Chemins de Fer de Provence: Network Map Legend | | | | | Digne-les-Bains | | | | | | | | To Saint-Auban | | | | River Bléone | | | | Plan-d'eau-des-Ferrols | | | | Plan-de-Gaubert | | | | Gaubert aqueduct | | | | Beaumes bridge | | | | Gaubert-Le Chaffaut | | | | Golf de Digne-les-Bains | | | | Tunnel de Hermittes 300 metres (330 yd) | | | | Saint-Jurson | | | | Roche-chave viaduct | | | | Lavandes | | | | Mézel-Châteauredon | | | | Vallonet bridge | | | | Saint-Michel-de-Cousson | | | | Tunnel de la Clue-de-Chabrières 595 metres (651 yd) | | | | Chabrières | | | | Couinier bridge | | | | Tunnel de Serre-Geneston 213 metres (233 yd) | | | | Chaudon-Norante | | | | Chaudon Ravine | | | | Tunnel de Abrante 137 metres (150 yd) | | | | Le Poil-Majastres | | | | Saut-du-Loup | | | | River Asse | | | | Barrême | | | | La Thuilière | | | | River Asse | | | | Gévaudan | | | | Hyèges Tunnel 114 metres (125 yd) | | | | Hyèges bridge | | | | Moriez viaduct | | | | Moriez | | | | Moriez Tunnel 1,195 metres (1,307 yd) | | | | Saint-André-les-Alpes | | | | River Issole | | | | La Mure | | | | River Verdon | | | | Allos-Argens | | | | La Mine bridge | | | | La Condamine viaduct | | | | Thorame-Haute | | | | Thorame viaduct over River Verdon | | | | Plan-de-Lys bridge over River Verdon | | | | Colle St Michel tunnel | | | | 3.457 km (2 mi, 261 yd) | | | | Peyresq | | | | River Vaïre | | | | Tunnel de Méailles 104 metres (114 yd) | | | | Maouna viaduct | | | | Méailles | | | | La Guillaumasse viaduct | | | | | | | | | | | | Tunnel de l'Hubac 35 metres (38 yd) | | | | L'Hubac viaduct | | | | Tunnel de La Barre 75 metres (82 yd) | | | | Gros Vallon viaduct | | | | Tunnel du Fuguret 509 metres (557 yd) | | | | Tunnel du Notre-Dame 194 metres (212 yd) | | | | Le Fugeret | | | | Rayets viaduct | | | | Fontbouisse viaduct | | | | Les Lunières | | | | La Belte viaduct | | | | Annot | | | | Les Scaffarels | | | | River Coulomp | | | | Tunnel du Plan-du-Coulomp 75 metres (82 yd) | | | | | | | | Saint-Benoît | | | | Tunnel de Saint-Benoît 110 metres (120 yd) | | | | Pont-de-Gueydan | | | | | | | | Sausses | | | | River Var | | | | Tunnel des Comillons 62 metres (68 yd) | | | | Méailles | | | | Agnerc | | | | Daluis | | | | Plan d'Entrevaux | | | | Villeplane | | | | Guillaumes | | | | Saint-Sauveur | | | | Tunnel de Entrevaux No.2 128 metres (140 yd) | | | | Tunnel de Entrevaux No.1 164 metres (179 yd) | | | | Entrevaux | | | | Saint-Martin-Vésubie | | | | Plan-de-Puget | | | | Valdeblore | | | | River Var | | | | La Trinité | | | | Puget-Théniers | | | | Le Planet | | | | La Blanquerie | | | | Berthemont | | | | Les Clos | | | | Rigaud \- Le Cians | | | | Rimplas | | | | River Cians | | | | Touët-sur-Var | | | | Pont-de-Clau | | | | Le Tournel | | | | Rocquebillière | | | | Plan-Sollerain | | | | Galerie du Salvaret 25 metres (27 yd) | | | | Villars-sur-Var | | | | River Var | | | | La Ballène | | | | Tournefort | | | | Mellaussène - Massoins | | | | Tunnel de Mellaussène 60 metres (66 yd) | | | | Egleros | | | | Lantosque | | | | Le Mescla | | | | St Jean la Rivière | | | | Tunnel de La Mescla 934 metres (1,021 yd) | | | | River Var | | | | Le Reveston | | | | La Tinée | | | | Cros d'Utelle | | | | Tunnel de La-Barre-du-Pin 84 metres (92 yd) | | | | Le Chaudan | | | | River Vésubie | | | | | | | | La Vésubie - Plan-du-Var | | | | Baus-Roux | | | | | | | | Pont Charles Albert | | | | Gilette | | | | La Lauzère | | | | Roquestéron | | | | Saint-Martin-du-Var | | | | Saint-Joseph | | | | Saint-Blaise | | | | Castagniers | | | | Le Mourier | | | | La Bédoule | | | | | | | | | | | | River Var | | | | Colomars-La Manda | | | | L'Enghieri Viaduct | | | | Bellet-Tennis-des-Combes | | | | Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée | | | | Lingostière | | | | Saint-Isidore | | | | Cremat | | | | Bellet Tunnel 950 metres (1,040 yd) | | | | Magnan Viaduct | | | | La Madeleine | | | | Saint-Pierre Viaduct | | | | Verani Bridge | | | | Saint-Pierre Tunnel 633 metres (692 yd) | | | | Saint-Philippe | | | | Saint-Philippe Tunnel 255 metres (279 yd) | | | | Parc-Impérial | | | | Piol Tunnel 78 metres (85 yd) | | | | Manbéga Tunnel 88 