Yellow Train | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Departure | Villefranche-de-Conflent / Vernet-les-Bains |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Latour-de-Carol / Enveitg |
| Length | 62,5 km |
| Duration | 3 h |
| Country |  France |
| Region | Eastern Pyrenees |
| Location | |
 42 ° 30 ′ 14 ″ N 2 ° 7 ′ 40 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
the yellow train is a tourist train going through the upper cantons of the department of Eastern Pyrenees in France. It is operated by the National Society of French Railways (SNCF) and runs in both directions between Latour-de-Carol and Villefranche-de-Conflent.
Understand
Story
The construction of the line began in 1903. Two men are at the origin: Jules Lax, engineer of bridges and roads and director of the control service at the Compagnie du Midi and Emmanuel Brousse, elected general councilor in 1898. A grave accident occurs on on the Cassagne suspension bridge. During the load tests the train fell, causing the death of 6 people. The designer of the bridge, Commander Gisclard, was the victim of this accident, the bridge now bears his name. The inauguration of the section from Villefranche to Mont-Louis takes place on and that of Mont-Louis in Bourg-Madame le . The line is extended to Latour-de-Carol on allowing junction with the Spanish network. the the line going fromAx-les-Thermes in Latour-de-Carol is completed, allowing the arrival of trains from Toulouse. The line has many technical similarities with the line of Saint Gervais To Vallorcine, built at the same time (metric gauge, simple adhesion, power supply by third rail, in particular).
Technical characteristics
The Cerdagne line is a metric gauge line with a single grip track (no rack). The maximum ramps reach 6% before the neck of the pole. The electrification is done by a third side rail in direct current (850 V). The electricity supply is based on a network of hydroelectric stations based on the Bouillouses dam, a structure built specifically to supply the line. The Latour-de-Carol station has the particularity of having 3 different track gauges: metric for the Cerdagne line, standard (1 435 m) used by France and large (1 668 m) for Spanish railways.
Steps
- 1 Villefranche - Vernet-les-Bains station (From Villefranche take the N116 north towards Prades, then the first on the left after about 500 m) – Located at the start or end of the yellow train, 427 m altitude, the station Villefranche ensures the transition with the Villefranche line - Perpignan. The ticket office is open every day.
- 2 Serdinya stop (from Serdinya, cross the river then turn left) – Simple stopover
- 3 Joncet station (from Joncet, cross the river) – Free entry stopping point, parking nearby
- 4 (in the lower part of the village) – Stopping point with free entry, parking nearby.
- 5 Nyers Station (from the N116, take the D57 towards Nyers) – Free entry stopping point, parking nearby
- 6 Thuès-les-Bains train station (on the edge of the N116) – Stopping point with free entry, parking nearby.
- 7 Thuès-Carença station (from the N116, cross the Têt then turn left) – Stopping point with free entry, parking nearby.
- 8 Fontpédrouse-Saint-Thomas-les-Bains Station (from Fontpédrouse, take the N116 towards Villefranche then the first left) – Free entry stopping point, parking nearby
- 9 Jump stop (on the edge of the N116) – Simple stopover, parking nearby.
- 10 Planès station (accessible only by footpaths, approximately 20 min walk from Planès) – Access point with free entry, optional stop, you must therefore report on the platform or on the train to request the stop, it is possible to approach the Gisclard bridge on foot from the station.
- 11 Mont-Louis station - La Cabanasse (from Mont-Louis take the D10 towards La Cabanasse) – Free entry stopping point, possibility to buy tickets, nearby parking, access on foot to the Mont-Louis landscaped (15 min Steps).
- 12 Bolquère - Eyne station (from the N116 take the D10 towards Bolquère) – Situated at 1 592 m altitude, it is the highest station in France operated by the SNCF (the Nid d'Aigle station, the Mont-Blanc Tramway being established at 2 362 m altitude), the center of Bolquère is approximately 15 min on foot, parking nearby.
- 13 Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via Station (on the D29 between Font-Romeu and the N116) – Station with ticket office open every day, path to the Odeillo solar oven (approx. 10 min walk), parking nearby.
