Chemin de Fer de Martigny au Châtelard
Encyclopedia
The Martigny–Châtelard Railway, abbreviated MC, French
Chemins de fer Martigny–Châtelard, is a 19 km (11.8 mi) (metre gauge
) rack railway
in the canton
of Valais
, Switzerland
.
The transport company "Chemin de fer de Martigny–Châtelard" merged in 2001, the resulting Transports de Martigny et Régions
now markets this line and the connecting Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway as Mont-Blanc Express.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Chemins de fer Martigny–Châtelard, is a 19 km (11.8 mi) (metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
) rack railway
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The transport company "Chemin de fer de Martigny–Châtelard" merged in 2001, the resulting Transports de Martigny et Régions
Transports de Martigny et Régions
The Transports de Martigny et Régions company in the Valais canton of Switzerland operates bus and coach services and two electric railway lines:* Martigny–Châtelard Railway , narrow gauge, with the Mont-Blanc Express...
now markets this line and the connecting Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway as Mont-Blanc Express.
Contact with the other networks
- At Martigny it connects with the Simplon line of the CFFSBB-CFF-FFSSwiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
- At Le ChâtelardLe Châtelard, ValaisLe Châtelard is a town in the canton of Valais, Switzerland near the border with France. It is part of the municipality of Finhaut.- Transportation :...
(FinhautFinhautFinhaut is a municipality in the district of Saint-Maurice in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-Geography:Finhaut has an area, , of . Of this area, 3.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 26.3% is forested...
) it connects with the Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway which in turn joins the standard gaugeStandard gaugeThe standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
SNCFSNCFThe SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
at Le Fayet station of Saint-Gervais-les-BainsSaint-Gervais-les-BainsSaint-Gervais-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village is best known for tourism, and has been a popular holiday destination because of its beauty and location since the Early 1900's....
. However the 3 km (1.86 mi) between Le Châtelard and VallorcineVallorcineVallorcine is a municipality in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes State in south-eastern France.-Geography:Located at the foot of the Mont Blanc Vallorcine is a tiny and so far unspoilt little ski village located within the Chamonix Valley and forming part of the Domaine de Balme ski...
is operated by the Chemin de Fer de Martigny au Châtelard.
Rolling stock
- Five Z 800 105-seater electric multiple units, delivered in 1997 (???) by ADTranzAdtranzABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
and Vevey TechnologiesAteliers de Constructions Mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey was an metal engineering company based in Vevey, Switzerland. Founded as Ateliers B.Roy & Cie in 1848 by Benjamin Roy it became Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey SA in 1895....
, in the context of a joint purchase with the Ligne de Saint Gervais - Vallorcine. This 1000 kWWattThe watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
stock, composed of two motorcarsRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
, could run at 70 km/h (43.5 mph); it is equipped with a rack and pinionGearA gear is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs, which mesh with another toothed part in order to transmit torque. Two or more gears working in tandem are called a transmission and can produce a mechanical advantage through a gear ratio and thus may be considered a simple machine....
system and pantographsPantograph (rail)A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
(in addition to the third rail collector shoeCurrent collectorElectric current collectors are used for trolleybuses, trams, electric locomotives or EMUsto lead electrical power from overhead lines or electrical third rails to the electrical equipment of the vehicles....
), so that it could perform direct runs to Vallorcine and beyond without the need to change trains.