metres (96 yd) | | | | Tramway de Nice et du Littoral | | | | Gambetta | | | | To Monte Carlo | | | | Nice Gare de C.P. | | | | Nice Gare du Sud | | | | To Marseille | | | | Gattières | | | | Route Nationale 209 | | | | Tunnel de Saint-Jeannet 860 metres (940 yd) | | | | Saint-Jeannet-La Gaude | | | | Tunnel de la Cagne 224 metres (245 yd) | | | | La Cagne Viaduct | | | | Tunnel des Canons 30 metres (33 yd) | | | | Tunnel des Fonts 53 metres (58 yd) | | | | Route Nationale 210 | | | | La Lubiane Viaduct | | | | Vence | | | | | | | | Route Nationale 210 | | | | Cassan Viaduct | | | | Pasceressa Viaduct | | | | Tourrettes-sur-Loup | | | | Route Nationale 210 | | | | | | | | River Loup | | | | Pont-du-Loup | | | | St Peu la Collé | | | | Villeneuve-Loubet | | | | Route Nationale 210 | | | | Le Bar-sur-Loup | | | | Tunnel du Riou-le-bar 104 metres (114 yd) | | | | Tunnel de pré du lac 515 metres (563 yd) | | | | Magagnosc-Châtauneuf | | | | Tunnel de Saint-Laurant 125 metres (137 yd) | | | | Grasse C.P. | | | | To Cannes | | | | Tramway des Alpes-Maritimes to Cagnes-sur-Mer | | | | Grasse P.L.M. | | | | Route Nationale 576 | | | | Route Nationale 562 | | | | Route Nationale 562 | | | | Peymeinade | | | | | | | | River Siagne | | | | Saint-Cassien - Tanneron | | | | Route Nationale 562 | | | | Montauroux | | | | Callian | | | | Route Nationale 563 | | | | Fayence | | | | Seillans | | | | Méaulx | | | | Claviers | | | | Bargemon | | | | | | | | Callas | | | | | | | | Figanières | | | | Route Nationale 562 | | | | Route Nationale 555 | | | | To Les Arcs | | | | Draguignan | | | | Route Nationale 557 | | | | Route Nationale 562 | | | | | | | | Flayosc | | | | | | | | Sauve-Clare | | | | | | | | Lorgues | | | | Entrecasteaux | | | | Route Nationale 560 | | | | Salernes-Villecroze | | | | | | | | Route Nationale 560 | | | | Aups-Sillans | | | | Route Nationale 560 | | | | Route Nationale 560 | | | | Rognette | | | | Route Nationale 560 | | | | Pontevès | | | | Route Nationale 560 | | | | Barjols | | | | | | | | Varages | | | | Route Nationale 561 | | | | St Martin de Pallières | | | | Esparron | | | | Artigues | | | | Route Nationale 561 | | | | | | | | Route Nationale 561 | | | | Rians | | | | Les Roques | | | | Route Nationale 561 | | | | Jouques | | | | Route Nationale 96 | | | | Peyrolles | | | | | | | | To Veynes | | | | Meyrargues | | | | To Arles | | | | To Marseille | | | | | | A Chemins de Fer de Provence train at Gare de Nice CP. The Chemins de Fer de Provence is a small rail company providing a daily train service between Nice and Digne-les-Bains in Provence. Their single remaining route, which dates from the 1890s and known locally as the Train des Pignes, is a metre-gauge railway, mostly single-track with passing loops at some stations. Between Pont-de-Gueydan and Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée the line runs through the valley of the Var. Most stops are upon request only and some do not have a built platform. ## History[edit] Construction of the meter gauge line began in 1890 followed by a partial opening in 1892. Construction ended on 3 July 1911 and conceded to Sud-France. Lines from Nice stretched to Grasse, Puget-Théniers (opened in 1892), Digne (opened in 1911) and Annot. After World War II, the line to Meyrargues closed and almost took the entire network with it. The Chemins de Fer de Provence closed the Gare du Sud in December 1991 and moved its terminating services to Nice CP. On 5 November 1994 flooding of the river Var cut the line in several places and forced upon the line a total closure. A new bridge at Gueydan was built and the reopening of the line occurred on 12 April 1996. The remaining line is 151 kilometres (94 mi) long. It comprises 27 tunnels, including the 3,457-metre-long (11,342 ft) Tunnel de la Colle Saint-Michel. The exit of the tunnel, Dignes-side, is at an elevation of 1,023 metres (3,356 ft). The railway's terminus in Nice was until 1991 at Gare du Sud and since then Gare de Nice CP. The station is the terminus of a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) (metre gauge) railway from Digne-les-Bains. In Digne there was also a former railway