Good evening everyone. Today I'm here to propose another French tourist/commuter line. It's located in the northern area of Nice (one of the largest and most populous cities in France), in the Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments. This territories are part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region (Provence). The route, also known as "Train des Pignes" or "Chemin de fer de Provence", passes through the urban context of the Vernier district of Nice. Then climbs up the urbanized hills on the North-West of the city, crossing valleys and mountains that characterize the northern territory of the town. And finally reaching St-André-les-Alpes. The route is famous in France and Europe for its magnificent natural landscapes, both mountain and sea, offering a unique combination of steep slopes and challenging curves. As well as less demanding and more linear/flat sections. GENERAL FEATURES The section in question is 102.5 km/ 63.7 mi long, of the approximately 151 km/ 94 mi actual length of the complete route. In fact, the Northern Line would extend to Dignes-les-Bains, approximately 48.5 km from St-André-les-Alpes. This section is served by a single, metric gauge track (1000mm), not electrified. The maximum gradient reached by the route, in the uphill section leaving Nice, reaches 3%. Nice CP is located 46 m above sea level, while the highest point of the route reaches 1023 m above sea level. With a net height difference of 977 m. The line is equipped with two types of signaling: - Automatic or BAPR, from Nice to Plan-du-Var station. - Manual or BM, from Plan-du-Var to St-André-les-Alpes. Level crossings are both with and without barriers (bars or flashing red light). The route is managed and operated by the CP ZOU! company, a public joint venture for transport services in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region (Region Sud). ROUTE AND STATIONS The line has 24 main stations, out of a total of 40 stops. The other 16 stops are served by reservation, with a bell button alerting the driver (as on many buses works). The stops are as follows: - Nice CP* (km 0) - Gambetta* - Parc Impérial* - Saint-Philippe* - La Madeleine* - Crémat-Le P.A.L* - St-Isidore* - Lingostière* - St-Sauveur* - Bellet* - Colomars-La Manda* - La Bédoule* - Castagniers* - St-Martin du Var* - Pont Charles-Albert* - Baus-Roux* - Plan du Var-Vésubie* Automatic---> Manual signaling - Le Chaudan Stops by reservation: Malaussène/Massoins - Villars-sur-Var Stops by reservation: Le Tournel, Touët-sur-Var, Rigaud/Le Cians and Les Clos - Puget-Théniers - Entrevaux Stops by reservation: Plan d’Entrevaux, Agnerc, Pont de Gueydan, Saint-Benoît and Scaffarels - Annot Stops by reservation: Les Lunières, Le Fugeret, Méailles and Peyresq - Thorame-Haute Stops by reservation: Allons/Argens and La Mure-Argens - St-André-les-Alpes (km 102,5) * Urban/suburban section The stations/stops generally have one or two platforms, depending on whether they have the loop track or not. The only stations with more than two platforms are: Nice (3), St-Martin du Var (3), Plan du Var-Vésubie (3), Villars-sur-Var (3), Puget-Théniers (3), Entrevaux (4 - 3 in use), Annot (4 - 2 in use), Thorame-Haute (3) St-André-les-Alpes (3) The depot/workshop for this route is located in Nice-Lingostière. Two further depots (small structures for overnight shelter and refueling) are located in Puget-Théniers (CP ZOU! and Pignes Historic Trains Group) and St-André-les-Alpes (CP ZOU!). ROUTE PLAN Yes, two and a half hours of travel! PASSENGER SERVICE See the official attached PDF, with timetables and stops. Consider the table only up to Saint-André-les-Alpes. LINK1: https://storage.googleapis.com/is-wp-58-prod/uploads-prod/2024/01/71b5ae15-iu-2024-0101-2.pdf LINK2: https://storage.googleapis.com/is-wp-58-prod/uploads-prod/2024/01/b79b95d9-u-2024-0101-1.pdf ROLLING STOCK Currently, there are 3 types of rolling stock in service with CP ZOU! : - SY X300 First Series, X301-X304 Type: Diesel-Mechanical Self Propelled Rail Car Number of car: 1 (can be coupled with another unit) Boogie: 2 ( 2 axle each), metric gauge (1000 mm) Prime mower: 2x MAN Diesel, flat 6 cylinders (120 HP each) Transmission: