Good afternoon everyone. Today I want to propose you a classic French route: The French Riviera, from Cannes to Ventimiglia. Passing through Nice and Monaco. An emblematic line, which crosses 3 different countries: France, Monaco and Italy! It would be set in 2019. We're in southern France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (Alpes-Maritimes Department). The high cliffs near the Italian border alternate with the low and sandy beaches of the Côte d'Azur. Departure takes place from Ventimiglia, entering along the rocky French coast, skirting the Mediterranean Sea. It follows the Monte Carlo underground stretch, which leads to the city of Nice. Here, the path descends the Riviera, passing through Antibes and reaching Cannes. The last miles, moving away from the mainline, are represented by the Grasse Branch. It enters the Provence countryside, marking the end of our route. A very refined and internationally known area of this beautiful part of Europe. Heart of luxurious and exclusive holidays... Surrounded by a typical and wild Mediterranean landscape! This is The French Riviera: Ventimiglia to Cannes and Grasse! GENERAL FEATURES The route consists of two distinct lines: - Cannes-la-Bocca – Grasse Line: 16.6km(10mi). - Cannes-la-Bocca – Ventimiglia stretch: of 69km(43mi). Total of 85,6km(53mi). The line is served by: - Double track, standard gauge (1435 mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 1.5kV DC OHLE (Ventimiglia - KM 257,475). - Double track, standard gauge, electrified 25kV AC OHLE (KM 257,475 – Cagnes-sur-Mer). - Triple track, "" (Cagnes-sur-Mer – Antibes). - Double track, "" (Antibes – Cannes-la-Bocca). - Single track, (Cannes-la-Bocca – Grasse). The path is equipped with: - BAL (Block Automatique Lumineux), literally "Automatic Luminous Block", as signaling system adopted. - KVB (Contrôle de vitesse par balises), literally "Speed control by beacons", as safety system adopted (as far as 2021). - GSM-R and RST ready, as regards comm. Almost completely equipped with IPCS (both tracks travelable both directions). Max gradient reaches: - 8%(8x1000) Cannes-la-Bocca – Ventimiglia stretch - 18.7%(18.7x1000) Cannes-la-Bocca – Grasse stretch Max speed reaches: - 80-130km/h(50-81mph) mainline - 30-100km/h(19-62mph) Grasse branch The line is managed by: - SNCF Réseau S.A. (SNCF Group). Passenger service is operated by: - SNCF Voyageurs S.A., through its TER Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (TER PACA/TER ZOU!) subsidiary. - Voyages SNCF S.A. (TGV InOui/OuiGO). - Thellò S.A.S. (Trenitalia/Veolia-Transdev joint-venture). - Akiem S.A. (Thellò traction stock). Freight service is operated by: - FRET SNCF S.A. (SNCF Group - Akiem S.A. (private company). ROUTE AND STATIONS The route features a total of 29 active station/stops. In addition to several abandoned and 2 planned stops (as of 2019). The calls are, as follows: - Cannes-la-Bocca, westernmost terminus of the route. Km190*/3** ----Grasse Branch----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Le Bosquet, Km3.2** - La Frayère, Km4** - Ranguin, Km6** - Mouans-Sartoux, Km12** - Grasse, northern terminal of the branch. Km16.6** ---- Mainline------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Cannes, Km193*/00** - Golfe-Juan-Vallauris, Km199* - Juan-les-Pins, Km202* - Antibes, Km204* - Biot, Km207* - Villeneuve-Loubet-Plage, Km209* - Cagnes-sur-Mer, Km213* - Cros-de-Cagnes, Km214* - Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Km217* - Nice-Saint-Augustin (old location), Km219* - Nice-Ville, route intermediate terminal. Km224* To Nice-St-Roch Depot (TER/TGV). - Nice-Riquier, Km227* - Villefranche-sur-Mer, Km229* - Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Km231* - Èze-sur-Mer, Km234* - Cap d'Ail, Km237* France-Monaco border. - Monaco-Monte-Carlo, Km240* Monaco-France border. - Monte-Carlo-Country-Club, seasonally(tennis tournaments). Km243* - Cap-Martin-Roquebrune, Km244* - Carnolès, Km247* - Menton, Km249* - Menton-Garavan, Km251* France-Italy border. - Ventimiglia RFI, easternmost Terminus of the route. Km259* * Route origin, Marseille-St-Charles (Km0). ** Route origin, Cannes (Km0). ROUTE PLAN General view of the route. Main places and stations are indicated. GOOGLE MAPS credit. General route scheme. I couldn't find space to include the Grasse Branch one! PASSENGER SERVICE TER – REGIONAL - TER ZOU! Line 3: Les-Arcs – St-Raphaël – Cannes – Antibes – Nice a) Les-Arcs-Draguignan-->Cannes, 13 services/day (Cannes-la-Bocca – Cannes). 1Tph. b) Cannes-->Les-Arcs-Draguignan, 11 services/day (same as above). 1Tp1/2h. c) Cannes-la-Bocca/Cannes-->Nice-Ville, 19 services/day (Cannes-la-Bocca-Nice-Ville). 1/3Tph. d) Nice-Ville-->Cannes-la-Bocca/Cannes, 13 services/day (same as above). 1Tph/2h. e) Les-Arcs-Draguignan-->Nice-Ville, 13 services/day (Cannes-la-Bocca-Nice-Ville). 2Tph/1Tp2h. f) Nice-Ville-->Les-Arcs-Draguignan, 16 services/day (same as above). 2Tph/1Tp2h. Total of 85Tpd. - TER ZOU! Line 4: Grasse – Cannes – Nice – Vintimille a) Cannes-la-Bocca-->Ventimiglia, 16Tpd (Cannes-la-Bocca-Ventimiglia). 1/2Tph. b) Ventimiglia-->Cannes-la-Bocca, 14Tpd (same as above). 2Tph/1Tp2h. c) Mandelieu/Cannes-la-Bocca-->Menton, 10Tpd(Cannes-la-Bocca-Menton). 1Tp2/3h. d) Menton-->Mandelieu/Cannes-la-Bocca, 10Tpd (same as above). 1Tp2/3h. e) Nice-Ville-->Menton/Ventimiglia, 5Tpd (Nice-ville-Ventimiglia). f) Menton/Ventimiglia-->Nice-Ville, 3Tpd (same as above). g) Grasse-->Menton/Ventimiglia, 30Tpd (Grasse-Ventimiglia). 1/2Tph. h) Menton/Ventimiglia-->Grasse, 30Tpd (same as above). 1/2Tph. i) Cannes-->Nice-Ville, 8Tpd (Cannes-Nice-Ville). j) Nice-Ville-->Cannes, 8Tpd (same as above). k) Cannes-->Mandelieu, 12Tpd (Cannes-Cannes-la-Bocca). 1Tp1/3h. l) Mandelieu-->Cannes, 11Tpd (same as above). 1Tp1/3h. Total of 144Tpd. - TER ZOU! Line 5: Nice – Breil – Tende(diesel regional service) a) Nice-Ville-->Breil-sur-Roya, 14Tpd (AI ONLY at Nice-Ville). b) Breil-sur-Roya-->Nice-Ville, 13Tpd (same as above). c) Nice-Ville-->Tende (Train des Merveilles), 3Tpd (AI ONLY at Nice-Ville). d) Tende-->Nice-Ville (Train des Merveilles), 3Tpd (same as above). Total of 33Tpd. - TER ZOU! Line 6: Marseille – Nice via Les-Arcs a) Marseille-St-Charles-->Nice-Ville, 8Tpd (Cannes-Nice-Ville). 1Tp2h. b) Nice-Ville-->Marseille-St-Charles, 9Tpd (same as above). 1Tp2h. Total of 17Tpd. Total of 279Tpd (246 playable, 33 AI Only). EUROCITY - THELLO EuroCity, International service: a) Milan Centrale RFI-->Marseille-St-Charles, 3 services/day (entire route). Stop only at Ventimiglia, Monte-Carlo, Nice-Ville, Antibes and Cannes. b) Marseille-St-Charles-->Milan Centrale RFI, 3 services/day (entire route). Same as above. Total of 6Tpd. TGV - GRANDES LIGNES - SNCF TGV InOui, High speed/cross-sectoral services: a) Paris-Gare-de-Lyon-->Nice-Ville, 7 services/day (Cannes-Nice-Ville). Stop only at Cannes, Antibes and Nice-Ville. b) Nice-Ville-->Paris-Gare-de-Lyon, 6 services/day (same as above). Same as above. c) Lyon-Part-Dieu-->Nice-Ville, 4 services/day ". d) Nice-Ville-->Lyon-Part-Dieu, 3 services/day ". e) Strasbourg/Nancy-->Nice-Ville, 3 services/day ". f) Nice-Ville-->Strasbourg/Nancy, 2 services/day ". Total of 25Tpd. - SNCF TGV OuiGO, High speed service: a) Paris-Gare-de-Lyon-->Nice-Ville, 2 services/day (Cannes-Nice-Ville). Stop only at Cannes, Antibes and Nice-Ville. b) Nice-Ville-->Paris-Gare-de-Lyon, 2 services/day (same as above). Same as above. Total of 4Tpd. Total of 314Tpd (total timetable). FREIGHT SERVICE Freight service on this route is very linear (A-B trips). Activities take place mainly between Ventimiglia Sidings and Miramas Freight Complex. There are also direct services toward Cerbère (to Spain) and Lyon-Sibelin. On this proposal, convoys would stop/start at dedicated sidings near Canness-la-Bocca. The type of goods transported varies from intermodal to steel coils and gases/chemicals. Here are some examples of freight service: - Steel Coils, Ventimiglia-->Miramas - Gas Tanks, Ventimiglia-->Cerbère - Intermodal, Vintimille-->Sibelin - Intermodal, Vintimille-->Miramas ROLLING STOCK The following rolling stock can be seen on this route: PASSENGER – REGIONAL / FREIGHT - Z 26500 TER 2N NG Double-decker EMU, for TER ZOU! services. - Z 55500L Regio 2N Double-decker EMU, for TER PACA services. - Z 23500 TER 2N PG Double-decker EMU, for TER PACA/ZOU! services. Please, put your LIKE here firs, Thank You! Continue Below...
Page 2 - BB 22200RC/R "Nez Cassés" Bi-current electric loco, for TER PACA services. - BB 3600/36300/E.436 "Astride" Tri-current electric loco, for Akiem-Thellò and FRET services. The following coaches are used alongside previous locos: - Corail VU A10u/B11u - VTU B11tu + B5uxh Regional coaches, for TER PACA services. - Type Gran Confort (GC) FS 19-90 A/85-90 BHR & Type Z1 UIC 29-90 B/80-90 npB Eurocity coaches, for Thellò services. - TGV 200 Duplex & TGV 700 Duplex Dasye Electric high-speed trains, for SNCF TGV InOui and OuiGo services. LAMPOIL This route would easily pass through the DTG process, except fo licenses/access to facilities and stock references. Which remain a big question mark! Continue Below...
Page 3 STATIONS Left: Cannes-la-Bocca stop, westernmost point of this route. Right: Grasse branch terminal. Cannes main station. Left: Antibes station. Right: Nice-saint-Augustin stop, in its previous location. Nice-Ville main station, main railway hub of French South-eastern Coast. One of the busiest in France! Left: Beaulieu-sur-Mer station Right: Èze-sur-Mer stop, one of the most spectacular and panoramic places of the route. Continue Below...
Page 4 Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, located in the namesake Principality. It's completely underground. Ventimiglia RFI main station. Located on Italian territory, easternmost point of the route. ROUTE VIDEOS TER ZOU! Ventimiglia-Cannes-Grasse service, Z 55500L Regio 2N. TER ZOU! Nice-Ville-Marseille-St-Charles service, BB 22200+Corail. Please, only consider the Nice-Ville-->Cannes-la-Bocca stretch. Quick trainspotting near Latte (Italian territory), with a Regio 2N passing by, heading to Cannes. Review of the Z 26500 TER 2N NG, travelling from Monaco to Ventimiglia. IMAGES A) General view of Cannes-la-Bocca Airport. B) General view of Cannes. C) General view of Antibes. D) Marina Baie des Anges, luxury resort. E) Cagnes Hippodrome, open during summer. F) Nice International Airport. A) General view of Nice. B) Saint-Nicolas Cathedral, a small piece of Russia here! C) Centre Iconic Nice. located next to the Nice-Ville main station. In 2019, excavation works had just begun. D) General view of Villefranche-sur-Mer. E) Saint-Laurent d'Eze beach. F) Spectacular view of Cap d'Ail. A) Monte-Carlo. I don't think there's anything to say about... B) View of the picturesque Menton-Garavan. C) View of the France-Italy border. D) View of Grasse. E) Nice-St-Roch Depot. F) General view of Ventimiglia. Caravatt .
