Saint-Germain-des-Fossés – Nîmes railway line

Cevennes Railway
Route number (SNCF) :	790,000
Route length:	303 km
Gauge :	1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Dual track :	Clermont-Ferrand-Arvant and Alès-Nîmes
Legend Moret-Veneux-les-Sablons-Lyon-Perrache railway from Nevers 354,443 Saint-Germain-des-Fossés 256m 354.776 Moret-Veneux-les-Sablons-Lyon-Perrache railway to Lyon 356.265 Saint-Germain-des-Fossés – Darsac railway to Vichy 357.278 Allier Viaduct (257m) 359.810 Saint-Rémy-en-Rollat 262m 364.113 Vendat 285m 371.986 Suitable for installation - Escurolles 326m 376,496 A719 La Ferté-Hauterive – Gannat railway from La Ferté-Hauterive Commentry – Gannat railway from Montluçon 378,390 Gannat 337m 389.108 Aigueperse 356m 393.925 Aubiat 341m 398.961 Pontmort 330m 403.9xx A 71 Vichy – Riom railway from Vichy 405,562 Riom - Châtel-Guyon 337m 405.883 Railway line Riom – Châtelguyon to Châtelguyon 412.132 Gerzat 330m 414.669 A710 Clermont-Ferrand – Saint-Just-sur-Loire railway from St-Étienne 419.258 Clermont-Ferrand 358m 419.606 Eygurande-Merlines – Clermont-Ferrand railway to Eygurande -M. 422.870 Clermont- La Pardieu 423,320 A 75 427.112 Sarliève - Cournon 429,442 Le Cendre - Orcet 429.853 Bridge over the Auzon (8 m) 434.131 Les Martres-de-Veyre 434,304 Veyre (6 m) 436.765 Longues Viaduct ( Allier ) (99 m) 437.206 Vic-le-Comte 444.105 Parent - Coudes - Champeix 451.947 Viaduct of Piat ( Allier ) (118 m) 452.093 A 75 (28 m) 454,433 Issoire 454,547 Couze Pavin (23 m) 455.757 A75 (45 m) 459.239 Le Broc 463.116 Le Breuil-sur-Couze 463.315 Couze (27 m) 467.235 Le Saut-du-Loup 467,369 Allagnon (27 m) 468.143 Tunnel de la Roche (43 m) 472.889 Brassac-les-Mines - Sainte-Florine 478.749 Arvant 478.984 Railway line Figeac – Arvant to Aurillac 485,500 Beaumont-Loriat – St-Flour railway from Saint-Flour 489.099 Brioude 492,401 Viaduc de la Bageasse ( Allier ) (81 m) 494.117 Fontannes 500.516 Frugières-le-Pin 501.141 Viaduc de Blannat ( Senouire ) (44 m) 502.209 Viaduc de Domeyrat ( Senouire ) (20 m) 504.236 Viaduc de Domarget ( Senouire ) (25 m) 507.009 Paulhaguet 512,962 Saint-Georges-d'Aurac 513.104 Railway line Saint-Georges-d'Aurac – Saint-Etienne to St-Etienne 518.995 Viaduc de Costet ( Allier ) (263 m) 520.534 Langeac 526,374 Chanteuges 528.014 Tunnel de Saint-Arcons (61 m) 532,000 Viaduc de Monteil (49 m) 533,595 Prades - Saint-Julien 534.032 Viaduc de Prades (66 m) 535.010 Pont sur la Seuge (15 m) 535.268 Tunnel de Prades (163 m) 539.007 Tunnel de la Garde (213 m) 540.154 Tunnel des Ombries n ° 1 (60 m) 540.250 Tunnel des Ombries n ° 2 (36 m) 540.364 Viaduc de Ponnet (35 m) 541.166 Tunnel du Saut-du-Vieillard (98 m) 541,924 Tunnel du Ponnet (120 m) 542.708 Tunnel de la Valette (75 m) 543,368 Tunnel de la Madeleine (84 m) 543.690 Viaduc de la Madeleine ( Allier ) (110 m) 543,800 Tunnel de Pracleaux (90 m) 544.206 Monistrol tunnel (48 m) 544,519 Monistrol-d'Allier 545,604 Gallery de la Raybutte (30 m) 545.756 Viaduc de Fontannes ( Allier ) (131 m) 545,934 Fontannes tunnel (161 m) 546,402 Tunnel du Jacquet (81 m) 