Chemins de fer économiques de la Gironde
As Chemins de fer économiques de la Gironde can be the network standard gauge railway lines in the region around Bordeaux in the Gironde department in southwestern France with occasionally some 350 kilometers call. Officially it was the Réseau de la Gironde of the Société générale des chemins de fer économiques (SE) , one of the largest branch line companies in France.
history
Although the concessions for railways more than 200 kilometers in length had already been granted in 1877, their commissioning was repeatedly delayed. It was only when the administration of the department commissioned SE to build the lines that the main part of the later rail network was built between 1884 and 1886.
In 1886, the SE also took over the Compagnie du Chemin de fer d'Intérêt Local de Nizan à St. Symphorien et à Sore (NS) . This had built and operated the section to St. Symphorien (18 km) in 1873, in 1877 to Sore (30 km) in the Landes department and finally in 1886 on to Luxey with a total route length of 39 km.
Central workshops were in Blaye, St. Symphorien - especially for steam locomotives - and in Lacanau - especially for railcars.
In 1888/89 the St. André-de-Cubzac – Blaye - St. Ciers-sur-Gironde route was added on the northeast side of the Gironde estuary. The conclusion in 1905 was the connection between the seaside resort of Lacanau and the sea beach. For several decades the network covered a total of 323 kilometers. From 1900 to 1913 the route Bordeaux – Carmasac (16 km) was also under the direction of the SE; it was then transferred to the Bordeaux City Tramway (TEOB).
Even in the years before the First World War, the Gironde railways were only generating little income. The use of multiple units instead of steam trains from 1931 onwards did not bring about any lasting improvement in economic conditions, nor could the use of diesel locomotives after the Second World War.
From 1954, rail passenger traffic was gradually discontinued and replaced by bus traffic. Finally, freight transport followed and the rail network became superfluous. None of the lines exist today, but some buildings are still preserved, especially a number of station buildings.
This was also expressed in the new company name of the SE, which from 1963 was called Société générale de chemins de fer et de transport automobile (SGCFTA) . The Chemins de fer et transport automobile (CFTA) today belong to Veolia Transport Corporation.
List of operated railway lines:
| route | length | Installation | closure | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nizan – St. Symphorien – Luxey | 39 km | 1873-1886 | Pv 1951/54; Gv 1970/78 | |
| St. Symphorien – Hostens – Facture – Lesparre | 141 km | 1884 | 1954-1988 | |
| Hostens – Beautiran | 34 km | 1886 | 1954 / Gv b.Cabanac 1978 | |
| Bordeaux-St.Louis-Bruges-Lacanau-Ville | 49 km | 1885 | Pv 1962 / Gv 1978 | |
| Lacanau-Ville – Lacanau-Océan | 12 km | 1905 | 1962 | |
| St. André-de-Cubzac-Blaye-St-Ciers-sur-Gironde | 52 km | 1888-1889 | 1954 (GV from Blaye 1970) |
meaning
The main task was to develop the area beyond the major railway lines, especially that of the Bordeaux – Irun railway line . In addition, in the penultimate decade of the 19th century, there was the enthusiasm for bathing of the Bordelais city dwellers, which promoted the building to both Arcachon and Lacanau- Ocean.
literature
- Henri Domengie: Les petits trains de jadis. Volume 7: Sud-Ouest de la France. Editions du Cabri, Breil-sur-Roya 1986, ISBN 2-903310-48-3 .
- Christian Bonneville: Les Tramways et les trains des Landes de Gascogne… Au début du XXe siècle. 1st edition. Communication-Presse-Édition, 2000, ISBN 2-84503-056-8 , pp. 30-61.