The 55500 or a 26500 would be enough + a possible future DLC with the Astride+Thellò coaches (maybe only 1st and 2nd class). The TGV 200 is already on TSW. Corail and the 23500 run their services between Marseille and Nice. So they're not essential!
MAIN INTEGRATION Just to recap, I've identified two possible conf. for this route. Each could be set either in 2019 or present day: A) 2019 Ventimiglia-Monaco-Nice-Cannes and Grasse Branch (my proposal) Features: - 85.6km - 53mi length. - 29 stations/stops featured. - KVB as security system adopted. - Nice-Saint-Augustin stop in its original location. - Presence of Thellò Eurocity service. - Absence of Intercités and Intercités Nuit services. - Z 26500 and Z 55500L as main rolling stock. - BB 36000 (passengers/freight) + UIC-X Grand Comfort (1st class) and UIC-Z1 (2nd class) Thellò coaches, as possible future DLC. Z 23500 as a possible alternative DLC. - Layering of the TGV 200 from Marseille-Avignon, with new InOui external livery. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B) 2019 Ventimiglia-Monaco-Nice-Cannes-St-Raphaël Features: - 98km - 61mi length. - 32 stations/stops featured. - KVB as security system adopted. - Nice-Saint-Augustin stop in its original location. - Presence of Thellò Eurocity service. - Absence of Intercités and Intercités Nuit services. - Z 26500 and Z 23500 as main rolling stock. - BB 36000 (passengers/freight) + UIC-X Grand Comfort (1st class) and UIC-Z1 (2nd class) Thellò coaches, as possible future DLC. Z 55500L as a possible alternative DLC. - Layering of the TGV 200 from Marseille-Avignon, with new InOui external livery. Here, the route would reach further West, towards Saint-Raphaël. Saint-Raphaël-Valescure Station. Our path would pass over the famous Anthéor Viaduct. An iconic structure, symbol of the entire route. Anthéor Viaduct. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C) 2024/25 Ventimiglia-Monaco-Nice-Cannes and Grasse Branch Features: - 85.6km - 53mi length. - 29 stations/stops featured. - ERTMS as security system adopted. - Nice-Saint-Augustin in its new location (Nice International Airport link). - New Menton station (renovated). - Presence of Intercités Nuit service. - Absence of Thellò Eurocity and Intercités services. - Presence of the new operator Transdev, alongside TER Zou! - Z 26500 and Z 55500L as main rolling stock. Z 26500 TER 2N NG, in its new TER Zou! livery. The ERTMS system has been implemented on board. - Z 23500 or the new Z 59000 as possible future DLCs. New bi-level EMU Z 59000 OMNEO Premium (Regio 2N), with 8 cars and 200km/h-125mph of maximum speed. It will operate from Saint-Raphaël/Cannes to Nice-Ville (replacing Corail). This will be the first experience of a private TER operator in France. Synergy between TER Zou! and Transdev. It will enter service in mid-2025! - Layering of the TGV 200 from Marseille-Avignon, with new InOui external livery (also possible the TGV 2N2 Euroduplex). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D) 2024/25 Ventimiglia-Monaco-Nice-Cannes-St-Raphaël Features: - 98km - 61mi length. - 32 stations/stops featured. - ERTMS as security system adopted. - Nice-Saint-Augustin in its new location (Nice International Airport link). - New Menton station (renovated). - Presence of Intercités Nuit service. - Absence of Thellò Eurocity and Intercités services. - Presence of the new operator Transdev, alongside TER Zou! - Z 26500 and Z 23500 as main rolling stock. - Z 55500L or the new Z 59000 as possible future DLCs. - Layering of the TGV 200 from Marseille-Avignon, with new InOui external livery (also possible the TGV 2N2 Euroduplex). I hope I was exhaustive and clear! Have a nice weekend everyone! Caravatt.