Hydro-mechanical Async. Max power output: 177 kW Brakes: Air (direct) Capacity: 48 people each Max speed: 80 km/h - 50 mph Year: from 1973 (rebuilt in 2004/2005 and in 2021/2023) Number of units: 4 - SY X300 Second Series, X305-X307 Type: Diesel-Mechanical Self Propelled Rail Car Number of car: 1 (can be coupled with another unit) Boogie: 2 ( 2 axle each), metric gauge (1000 mm) Prime mower: 2x MAN Diesel, flat 6 cylinders engine (120 HP each) Transmission: Hydro-mechanical, Voith 2 speed Max power output: 177 kW Brakes: Air (direct) Capacity: 50 people each Max speed: 80 km/h - 50 mph Year: from 1978 (rebuilt in 2005/2006 and 2023/2024) Number of units: 3 - AMP800 DMU, AMP801-AMP804 Type: Diesel-Mechanical Multiple Unit Number of car: 2 Boogie: B'2'+2'B' (4/12), metric gauge (1000 mm) Primer mower: 2x Deutz AG. V8, 440 HP each Transmission: Hydro-mechanical, Voith 2 speed Max power output: 880 kW Brakes: Air and Electromagnetic Capacity: 105 people Max speed: 100 km/h - 62mph Year: from 2011 Number of units: 4 In addition to these units there would be more, but unfortunately they've all been withdrawn from active service. They're used during occasional historical tours along the route. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The route is long and non-linear - Presence of many slopes, tunnels and magnificent historic viaducts. - Presence of many stations along the route (40 total). - Stunning and varied landscape: city, sea, hill, valley, mountain. - Good variety of rolling stock used. WEAK POINTS - The service lasts on average between 2 hours and 20 minutes to 2 hours and 38 minutes. - The city of Nice is very dense with buildings, although the area crossed is quite marginal. - The landscape in the first third of the route is very complex and difficult to model. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, I would like to confirm my hope that this route can be brought to TSW one day, as it represents (in my opinion) the perfect mix of city, panoramic hilly view and valleys/mountains. An engaging journey, full of history and incredible landscapes. A journey from the sea and the French city, until you reach the isolated valleys of the Var River! Don't hesitate to comment, tell yours and ask me for any other information! Cordially. Caravatt. PS. Below here, I put some photos of the route and a video link of the journey, in DPOV (unfortunately the last stretch, up to St-André-les-Alpes, is not present on video).
Viaducts of the route, passage through the city of Nice and view of the city from the hill crossed by the railway. Nice CP station, terminus of the route. Overall view of the terminal and some parked autorails. City passage towards the Gambetta stop. View of the St-André-les-Alpes station, and of some landscapes along the last stretch of the route. LINK POV VIDEO:
Yes this would be an excellent line. It's one of the greatest narrow gauge railways in the world running through amazing scenery. I'm amazed so few have heard of it.
Oh, you said right! An incredible route, like Corsica one, which I've already proposed in the past. The only flaw is the number of daily services, which is a bit low but enough to enjoy the landscapes!
When I was there a couple of years ago they were running steam excursions over part of the route That would add variety! I've also seen a maintenance of way train, although it was .parked in a siding. As you probably know the old narrow gauge station at Nice is still there and is used as retail premises. It would be nice to model that too
Yes, the old station is opposite the new one. A couple of blocks away. Today it's a shopping gallery and multipurpose center. It would be nice to introduce railtours with the E211 and E327 steam engines. They usually tow a formation of 4 carriages + luggage car (transformed into a traveling shop for gadgets and souvenirs). The historic services runs between the stations of Annot and Puget-Théniers, with mid stop at Entrevaux. CP Zou!, the company that manages passenger service on this route, also carries out periodic railtours. Using the BB1200 locomotive and 2x ex-Swiss carriages (of similar type to those in use at RhB on Bernina and Arosa Line). Old Station.
