm closure dates have been declared

The following lines are the most recent permanent closures:

  • Lille - Comines: Official date 14 December 2019 but last train ran 4 December owing to strikes.
  • Folligny: Curve towards Coutances (December 2018): All trains via Coutances now run to and from Granville via the north to west curve, opened in July 2013, avoiding Folligny.
  • Kalhausen - Sarre-Union (22 December 2018)
  • St-Claude - Oyonnax (December 2017)
  • Monts (near Tours) exit from LGV Atlantique (July 2017).
  • Hayange (Bif. de Florange) - Uckange (Bif. d'Uckange) (December 2016; remaining services from Longuyon line diverted to Thionville)
  • Baudrecourt exit from LGV Est (July 2016)
  • Valenton - Villeneuve-St.Georges (Lille - Brive-la-Gaillarde TGVs last ran May 2016)
  • Laqueuille - Le Mont-Dore (last train November 2015)
  • Thionville - Apach (weekday commuter services replaced by bus December 2013, but a weekend Trier Hbf - Perl - Apach - Thionville - Metz service continues over this line)
  • Verdun - St-Hilaire-au-Temple [ - Châlons-en-Champagne] (December 2013)
  • Gannat - St.Germain-des-Fossés (December 2012)
  • Erquelinnes [BE] - Jeumont [FR] (local service ceased September 2012, but through services resumed in December 2018, running non-stop between Charleroi Sud and Maubeuge)
  • Bordeaux Ravezies (August 2012, for extension of tram system; all trains on the Ligne du Médoc diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman avoiding line)
  • Raccordement de Vergigny (through TGV services between Melun and Marseille) (apparently by July 2012)

In the "tourist/heritage" sector:

  • Le Train Touristique de l'Auxois (ACTA) (Les Laumes - Epoisses; 27 km) closed after the 2013 season (see Association du Chemin de Fer Touristique de l'Auxois (page 4)).
  • 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

Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but with no sign of reopening (most recent "suspensions" at top)

  • Ille-sur-Têt - Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains remains closed because of a landslide in January near Prades, so will remain operated by bus for the foreseeable future.
  • St André les Alpes - Digne les Bains (Chemin de fer de Provence) following a tunnel collapse on 29 February 2019, bus substitution over this section.
  • Morlaix - Roscoff (track washout on 3 June 2018; remedial work on a line already in poor condition with infrequent service must be very unlikely)
  • Abbeville - Eu [- Le Tréport] (27 May 2018; notionally temporary - some funding for relaying work has been agreed but any reopening is not likely to be until around 2025
  • Saillat-Chassenon - Angoulême (condition of track, from 13 March 2018; studies into renewal of the whole line between Angoulême and Limoges were started in February 2020 but actual work may not commence for three or four years (if at all))
  • St.Yrieix-la-Perche - Pompadour - Objat (27 February 2018; unknown duration - landslip between Pompadour and Objat; although the whole section Nexon - Brive had been considered "at risk", Nexon - St Yrieix is being renewed in two stages during 2020 and 2023, and Objat to Brive is also to be renewed in 2023)
  • Rodez - Sévérac-le-Château (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021 pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)
  • Meyrargues - Pertuis (December 2017; notionally temporary until 2021)
  • Limoux - Quillan (December 2017; notionally temporary pending relaying work for which no financing is in place)
  • [Nancy - ] Pont-St.Vincent - Mirecourt - Vittel [- Merrey] (December 2016; notionally temporary pending relaying work, although Grand Est Région are contributing to renewal works on the Pont St.Vincent - Mirecourt section which should result in resumption of passenger service over that section. A sparse service between Culmont-Chalindrey, Merrey and Vittel, including through TER trains to and from Paris Est, reintroduced trains to the southern end of the line on summer Fridays and Sundays from April 2019.)
  • La Ferté Milon - Fismes (April 2016)
  • 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)
  • Volvic - Laqueuille (November 2015)
  • Boën-sur-Lignon - Thiers (November 2015; unlike Montbrison - Boën-sur-Lignon there is no sign of local government financial support for reopening)
  • Ascq - Orchies (June 2015; notionally temporary pending work for which no financing is in place)
  • Laqueuille - Eygurande-Merlines - Ussel (July 2014)
  • Alès - Bessèges (July 2012; Occitanie région has announced their intention of financing track renewal but with no target date)

In the "tourist/heritage" sector:

  • Chemins de Fer du Centre-Bretagne (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

Services which have been or are to be "suspended" but do have some firm reopening date (earliest reopenings at top):

The following lines are (or are to be) temporarily closed but with good expectations of reopening:

  • Gisors - Serqueux for electrification works finishing in October 2020.
  • Charleville-Mézières - Givet for extended periods during summers of 2020 and 2021 for engineering work
  • St. Pol-sur-Ternoise - Etaples for work which was due to be completed during 2020, although this may overrun
  • Montréjeau - Luchon for track renewal which should be completed by December 2020, but extra bridge strengthening works may extend closure until at least 2023.
  • La Roche sur Yon - La Rochelle from March 2020 until the end of May 2021 but work suspension during the Coronavirus lockdown has delayed this. Initially it is planned to restore it as a single line, with passing loops at Luçon and Marans.
  • Retiers - Châteaubriant deferred until Summer 2021, following reopening of Rennes - Retiers
  • [Béthune - ] Fouquereuil - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from late 2018 for work which should be completed by summer 2021
  • Grande Ceinture Ouest: St Germain Grande Ceinture - Noisy-le-Roi closed 7 July 2019. However, the line will re-open as part of "Tram 13 Express" at the end of 2021.
  • [Épinal -] Arches - St. Dié-des-Vosges from December 2018 (condition of track); however in July 2019 renovations were authorised which are expected to be completed by the end of 2021
  • Arras - St. Pol-sur-Ternoise from 2020 for work which should be completed by early 2022
  • Bourges - Montluçon is to be reconstructed between 2023 and 2026

Services which are particularly threatened (earliest threatened closures at top)

There are no publicly declared plans for permanent closures known as at October 2019, 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.

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:

  • Grenoble - Aspres-sur-Buech [ - Veynes-Dévoluy] (2018)
  • The Neussargues - Sévérac-le-Château – Millau – Béziers line had been considered likely to close but has had a stay of execution. 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.
  • Épinal - Bains-les-Bains - Lure (December 2018)
  • Valenciennes - Lourches (2019)
  • St.Georges-d'Aurac - Le Puy (2019)
  • Chartres - Courtalain (2019)
  • [Aurillac - ] Viescamp-sous-Jallès - Saint-Denis-près-Martel (by 2021)
  • Laon - Hirson (2022)
  • Crépy-en-Valois - Laon (2024)
  • 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 webpage (no specific threat date)
  • 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)

Also considered threatened with closure because of poor traffic or local authority disinterest (but with no specific threat dates):

  • Livron - Veynes-Dévoluy
  • Montluçon - Guéret [ - Saint-Sulpice-Laurière]
  • Busseau-sur-Creuse - Felletin although service doubled from July 2017
  • Gap - Briançon has even been floated as a possibility by the Région
  • Oyonnax - Brion-Montréal-La Cluse (viability at risk after closure of St-Claude - Oyonnax from December 2017)

Readers should also take particular notice of lines listed as Other sparse services.

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 was agreed by Italy, and the Limone [IT] - Breil-sur-Roya [FR] section was closed for re-signalling and other works, including rock-slide protection, until 28 April 2018.

The cross-border section of the Saarbrücken - Sarreguemines Saarbahn rapid transit system has been subject to some uncertainty about funding with increased French infrastructure costs threatening its sustainability.

The speed permitted by SNCF Réseau over the lines used by CFT du Sud des Ardennes was severely reduced from 2014, with the result that the section Vouziers - Challerange had, until 2017, been used only during their Fête du Rail weekend. In 2018 SNCF Réseau declared their intention of divesting themselves of the eastern end of the line. CFTSA hoped that tourist operations (presumably with the line in local authority ownership) might resume beyond Attigny. However, all traffic was banned following the derailment of a freight train in 2018. Resumption of tourist operations was approved on 6 July 2019 but, as at July 2019, these appear to run only between Amagne and Attigny. 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.

Line openings

LGV (Lignes à Grande Vitesse) related developments (latest developments at top)

An overall schematic of LGV lines is here while a more detailed plan identifying the lines also used by TGV trains (brand names InOui or OuiGo) beyond the LGV system is here. Or refer to Wikipedia page (in French).

  • Nîmes to Montpellier (Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier ("CNM")) (opened 10 December 2017 for freight, due to open 8 July 2018 for passengers - follow 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 link and a later link)
  • Two extensions of LGV Atlantique both opened on 2 July 2017: from near Tours to Bordeaux (follow Sud-Europe-Atlantique SEA link) and from Le Mans to Rennes (follow 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 this page. For LGV SEA, this webpage contains a schematic plan at Annexe 6.
  • The phase 2 extension of LGV Est between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim (- Strasbourg) - deferred owing to the serious accident near Vendenheim in November 2015 - opened on 3 July 2016; at the same time, the original eastern exit at Baudrecourt ceased to have regular use.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • A connection between the stations of Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre also opened in December 2013.
  • 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.

The 27 June 2013 report of the Mobilité 21 commission (mentioned above) envisaged the abandonment of LGV schemes which are not already building or committed, in favour of improvement of the existing "classic" network (for example, the plan to link Poitiers and Limoges has been abandoned in consequence). However, the State Council unexpectedly approved the construction of the Bordeaux - Toulouse (planned for 2024) and Bordeaux - Dax (planned for 2027) lines - follow link. Details of projects are at the SNCF Réseau website.

