Portet-Saint-Simon–Puigcerdà railway
Encyclopedia
The Portet-Saint-Simon - Puigcerdà railway is a secondary railway line in southwestern France
. It connects Portet-sur-Garonne
, 11 km south of Toulouse on the Toulouse–Bayonne railway
, to Latour-de-Carol
and Puigcerdà
, towns located on each side of the French/Spanish border in Cerdanya
. The railway was opened in several stages between 1861 and 1929.
Since the closure of the railway from Pau to Huesca
via Canfranc
in 1970, it is the only railway crossing the Pyrenees
main chain. It is used daily by Corail Lunéa trains from Paris to Latour-de-Carol and Transport express régional, (TER) trains from Toulouse to Pamiers, Foix, Ax-les-Thermes and Latour-de-Carol. Most freight and long-distance passenger trains use either the Bordeaux–Irun railway
around the western end of the Pyrenees, or the Narbonne–Port-Bou railway around the eastern end.
Today, SNCF service terminates at the French side of the border at Latour-de-Carol. The service between Latour-de-Carol and Puigcerdà and onwards to Barcelona is provided by the Spanish Railway (RENFE
) for which the gauge is 1.65 m. The RENFE train from Latour-de-Carol connects directly with Barcelona but there were only three or four trains a day in August 2010.
It is line RFN 672 000 of the French National Rail Network.
At most train stations along the route the altitude is engraved in a block of stone (sometimes specified: altitude du rail). These elevations are inaccurate now because the altitude system is now different (IGN-69
).
One curiosity of this route is the Spiral
tunnel at Saillens.
Note that this line is a section of a railway between Toulouse and Barcelona requiring a change of train at Latour-de-Carol and a journey of 7:00hrs between the two cities, but it avoids, having to use the much more expensive trains such as the Talgo
(via Narbonne, a route not requiring any changes) or the TGV
(which currently only goes up to Figueras).
A full price ticket costs 30€ full price via Latour de Carol compared to between 65€ and 90€ by TGV or Talgo (May 2011 prices) via Narbonne and / or Figueras.
. The first section that was opened in 1861 led from Toulouse
to Pamiers
. The line was extended to Foix
in 1862. The line was extended from Foix to Tarascon-sur-Ariège
in 1877, and further to Ax-les-Thermes
in 1888. Finally in 1929 the section from Ax-les-Thermes to Puigcerdà
was opened.
trains model SNCF Z 27500 (Autorail à grande capacité
) which in the 2000s replaced the SNCF Class Z 7300
.
The direct connection Latour-de-Carol to Paris is provided by the Corail
night train, called Lunéa
since the late 2000s.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It connects Portet-sur-Garonne
Portet-sur-Garonne
Portet-sur-Garonne is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, 11 km south of Toulouse on the Toulouse–Bayonne railway
Toulouse–Bayonne railway
The railway from Toulouse to Bayonne is an important French 319-kilometre long railway line, that connects the southern city Toulouse to the southwestern town Bayonne, running along the foothills of the Pyrenees. The railway was opened in several stages between 1861 and 1867.-Route:The...
, to Latour-de-Carol
Latour-de-Carol
Latour-de-Carol is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Transport:The village's main claim to fame is as the site of the international railway station, Gare de Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg...
and Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà is the capital of the Catalan comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain, near the river Segre and the border with France .- History :...
, towns located on each side of the French/Spanish border in Cerdanya
Cerdanya
Cerdanya is a natural comarca and historical region of the eastern Pyrenees divided between France and Spain. Historically it has been one of the counties of Catalonia....
. The railway was opened in several stages between 1861 and 1929.
Since the closure of the railway from Pau to Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
via Canfranc
Canfranc
Canfranc is a municipality in the Aragon Valley of north-eastern Spain consisting of two towns.- Political information :* comarca of Jacetania * province of Huesca* autonomous community of Aragón- Canfranc :...
in 1970, it is the only railway crossing the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
main chain. It is used daily by Corail Lunéa trains from Paris to Latour-de-Carol and Transport express régional, (TER) trains from Toulouse to Pamiers, Foix, Ax-les-Thermes and Latour-de-Carol. Most freight and long-distance passenger trains use either the Bordeaux–Irun railway
Bordeaux–Irun railway
The railway from Bordeaux to Irun is an important French 235-kilometre long railway line, that connects the southwestern city Bordeaux to northern Spain. The railway was opened in several stages between 1841 and 1864.-Route:...
around the western end of the Pyrenees, or the Narbonne–Port-Bou railway around the eastern end.
Today, SNCF service terminates at the French side of the border at Latour-de-Carol. The service between Latour-de-Carol and Puigcerdà and onwards to Barcelona is provided by the Spanish Railway (RENFE
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
) for which the gauge is 1.65 m. The RENFE train from Latour-de-Carol connects directly with Barcelona but there were only three or four trains a day in August 2010.
It is line RFN 672 000 of the French National Rail Network.
At most train stations along the route the altitude is engraved in a block of stone (sometimes specified: altitude du rail). These elevations are inaccurate now because the altitude system is now different (IGN-69
General levelling of France
The General Levelling of France forms a network of benchmarks in mainland France and Corsica, now overseen by the Institut Géographique National. It is now the official levelling network in mainland France...
).
One curiosity of this route is the Spiral
Spiral (railway)
A spiral is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills.A railway spiral rises on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance...
tunnel at Saillens.
Note that this line is a section of a railway between Toulouse and Barcelona requiring a change of train at Latour-de-Carol and a journey of 7:00hrs between the two cities, but it avoids, having to use the much more expensive trains such as the Talgo
Talgo
Talgo is a Spanish manufacturer of railway vehicles. It is best known for a design of articulated railway passenger cars in which the wheels are mounted in pairs, but not joined by an axle, and being between rather than underneath the individual coaches...
(via Narbonne, a route not requiring any changes) or the TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
(which currently only goes up to Figueras).
A full price ticket costs 30€ full price via Latour de Carol compared to between 65€ and 90€ by TGV or Talgo (May 2011 prices) via Narbonne and / or Figueras.
History
The railway was built by the Compagnie des Chemins de fer du MidiChemin de Fer du Midi
The Chemin de Fer du Midi, often abbreviated to CF du Midi, was an early French railway company.In 1934 it merged with the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans to become part of the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi ....
. The first section that was opened in 1861 led from Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
to Pamiers
Pamiers
Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers is the largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix...
. The line was extended to Foix
Foix
Foix is a commune, the capital of the Ariège department in southwestern France. It is the least populous administrative centre of a department in all of France, although it is only very slightly smaller than Privas...
in 1862. The line was extended from Foix to Tarascon-sur-Ariège
Tarascon-sur-Ariège
Tarascon-sur-Ariège is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Tarascon-sur-Ariège are called Tarasconnais.-External links:*...
in 1877, and further to Ax-les-Thermes
Ax-les-Thermes
Ax-les-Thermes is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France.It lies at the confluence of the Ariège River with three tributaries, 26 miles SSE of Foix by rail...
in 1888. Finally in 1929 the section from Ax-les-Thermes to Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà is the capital of the Catalan comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain, near the river Segre and the border with France .- History :...
was opened.
Rolling Stock
TER connections are currently provided by electric multiple unitElectric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
trains model SNCF Z 27500 (Autorail à grande capacité
Autorail à Grande Capacité
The Autorail à Grande Capacité is a category of multiple unit trains built by the Canadian train manufacturer Bombardier at Crespin for the French rail operator SNCF...
) which in the 2000s replaced the SNCF Class Z 7300
SNCF Class Z 7300
The SNCF Class Z 7300 electric multiple units were built by Alsthom between 1980 and 1985. They are part of the Z2 family of EMU's. These are Z 7500, Z 9500 and Z 9600....
.
The direct connection Latour-de-Carol to Paris is provided by the Corail
Corail (train)
Corail is the name given to a class of passenger rail cars of the SNCF that first entered commercial service in 1975. When introduced, Corail carriages featured air-conditioning, and superior levels of comfort, suspension and sound-proofing than previous InterCity carriages and gave arguably the...
night train, called Lunéa
Lunéa
Lunéa is a brand name used by France’s national railway company, SNCF, to denote nightly passenger rail services in France.-Network:The Lunéa network consists of the following lines:...
since the late 2000s.