546.629 Tunnel de Douachenez (551 m) 547,338 Viaduc de Douachenez (80 m) 547,427 Tunnel de Saint-Didier (210 m) 547.815 Tunnel de Charbonnes (41 m) 548,073 Tunnel de Paire-Grosse (87 m) 548.244 Viaduct (74 m) 548,384 Tunnel de Saint-Etienne (625 m) 549,410 Tunnel de Charbonnières (71 m) 549,650 Viaduc de Paire (44 m) 549.774 Tunnel de Paire (98 m) 550.076 Tunnel de Ramenac (48 m) 550.266 Viaduc de Ramenac (65 m) 550.408 Tunnel des Chastées (75 m) 550.562 Viaduc de Poutes ( Allier ) (62 m) 550.635 Tunnel de Poutes (64 m) 551.501 Tunnel du Sac (70 m) 554,330 Alleyras 556,389 Tunnel de Vabres (35 m) 556.530 Viaduc de Vabres (89 m) 556.659 Tunnel d'Alleyras (220 m) 557.840 Tunnel de la Parade (35 m) 559,451 Viaduc de la Talide (66 m) 559,599 Tunnel de la Talide (355 m) 560,336 Tunnel de Roquefort (167 m) 561.795 Tunnel du Crest (135 m) 562,388 Tunnel de Genestouze (61 m) 563.297 Tunnel de la Selette (211 m) 563.877 Tunnel du Faux (64 m) 564,542 Tunnel de Saint-Christophe (37 m) 564.892 Viaduc de Saint-Christophe (98 m) 565.140 Tunnel de Souils (90 m) 565.865 Viaduc de Bassette (65 m) 566.096 Tunnel du Thord (253 m) 566.849 Tunnel de l'Étang (62 m) 567,300 Viaduc de Chapeauroux (404 m) 567,862 Chapeauroux 568.615 Crémat Tunnel (223 m) 568.873 Galerie de Chaillet (48 m) 569.155 Tunnel de Condres (494 m) 569.751 Viaduc de Condres (162 m) 571.827 Viaduc de Ribains ( Allier ) (86 m) 571,962 Ribains Tunnel (494 m) 572.845 Tunnel de Rauret (304 m) 573.202 Viaduc de Rauret (45 m) 573.243 Freycenet Tunnel (110 m) 573.785 Tunnel de la Joncherette (268 m) 574.69x Jonchères 576,430 Viaduc de Boisdelaine (152 m) 576.608 Tunnel du Mazel (86 m) 577,470 Viaduc de la Pinède (50 m) 577,581 Tunnel de la Pinède (105 m) 577.264 Tunnel de la Forêt (72 m) 578,520 Viaduc du Mazel ( Allier ) (65 m) 578.605 Tunnel du Pourcentage (152 m) 580,200 Viaduc (43 m) 580.237 Tunnel de Pomeyrols (354 m) 582.642 Tunnel de la Vallette (121 m) 583,595 Gazelle (38 m) Ligne Le Puy – Langogne railway from Le Puy-en-Velay 586.789 Viaduct (112 m) 587.095 Langogne 913m 587,301 Viaduc de Langouyrou (60m) 588.692 Viaduc des Brasses ( Allier ) (187m) 591,332 Tunnel de la Veyssière (142m) 592.726 Tunnel de Saint-Martin (96m) 593.682 Viaduc de l'Espézonnette (50m) 596,089 Viaduc de Bouchâtel ( Allier ) (72m) 599.246 Luc 971m 602,032 Viaduc de la Veyrune ( Allier ) (38m) 604,0xx Viaduc de Rogleton ( Allier ) (59m) 606,599 La Bastide - Saint-Laurent-les-Bains 1 024m Le Monastier – La Bastide-St-Laurent-les-Bains railway line 607.628 Viaduc des Huttes ( Allier ) (14m) 607.684 Tunnel de la Bastide (894m) 608,861 Tunnel de Fagoux (378m) 609,537 Tunnel de Bazaux (201m) 610.274 Tunnel de Pradal (164m) 610.688 Tunnel de Gravil (1,120 m) 612,220 Tunnel de la Molette (503m) 613,062 Tunnel de Serre-Degales (197m) 613,611 Tunnel de Vertel (162m) 615,581 Tunnel de Resseau (105m) 615.968 Prévenchères -Gorges du Chassezac 616.986 Tunnel de Rachas (117m) 617,333 Viaduc du Chassezac (90m) 617.395 Chassezac tunnel (187m) 618,954 Tunnel d'Albespeyre (1,521 m) 621.128 Tunnel de Serre-Bas (68m) 621,499 