Rail transport in France
Encyclopedia
Rail transport in France is mostly operated by SNCF
, the French national railway company. France has the second largest European railway network, with a total of 29,901 kilometers of railway. However, the railway system is a small portion of total travel, accounting for less than 10% of passenger travel.
Since 1981, the SNCF
has operated the TGV
service, a high-speed rail
network which has been consistently expanded in subsequent years.
France is a member of the International Union of Railways
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
for France is 87.
Traffic is concentrated on the main lines: 78% of activity is done on 30% of the network (8,900km) when the 46% smaller lines (13,600km) only drive 6% of the traffic. The 366 larger stations (12%) make 85% of passenger activity, and the 56% smaller station only 1,7% of this activity.
Since January 1, 2007, the freight market is open to conform to European Union
agreements (EU Directive 91/440
). New operators had already reached 15% of the market a the end of 2008.
. They contract with the SNCF for lines exploitation.
carriages (rebranded as Téoz
) are still used for other lines.
(RFF), disposes (June 2007) of a network of commercially usable lines of 29213 kilometres (18,152.2 mi), out of which 15141 km (9,408.2 mi) is electrified
. 1876 km (1,165.7 mi) of those are high speed lines (LGV), 16445 km (10,218.5 mi) dispose of two or more tracks. 5905 km (3,669.2 mi) are supplied with 1,500 V
DC
, 9113 km (5,662.6 mi) with 25 kV AC
at 50 Hz
. 122 km (75.8 mi) are electrified by third rail
or other means.
1,500 V current is used on the south while HSR lines and the northern part of the country use 25 kV current.
Trains drive on the left, except in Alsace
and Moselle
.
is the manufacturer of the TGV
, and is behind many regional train models (Régiolis, SNCF Class Z 26500
... )
SNCF
The 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...
, the French national railway company. France has the second largest European railway network, with a total of 29,901 kilometers of railway. However, the railway system is a small portion of total travel, accounting for less than 10% of passenger travel.
Since 1981, the SNCF
SNCF
The 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...
has operated 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....
service, a high-speed rail
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
network which has been consistently expanded in subsequent years.
France is a member of the International Union of Railways
International Union of Railways
The UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
UIC Country Code
The UIC Country Code is a two digit number used to identify member countries of the International Union of Railways . The UIC has issued numbering systems for rolling stock and train stations that both contain the UIC Country Code. The values are defined in UIC leaflet 920-14.-Table of Codes:-...
for France is 87.
History
The history of rail transport in France dates from the first French railway in 1832.Exploitation
Since of 1842, French railway is highly polarized by Paris.Traffic is concentrated on the main lines: 78% of activity is done on 30% of the network (8,900km) when the 46% smaller lines (13,600km) only drive 6% of the traffic. The 366 larger stations (12%) make 85% of passenger activity, and the 56% smaller station only 1,7% of this activity.
Freight transport
Freight transport have declined since the early 1980s. Today the network is predominantly passenger centric.Since January 1, 2007, the freight market is open to conform to European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
agreements (EU Directive 91/440
EU Directive 91/440
The EU Directive 91/440 is European Union legislation that sets out a framework and requirements for railways in the EU to allow open access operations on railway lines by companies other than those that own the rail infrastructure...
). New operators had already reached 15% of the market a the end of 2008.
Short and middle distance
The Transport express régional (TER) is directed by the administrative Regions of FranceRégions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
. They contract with the SNCF for lines exploitation.
Long distance
The SNCF directly manage this class of trains. The TGV is used on the most important destinations, while CorailCorail (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...
carriages (rebranded as Téoz
Téoz
Téoz is a brand name used by France’s national railway company, SNCF, to denote long-distance passenger rail services in France. SNCF established the Téoz system in 2003 as an upgrade of the former Corail network. Téoz services are interregional, unlike most TER services, and do not use the...
) are still used for other lines.
The network
The French railway network, as administered by Réseau Ferré de FranceRéseau Ferré de France
Réseau Ferré de France , , owns and maintains the French national railway network. The trains are operated by SNCF, the national railway company, but due to European Union Directive 91/440, the French government was required to separate train operations from the railway infrastructure.Unlike other...
(RFF), disposes (June 2007) of a network of commercially usable lines of 29213 kilometres (18,152.2 mi), out of which 15141 km (9,408.2 mi) is electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
. 1876 km (1,165.7 mi) of those are high speed lines (LGV), 16445 km (10,218.5 mi) dispose of two or more tracks. 5905 km (3,669.2 mi) are supplied with 1,500 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
, 9113 km (5,662.6 mi) with 25 kV AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
at 50 Hz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
. 122 km (75.8 mi) are electrified by third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
or other means.
1,500 V current is used on the south while HSR lines and the northern part of the country use 25 kV current.
Trains drive on the left, except in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
.
Rail links to adjacent countries
- Same gauge
-
BelgiumRail transport in BelgiumBelgium has an extensive rail network. It is a member of the International Union of Railways . The UIC Country Code for Belgium is 88.-History:...
— voltage change 25 kV AC/3 kV DC (except high-speed line to Brussels, same voltage) -
GermanyRail transport in Germany, Germany had a railway network of 41,315 km. 19,857 km are electrified. The total track length was 76,473 km. Germany is a member of the International Union of Railways . The UIC Country Code for Germany is 80.-Overview:...
— voltage change 25 kV AC/15 kV AC -
Great BritainRail transport in Great BritainThe railway system in Great Britain is the oldest in the world, with the world's first locomotive-hauled public railway opening in 1825. As of 2010, it consists of of standard gauge lines , of which are electrified. These lines range from single to double, triple, quadruple track and up to twelve...
via the Channel TunnelChannel TunnelThe Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
— voltage change 25 kV AC/750 V DC third rail (except high-speed line to London, same voltage) -
ItalyRail transport in ItalyThe Italian railway system is one of the most important infrastructure in the country, with a total length of . The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network....
— voltage change 25 kV AC/3 kV DC (except high-speed line, same voltage) -
Luxembourg — same voltage -
MonacoRail transport in MonacoThe Principality of Monaco has a single railway station on the Nice-Menton-Ventimiglia railway line. The station was opened in 1867 and extensively rebuilt in 1999. The length of railway within the Principality is...
— same voltage -
SwitzerlandRail transport in SwitzerlandThe railways of Switzerland include and narrow gauge .*Network size: 5,063 km*standard gauge: , of which is electrified.*narrow gauge: , of which is electrified...
— voltage change 25 kV AC or 1,5 kV DC/15 kV AC
-
- Break-of-gaugeBreak-of-gaugeWith railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
, /-
Spain — voltage change 1,5 kV DC/3 kV DC
-
- No rail link to
AndorraTransport in AndorraAndorra is a landlocked country in Europe, whose transport infrastructure is largely road-based.-Railways:Andorra has no railways, although the line connecting Latour-de-Carol and Toulouse, which in turn connects to France's TGVs at Toulouse, runs within of the Andorran border...
Material
AlstomAlstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
is the manufacturer of 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....
, and is behind many regional train models (Régiolis, SNCF Class Z 26500
SNCF Class Z 26500
The SNCF Class Z 26500 double-decker electrical multiple units were built by Alstom between 2004–2005....
... )