- 14 Estavar station (from Saillagouse, take the D33 towards Estavar, continue to the right twice towards Bajande and follow the Chemin de la Gare to the right) – Free entry stopping point, isolated between Estavar and Saillagouse, parking nearby
- 15 Saillagouse station – Stopping point with free entry, the center of Saillagouse is accessible by 05 min on foot crossing the park opposite the station, parking nearby
- 16 Err station – Access point with free entry, very close to the center of Err, parking nearby
- 17 Sainte-Léocadie station (in the center of the hamlet) – Free entry stopping point.
- 18 Osséja station (north of the village, on the edge of the D30) – It is the southernmost station in France, free entry stopping point, parking nearby.
- 19 Bourg-Madame station (from the center of Bourg-Madame, take the bridge then the D30 on the right, the station is 200 m) – Ticket office open every day from May 28 to September 25, closed on weekends and public holidays the rest of the year, parking nearby.
- 20 Ur-Les Escaldes Station (at the exit of the village in the direction of Bourg-Madame) – Free entry stopping point, parking nearby
- 21 Béna-Fanès station (set back from the village from the national road) – Located just before Latour-de-Carol - Enveitg station, free entry stopping point, parking nearby.
- 22 Latour-de-Carol - Enveitg Station (from Latour-de-Carol take Avenue du Puymorens on the left, from Enveitg take rue de la gare) – It is the station which allows the connection with the other lines including towards theSpain, the station has an SNCF counter, a press point which serves as a snack, tickets to Spain can be bought once on the train.
To go
Circulate
- Line timetable ,
33 800 88 60 91 (green number)
To see
- 1 Cassagne Bridge – also called Gisclard bridge, with a length of 253 m, it is the last railway suspension bridge still in service in France, built between 1905 and 1908, it was designed by Albert Gisclard, following his death in a railway accident the bridge is named in his memory, a commemorative stele to the commander Gisclard is also built on the edge of the N116, this bridge is one of the symbols of the Cerdagne line, located between the Sauto and Planès stations, to approach it and get off at Planès station (ask for the train to stop to the controller) then take the path for about 700 m to reach the bridge.
Do
- , 33 4 68 80 80 80
10 h 50 to go and 16 h 54 on the way back. 
1 €. – In winter the SNCF offers shuttles to Cambre d'Aze station from Mont-Louis station for a day of skiing or more, to be reserved the day before 16 h and Friday for the weekend and Monday. - , 33 4 68 80 80 80 10 h 30 to go and 16 h 20 on the way back. free shuttle and preferential rates on the baths. – From Fontpédrouse station, reservation 48 h in advance.
To buy
- Purchase on the train – It is possible to buy tickets once on the train by speaking to the controller.
- Stations with ticket office – Villefranche - Vernet-les-Bains, Mont-Louis - La Cabanasse, Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, Bourg-Madame, Latour-de-Carol - Enveitg.
| Stations | Villefranche | Mont-Louis | Font-Romeu |
| Mont-Louis | 10,20 € | ||
| Font-Romeu | 12,40 € | 3,00 € | |
| Saillagouse | 15,20 € | 7,00 € | 4,30 € |
| Osséja | 17,10 € | 9,40 € | 7,30 € |
| Bourg-Madame | 18,80 € | 10,30 € | 8,20 € |
| Latour-de-Carol | 20,90 € | 12,60 € | 10,50 € |
Indicative table of one-way fares on the Cerdanya line
Eat
- Restaurants within walking distance – In some villages, restaurants are within walking distance from the station: Bourg-Madame (02 min), Mont-Louis (20 min), Villefranche-de-Conflent (10 min).
Have a drink / Go out
- Cafes and bars within walking distance – In some villages, cafes and bars in the city center are within walking distance from the station: Bourg-Madame (02 min), Mont-Louis (20 min), Villefranche-de-Conflent (10 min).
Security
Around
- Villefranche-de-Conflent
- Odeillo solar oven at Font-Romeu