Viaduc des Fourches (100m) 621,566 Gros-Chou tunnel (150m) 621,931 Tunnel de Bessèdes (201 m) 622.495 Tunnel de Pourcharesses (336 m) 623,077 Gallery du Pradel (121 m) 623,436 Chabrel Tunnel (290 m) 624,463 Tunnel de Truel (255 m) 625,072 Tunnel de Civadière (201 m) 625,448 Viaduc de l ' Altier (246 m) 625,590 Tunnel de l'Altier (708 m) 626,458 Viaduc de Palhères (47 m) 626.791 Villefort 627.137 Tunnel de Villefort (276 m) 627,536 Tunnel du Rat (61 m) 628,046 Tunnel du Collet (462 m) 629,301 Tunnel de Valcrouzes (560 m) 630.272 Tunnel de Rancel (242 m) 631,082 Tunnel d'Elzières (414 m) 632.186 Viaduc de la Malautière (176 m) 632,303 Maussal tunnel (106 m) 633,394 Concoules - Ponteils 634.010 Planzolles tunnel (512 m) 635,421 Tunnel de Ribes (197 m) 636,652 Tunnel de la Banlève (714 m) 637.779 Champrevars Tunnel (113 m) 638,484 Leyrolles tunnel (234 m) 639.114 Tunnel de Génolhac (396 m) 639.759 Génolhac 641,222 Viaduc du Valat-de-Finoune (71 m) 641.844 Belle-Poêle Tunnel (166 m) 642.116 Tunnel de Nauches (229 m) 642.884 Tunnel du Roc-Courbier (177 m) 643,188 Faussats tunnel (261 m) 643.675 Tunnel de Pertus (287 m) 644,419 Viaduc du Valat-de-Landiol (112 m) 644,537 Tunnel de l'Alliège (141 m) 646.108 Viaduc de Chamborigaud ( Luech ) (398 m) 646,500 Connection of the Mines de Portes 646.509 Viaduc de Frescenet (88 m) 647.052 Chamborigaud 647.268 Viaduc de Baldy (69 m) 648,443 Tunnel de la Bégude (1725 m) 651.517 Tunnel de Machères (127 m) 651,809 Tunnel de Berlières (61 m) Florac – Sainte-Cécile-d'Andorge railway line from Florac 652,544 Sainte-Cécile-d'Andorge 291m 652.858 Tunnel de Sainte-Cécile-d'Andorge (160 m) 653.242 Tunnel de Valoussières (183 m) 653,607 Tunnel de la Pinède (168 m) 655.192 Tunnel de Lardoux (249 m) 655,594 Viaduc de Lardoux (138 m) 657,600 La Levade 657.693 Viaduc de la Tronche (72 m) 660.599 La Grand-Combe-La Pise 188m 660.658 Viaduc de la Grand-Combe (100 m) 661.783 Tunnel du Fesc (201 m) 662.737 Viaduc du Valat-du-Mazet (75 m) 665,338 Malbosc 671.829 Tamaris 672.744 Viaduc de la Tronche (55 m) 673.465 Le Teil – Alès railway from Le Teil 673.628 Tunnel du Pèlerin (211 m) 674.129 Alès 674.129 Alès – Port-L'Ardoise railway line to Port-L'Ardoise 679.626 Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas 680.487 Viaduc de l'Avène (168 m) 683,905 Mas-des-Gardies Railway line Mas-des-Gardies – Mazes-le-Crès to Mazes-le-Crès 686,852 Vézénobres 688,049 Tunnel de Ners (394 m) 689,339 Viaduc de Ners ( Gardon ) (456 m) 689,565 Ners 692.711 Boucoiran Tunnel (139 m) 693.142 Boucoiran 695,606 Nozières - Brignon 695,606 Uzès – Nozières-Brignon line to Uzès 698.813 Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès 703.747 Fons - Saint-Mamert 704.870 Viaduc de la Braume (360 m) 705.190 Tunnel de Gajan (130 m) 713.118 Mas-de-Ponge 717.834 Viaduc de la Tourmagne (240 m) 717.995 Tunnel de la Tourmagne (186 m) 718.855 Viaduc du Mas-du-Diable-de-Russan (268 m) 721,146 24,700 Tarascon – Sète-Ville railway line from Tarascon 26,850 Nîmes Viaduct (1,669m) 27,150 Nîmes 46m Tarascon – Sète-Ville to Sète railway line

