Good evening everyone. Today I'm here to propose you another French tourist/commuter line. It's located in the northern area of Nice (one of the largest and most populous cities in France), crossing thought the Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments. This territories are part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region (the Southern Region). Its also known as "Train des Pignes" or "Chemin de fer de Provence". Our journeys starts right at Nice city center, passing through the urban context of the Vernier district. Then, it climbs up the urbanized hills on the North-West range of the city, winding along the River Var Valley. Finally reaching St-André-les-Alpes. The line is famous in France and Europe for its magnificent natural landscapes, both mountain and sea, offering a unique combination of steep slopes and challenging radiant curves. As well as less demanding and more linear/fast sections. GENERAL FEATURES Route: - 102.5km/63.7mi proposed length (151km/94mi complete route). - Single track, metric gauge (1000mm/3 ft 3+3⁄8 in), unelectrified. - 90kph/56mph max speed. - 3‰/1:33 max gradient (uphill section, leaving Nice). - 977m elevation range! Signalling: - BAPR/automatic (Nice CP<>Plan-du-Var). - BM/manual (Plan-du-Var<>St-André-les-Alpes). The route is managed and operated by: - Régie Régionale Des Transports De Provence Alpes Cote D'Azur EPIC (public joint venture). Traded as: CPZOU! PLAN General view of the route. Only certain stations are shown! STATIONS The route features 19 active stations/stop, plus 21 stops operated by reservation. The calls are. as follows: - Nice CP * city terminus. - Gambetta * - Parc Impérial * - St-Philippe * - La Madeleine * - Crémat-Le P.A.L* - St-Isidore (Stade) * - Lingostière * - St-Sauveur (Ctre Cial) * - Bellet * - Colomars-La Manda* - La Bédoule *◊ - Castagniers *◊ - St-Martin du Var * - Pont Charles-Albert *◊ - Baus-Roux *◊ - Plan du Var-Vésubie * main station - Le Chaudan ◊ - Malaussène/Massoins ◊ - Villars-sur-Var - Le Tournel ◊ - Touët-sur-Var ◊ - Rigaud/Le Cians ◊ - Les Clos ◊ - Puget-Théniers " - Entrevaux " - Plan d’Entrevaux ◊ - Agnerc ◊ - Pont de Gueydan ◊ - St-Benoît ◊ - Scaffarels ◊ - Annot " - Les Lunières ◊ - Le Fugeret ◊ - Méailles ◊ - Peyresq ◊ - Thorame-Haute - Allons/Argens ◊ - La Mure-Argens ◊ - St-André-les-Alpes main station * Suburban ◊ By reservation " Train des Pignes (railtour) - Main depot: Nice-Lingostière (CPZOU!). - Aux sheds: Puget-Théniers (Train des Pignes); St-André-les-Alpes (CPZOU!). SERVICE Two lines: - Nice-(St-André)Digne les Bains [regional; semi-fast/semi-stopper]: 6Tpd Nice>Digne (1+1 up to Annot & Puget-Théniers), 6Tpd Digne>Nice (same as before). Autumn 2026 TT: https://storage.googleapis.com/is-w...5b2f62-affiches-horaires-2026-septembre-2.pdf - Nice-Colomars-Plan du Var [suburban; stopper]: 16Tpd Nice>Colomars, 9Tpd Nice>Plan du Var, 16Tpd Colomars>Nice, 9Tpd Plan du Var>Nice. Autumn 2026 TT: https://storage.googleapis.com/is-w...0d9752-affiches-horaires-2026-septembre-1.pdf STOCK Three classes in active service: - SY X300 (1st series) Diesel-mechanical railcars Original 1970s workhorses. X301-X304 (4x). - SY X300 (2nd series) Diesel-mechanical railcars Later acquisitions, to boost the service. X305-X307 (3x). - AMP800 (new gen) DMUs Latest acquisitions (2010s). AMP801-804 (4x). + Retired "oldies", periodically deployed during railtours. Please, put your like HERE first. Thank you! Continue Below...
Page 2 PICS Viaducts, passage through Nice and city view from uphill. Nice CP, terminus of the route. Urban glimpse, towards Gambetta. St-André-les-Alpes station, some landscapes along the last stretch. VIDEO Thorame-Haute to Nice regional cabride. Nice to Saint-André-les-Alpes regional cabride. Puget-Théniers to Annot steam railtour cabride! A little bonus regarding the "Train des Pignes"
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.
I just saw an other video from inside the cab on this line and it's simply magnificent. Start from Nice and cross the city, go through a tunnel and follow the road and then find yourself in the middle of nowhere, through the mountains and along the Var I particularly like this video with the fog (which gives it a rather frightening appearance)
What a fantastic and highly detailed proposal, Caravatt! The Train des Pignes would bring something completely unique to TSW: metric gauge operations in France! The gameplay mix here is awesome, from urban running out of Nice to heavy 3% mountain grades, switching from BAPR to Manual Block at Plan-du-Var, and even handling request stops. Driving the AMP800 or the classic X300 up to 1,000 meters above sea level with engines roaring would be a blast. Massive support on this!