Other developments - Implemented (latest developments at top)

  • Abancourt - Le Tréport-Mers-le-Bains reopened 1 August 2020. However, only 3 round train trips a day [over Beauvais - Le Treport] from 1 September with the rest buses.
  • Perpignan - Ille-sur-Têt reopend 6 April 2020
  • Beauvais - Abancourt reopened 8 February 2020.
  • The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on 16 December 2019, following a formal inauguration on 12 December 2019. The Genève - Annemasse section is a partly diverted, wholly re-engineered now mainly subsurface line, and is now linked to Genève Cornavin station. For the Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse [CEVA] Project follow link
  • St Etienne Tramway - Line 3 Extension; going 4.3 km Northwards from Gare SNCF Chateaucreux, with six new stops, opened on 16 November 2019.
  • The new 5.2 km Avignon Tramway, with ten stops, opened on 19 October 2019.
  • Rennes - Retiers [- Châteaubriant] reopened 31 August 2019
  • Belfort - Delle (closed to passengers in September 1992) reopened 9 December 2018, restoring a connection with the Swiss network)
  • Erquelinnes (SNCB) - Jeumont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way Namur - Charleroi-Sud - Maubeuge
  • Quévy (SNCB) - Hautmont reopened 9 December 2018 with two trains each way between Mons and Aulnoye
  • Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe: 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].
  • Le Bourget - Epinay-sur-Seine: first phase (6.5km) of Tangentielle Nord tram-train T11 opened 1 July 2017, alongside Grande Ceinture, operated by SNCF subsidiary Transkeo
  • Chartres - Voves (closed as long ago as February 1942) reopened 12 December 2016, as the first stage of reopening through to Orléans (see plan).
  • A curve linking Mérignac-Arlac (on the Ceinture de Bordeaux) with Pessac opened on 11 December 2016.
  • [Le Havre -] Bréauté-Beuzeville - Fécamp reopened on 8 December 2016.
  • Oloron Ste. Marie - Bedous reopened on 26 June 2016.
  • [Avignon -] Sorgues - Carpentras reopened on 25 April 2015.
  • 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.
  • The line from Calais to Dunkerque was electrified in 2014.
  • Nantes - Nort-sur-Erdre - Châteaubriant opened February 2014, as a tram-train.
  • Gisors - Serqueux reopened December 2013.
  • A north - west curve at Folligny, allowing direct running between Caen and Granville, came into service in July 2013. Initially this was for limited use during the summer, but since December 2018 it has been used by all trains to and from Caen.
  • A new west-facing curve off the Alès line at Nîmes, enabling trains to avoid reversal at Courbessac yard, opened in March 2013.
  • Mulhouse - Neuenburg (Germany) increased to a full service (in place of seasonal service) from December 2012.
  • An east - south curve avoiding Tassin (Lyon) opened in December 2012, providing direct service between Lyon St.Paul and Brignais.
  • Trains on the Ligne du Médoc which had previously served Bordeaux Ravezies were all diverted via the Raccordement Bonnaous-Beyreman from August 2012.

In the "tourist/heritage" sector:

  • 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).
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Train Touristique l'Albrèt (Nérac - Mézin; 15 km), which closed in 2012 because of "bureaucratic" problems, resumed operations in the guise of the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Pays de l'Albret on 15 March 2015.

Other developments - Projected

The following projects are actually under construction:

  • Work finally started in 2019 on 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. See press report from May 2019 SNCF themselves state it will be completed in Autumn 2022.

In the "tourist/heritage" sector:

  • 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....
  • 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.
  • CF Touristique de Pontarlier à Vallorbe's (Coni'Fer) line from Les Hôpitaux-Neufs to La Fontaine-Ronde is being extended 2.5 km northwards to Combe-Motta with possibility of reopening in 2018
  • Rail52 plan to reopen the section Veuxhaulles - Bricon of the line between Gray and Vesoul in 2019 or 2020
  • 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 press report (in French). The work is scheduled to take 3 years with reopening currently scheduled for July 2021.
  • CF Touristique du Sud des Ardennes hope to resume operation beyond Attigny in 2019 (see under Services which are particularly threatened, above)


Older Changes

For details of older changes see France - Older General Information.

Special notes

Until relatively recent decades, the only regular interval services operated by SNCF were on Paris suburban lines. The introduction of a regular interval service on the LGV lines from Paris to Lyon, Lille and Nantes resulted in increased traffic, and - at SNCF Réseau prompting (for line capacity reasons) - schedules to standard clock-face pattern (cadencé) - although by no means necessarily every hour everywhere! - were widely introduced from December 2011 in the first total overhaul of French timetables other than for opening of LGVs. It had been the practice for many main lines to be closed for several hours each day, usually during the morning, for maintenance. The new cadencé schedule should minimise these blancs travaux which caused long gaps between trains. There had been a growing tendency - in an endeavour to catch up with deferred track maintenance - for services on secondary and local lines to be replaced by buses for exstensive periods without this being shown in the timetable; however, much of such work should now be completed. The infrequent services on many secondary or tertiary lines reflects the sparse population in much of France, and the relatively small size of many cities - or perhaps reflect the demand for travel to work fifty or more years ago, rather than the current needs of people working more flexibly or travelling for leisure. Certainly, the traveller on cross-country and local routes will hanker for the frequency of service found on just about all other European systems while concluding that the travel writers who lavish their praise on the LGV network never tangle with the more backward parts of the SNCF system!

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 check carefully for such temporary closures. See Engineering and strike (grève) Information above.

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).

Monaco

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.

See also