The Saint-Germain-des-Fossés – Nîmes line is part of a long-distance rail link from Paris to the Mediterranean . The starting point of the regular-gauge , largely non-electrified railway is the Saint-Germain-des-Fossés separation station near Vichy , and the end point is the city of Nîmes in the lower Rhone Valley . Its middle section between Langeac and Alès is also known as the Cevennes Railway (French: Ligne des Cévennes ). This is considered to be one of the most scenic railway lines in France.

history

La Grand-Combe, coal mine du puits Ricard, now "Maison du Mineur"

The construction of the first section of the railway goes back to Paulin Talabot (1799-1885), who in 1836 founded the company Compagnie des mines de la Grand'Combe et des chemins de fer du Gard . Its purpose was the better development of the coal deposits around Alès and the transport of the coal from there via Nîmes to the Rhône port of Beaucaire .

In 1852 the route was approved by the railway company Compagnie du chemin de fer de Lyon à la Méditerranée assumed that from 1857 Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM) said. The PLM wanted to connect Paris to Marseille through the Massif Central along the Allier River . In 1870 the central section between Langeac and Villefort went into operation as the last stage .

description

TER with BB 67400 in Alleyras

South portal of the Tunnel de Freycenet near Jonchères

The route crosses or touches the departments of Puy-de-Dôme , Haute-Loire (in the former Auvergne region ), Lozère and Gard (in the Languedoc-Roussillon region ). It runs largely parallel to the Allier River and crosses the Lac de Villefort reservoir , which was created in 1965 . Issoire , Arvant , Brioude , Langeac , Langogne , Villefort, Génolhac , La Grand-Combe , Alès and Ners are the larger towns on the railway.

Langogne train station

Viaduct from Chamborigaud over the Luech

The heart of the Cevennes Railway is the 67-kilometer route through the Gorges de l'Allier between Langeac and Langogne . The mountain route has 51 tunnels and 16 viaducts and overcomes a difference of 400 meters in altitude. The highest point of the route is at an altitude of 1025  m not far from the La Bastide-Saint-Laurent-les-Bains train station .

In Monistrol-d'Allier, the route crosses the southern French section of the Camino de Santiago . In nearby Le Puy-en-Velay , pilgrims from France, Germany and Switzerland meet in the cathedral of Puy on their way through the Massif Central to Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain.

Until 2013, the line flowed into the Courbessac depot, located about two kilometers east of Nîmes train station, from the north-west, so that all trains coming from Alès had to change direction in order to be able to approach Nîmes train station. The construction of a single-track connecting curve began in 2010; this was put into operation on March 25, 2013. That cut the travel time by around eight minutes.

traffic

Two "Baleine" - DMUs in the highest railway station in the route La Bastide - Saint-Laurent-les-Bains

On the Cevennes Railway, three continuous pairs of trains from Clermont-Ferrand-Nimes run daily. In the sections Clermont-Ferrand - Saint-Georges-d'Aurac and La Bastide-Saint-Laurent-les-Bains - Nîmes, the offer is supplemented by regional trains. From 1959 to 1978 the train called Le Cévenol (Paris – Marseille via Clermont-Ferrand) drove with two-story observation car ( panorama car ).

In 2012, the maximum permissible speed in the Monistrol-d'Allier section (km 544.5 - km 580) was reduced from 70–85 km / h to 40 km / h, reducing the travel time on the already slow mountain route by about one half an hour longer. This restriction is to be lifted after the ongoing repair work.

Movie

• Alexander Schweitzer: By train through the Massif Central in the series By train through ... (Travel report. Germany, 2009, 43 min)
• Alexander Schweitzer: Through the gorges of the Massif Central in the series Eisenbahn-Romantik (Germany, 2009, 29 min)

See also

• Compagnie des chemins de fer Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée (PLM)
• Charles Dombre
• Viaduc de Chamborigaud (Viaduct at Chamborigaud - 240 m and 200 m long, curved bridge with 12 or 17 arches, each 14/8 m wide, up to 46.3 m high; completed in 1867)
• Viaduc de Chapeauroux (Viaduct over the Chapeauroux - 260 m long, curved bridge with 28 arches, each 12 m wide, up to 17 m high, 1865-1870)
• Alès – Bessèges railway line
• Le Cévenol
• Paulin Talabot

literature

• H. Lartilleux: Geography des chemins de fer français. Éditions Chaix, 1956, pp. 297-309.
• Rudolf W. Butz: The Cevennes Railway. Ott, Thun 1987.
• Patricia and Pierre Laederich, André Jacquot, Marc Gayda: Histoire du réseau ferroviaire français. Editions de l'Ormet à Valignat (Allier), 1996.
• Pierre Bazin: La ligne des Cévennes en 2008. In: Connaissance du Rail. n ° 328-329 (Sept and Oct 2008), ISSN  0222-4844
• Jean-Marc Dupuy: Causses et Cévennes. Le Train special 63 (3/2010), ISSN  1267-5008 .

Web links

Commons : Cevennenbahn  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Saint-Germain-des-Fossés – Nîmes railway line. In: Structurae
• Cévenol and TransLozèrien website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} En 2020, les 150 ans de la ligne des Cévennes at lettreducheminot.fr, accessed on March 12, 2020
2. ↑ Le blog du chantier du Viaduc de Courbessac ( Memento of October 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive )