Bonjour à tous! Good afternoon everyone! Today I want to take you back to France, suggesting something unusual... A route without overhead wires? Yes, today I'll introduce the Bordeaux-Périgueux "Line" (via Coutras), based on two axes: the Paris-Bordeaux Main Line (PO) southern stretch plus part of the Coutras-Tulle Line. We're in the "Sud-Ouest" of France, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region; crossing two departments: Gironde and Dordogne. Our trip begins in Bordeaux and its iconic station; following Gironde's course, crossing city's port area and rounding the Dordogne conflux. From here, it continues alongside the great river to Libourne, entering the so-called "Libournais" (wine region), up to Coutras. There, it branches off mainline... And ohle magically disappears . So, it heads east, following Isle River course and its wide Valley. A fast crossing through the so-called "Périgord Blanc" and its verdant fields, straight to our final destination: Périgueux! From the big city to more rural areas, coasting large rivers, passing endless vineyards, rolling farmland and groves; dotted in small local villages and many iconic structures. This is what awaits you in this magic corner of France! GENERAL FEATURES - 130km(81mi) full lenght (93km/58mi cutting it at Mussidan). - Double track (directly involved), standard gauge (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 1.5kV DC OHLE/unelectrified. - 3‰(1:35) max gradient. - 160kph(100mph) average, 220kph(137mph) peak (mainline). - BAL/BAPR as signaling systems. - KVB as safety system. - GSM-R as regards comm. Lines managed by: - SNCF Réseau SA (SNCF Group). Passenger service operated by: - SNCF Voyageurs SA (SNCF Group). brands: - TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine - TGV inOui STATIONS This route features 20 active stations/stops, plus several closed/deactivated. The calls are, as follows: ----Paris-Bordeaux-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Bordeaux-Saint-Jean - Cenon - Bassens Ville - La Gorp - Saint-Loubès - Saint-Sulpice - Izon - Vayres - Libourne - Saint-Denis-de-Pile - Coutras ----Coutras-Tulle----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Saint-Médard-de-Guizières - Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle - Montpon-Ménestérol - Mussidan - Neuvic (Dordogne) - Saint-Léon-sur-l'Isle - Saint-Astier - Razac - Marsac (Dordogne) - Périgueux ROUTE PLAN Up: General view of the route, all stops are indicated. Red: mainline; blue: diesel stretch. Mid: Bordeaux area focus. Low: Périgueux area focus. Network Plan: https://mmt.vsct.fr/sites/default/files/swt/CNAQ/2025-12/RNA-CarteReseau-A3-231225HD.pdf PASSENGER SERVICE TER (Regional Express) - Ligne 13: Bordeaux-Angoulême (20min) a) Saint-Jean<->Coutras, 11Tpd (6+5) [stopper]. - Ligne 31: Bordeaux-Pèrigueux-Limoges (80/90min) a) Saint-Jean<->Périgueux, 2Tph/1Tp2h each direction [stopper]. b) Saint-Jean<->Périgueux, 1Tph/1Tp2h each direction [stopper/semi-fast]. - Ligne 32: Bordeaux-Brive-Ussel (90/28min) a) Saint-Jean<->Périgueux, 6Tpd (3+3) [stopper]. b) Mussidan<->Périgueux, 2Tph/1Tp2h each direction [local shuttle]. - Ligne 33: Bordeaux-Bergerac-Sarlat (15min) a) Saint-Jean<->Libourne, 2Tph/1Tp2h each direction [stopper/semi-fast]. - Ligne 41.1U: Bordeaux-Libourne-Coutras (27min) a) Saint-Jean<->Coutras, 1/2Tph each direction [suburban]. TGV (Mainline) - inOui Paris-Bordeaux (22min) a) Saint-Jean<->Libourne, 5Tpd (3+2), plus AI traffic [direct]. FREIGHT SERVICE Three different areas involved: City Port (local transfer to/from Hourcade Marshalling); electrified mainline (passing through/to Hourcade); our diesel line (some cross trips). Sectors Involved: - Aggregates/materials (Thiviers quarries/others). - Metals/rail elements (Chamiers site mainly). - Intermodal (mainline). - Cereals/Fertilizers (mainline/docks). - Petroleum/fuels (docks). ROLLING STOCK TER - B 81500 BGC (AGC) BMU & Z 56300 Regio 2N (PHD) EMU [mandatory/base stock]. Regional & suburban. - X 72500 X TER DHMU & X 73500 A TER Diesel-hydraulic railcar [possible DLCs?]. Regional boost. + TGV Duplex 200 (driveable). LAMPOIL This route would pass through the DTG process, the only flaw: length (can be cut at 2/3). Still perfectly enjoyable thought! STATIONS PICS Up/down left: Bordeaux Saint Jean, the real gem here. Down right: Cenon. A) Libourne. B) Coutras. C) Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle. D) Montpon-Ménestérol. Please put your LIKE here first, thank you! Continue Below...
Page 2 Up left: Mussidan. Up right: Saint-Astier. Down: Périgueux, easternmost point. ROUTE VIDEOS Bordeaux-Périgueux cabride, B 81500 TER trip. Périgueux-Bordeaux cabride, X 73500 ECS trip. La Gorp trainspotting. Saint-Sulpice/Saint-Loubès trainspotting. ROUTE PICS A) Bordeaux view. B) Nouvelle-Aquitaine Maintenance Depot(TER/Mainline). C) Pont d'Aquitaine(1967). D) Grand Port Maritime(freight terminals/docks). A) Château de Vayres & Dordogne River. B) Arveyres "Cent-Arches" Viaduct(1850). C) Libourne view(Dordogne-Isle conflux). D) The "Libournais" & Gironde's vineyards. A) Our tracks crossing the "Périgord Blanc". B) Châteaux d'eau(water towers) classic rural landmarks. C) Château de Mauriac & Isle River. D) Water locks, other local feature. A) Saint-Astier Works & mines. B) Chamiers Network Works. C) Charente-Périgord Maintenance Plant(main workshops). D) Périgueux view. + Others manors, bridges/viaducts etc. CONCLUSIONS Bringing this route to TSW would achieve two goals: France's return (after such a long time) and, at the same time, would offer a unique alternative to classic LGVs: a mixed-power (diesel & electric) experience! Hope we've move something, as this country results the fifth most requested! Caravatt .
Great to see a French suggestion with such a detailed breakdown! The mix of 1500V DC and Diesel sections is exactly what TSW needs for more variety in gameplay. Seeing the AGC (B 81500) and its dual-mode capability would be a massive addition to the game. Bordeaux Saint-Jean is also such an iconic starting point. Total support for this!
100% agree with you here A very balanced route indeed! With over 30km DC and a full, long diesel stretch. But the real thing here is service layering: short local shuttles, long regional stoppers and semi-fast! It's a shame that TER Aquitaine basically uses BGCs diesel or DC independently... Usually changing their supply mode at depot, if they're going to be deployed elsewhere! Thanks for your support anyway .
That's a very interesting detail about the BGCs in Aquitaine! Even if they don't switch modes often in real life, having that 'Dual-mode' capability in TSW would still be a blast for players. The service layering you described (shuttles vs long distance) sounds like the perfect recipe for a busy and non-boring route. Fingers crossed for more French content like this!
As someone who's holidayed in the Dordogne a lot (albeit nearer Bergerac than here), a definite oui from me.
INTEGRATIONS Good afternoon everyone! As usual, today I'd like to share my thoughts about any potential rewards of this route. Two-tier system: Tier I) Ancient PO posters (PO-Midi Cie.) Late XIX/early XX Century promotionals. Tier II) Static/dynamic layers. Alstom Citadis 302, Bordeaux urban tramways (AI at many points). Série 150 A 65 "Decapod" steam engine (static view near Chamiers Works). Hope this was usefull! Again, happy Sunday everyone
damn this looks like a lot of new learning of French stuff, but dammit, looks great, so hell yeah from me