line to Grenoble (standard gauge) operated by the SNCF. The SNCF had its own station building opposite the CP station. In Digne the former station of the CP is no longer used. The narrow gauge track and the ticket service are moved to the former SNCF station building. ## Accidents and incidents[edit] Main article: 2014 Chemins de Fer de Provence derailment On 8 February 2014, a passenger train was struck by a falling boulder near Annot and derailed. Two people were killed and nine injured. ## Current operations[edit] The railway line is not part of the Société nationale des chemins de fer (SNCF). It is owned by the Syndicat Mixte Méditerranée Alpes, SYMA, who received its concession for ninety-nine years in 1972. The SYMA is a grouping of several authorities (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Nice and Digne-les-Bains). It is presided by Gérard Piel, vice-président of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région and delegate of transport of Antibes. Service of the railway is assured by the CFTA, a subsidiary of Veolia Transport. The workforce numbers 135. ### Services[edit] Passenger service is provided between Nice and Digne-les-Bains as well as a more frequent urban service between Nice and Plan-du-Var. Steam trains are operated during the summer season between Puget-Théniers and Annot. A postal service is also operated. ### Maintenance[edit] The main workshop for maintenance and repairs is in Nice-Lingostière. There are additional facilities at Puget-Théniers. ## Rolling stock[edit] Currently the CP has the following rolling stock: ### Steam Locomotives[edit] No. | Wheels Arr. | Builders Details | Date Built | Date out of service | Notes. | | | | | E211 | 1B'C't | Henschell & Sohn | 1923 | In-service. | Ex-Portuguese National Railways locomotive. Works No. 19874 | ### Diesel Locomotives[edit] No. | Wheels Arr. | Builders Details | Date Built | Date out of service | Notes. | | | | | T61-T66 | Bo'Bo' | B et L[note 1] | 1950 | ? | T66 was acquired from the Swiss Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ). Only T62 and T66 are still in service. BB1200 | B'B' | Henschel | 1966 | - | Acquired second-hand from Spanish FEVE. Former FEVE-class 1400. Rebuilt by CFD. BB401, BB402 | B'B' | | 1962 | ? | Diesel locomotive. DU012, DU102 | B | Matisa | 1993 | - | Draisine 11 | B | | 1945 | ? | Shunter bought second hand from Chemin de Fer du Blanc-Argent (BA). 51 | D | | 1948 | ? | Shunter 490 | B | Berry | 1957 | ? | Shunter ### Diesel Railcars[edit] Railcar 212 in Nice Gare du Sud in 1983. Railcar X306 in Nice. No. | Wheels Arr. | Builders Details | Date Built | Date out of service | Notes. | | | | | 211-212 | | Billard | 1939 | ? | Design A150D. Bought from C.F.D. du Vivarias in 1968. Class X200. 223-224 | | Billard | 1939 | ? | Design A150D2. Bought from C.F.D. du Vivarias in 1968. ZM1+ZR1-ZM10+ZR10 | | B et L[note 1] | 1935 | ? | For the section from Toulon to St. Tropez and St. Raphael. Sold to a railway in Spain. ZM11+ZR11-ZM14+ZR14 | | B et L[note 1] | 1938 | ? | For the section from Toulon to St. Tropez and St. Raphael. Sold to a railway in Spain. X301-X304 | | CFD[note 2] | 1971-1972 | - | Numbered SY01-SY04 until 1984. X305-X306 | | CFD[note 2] | 1977 | - | Numbered SY05-SY06 until 1984. X307 | | ? | 1975 | ? | Acquired from Chemins de Fer de Corse (CFC) in 2009. Original number X2003. ZZ1-ZZ6 | | Renault | 1935 (1-2), 1936 (3-6) | ? | Class ABH1. ZZ2 and ZZ6 are still in service. Class X320. ZZ7-ZZ12 | | Renault | 1942 | ? | Class ABH5. X351+X1351 | | Soulé-Garnéro | 1984 | - | Withdrawn in 2008 after a fire, but completely reconstructed by Safra in 2012 and returned to service.[1] | | CFD-Bagnères | 2010 | - | 4 ordered trainsets (DMU-2). Type AMP 800. Identical to AMG 800 of CFC. Railcar XR1376 in station Nice-Lingostière. ### Passenger cars[edit] No. | Wheels Arr. | Builders Details | Date Built | Date out of service | Notes. | | | | | XR1331, XR1332 | | Billard | ? | | RL1-RL2 acquired in 1955. Design R210D2. XR1333 | | | ? | | RL3 acquired in 1959. XR1334, XR1335 | | | ? | | RL4-RL5 purchased from CFD du Tarn in 1964. XR1336, XR1337 | | | ? | | Rl6-RL7 were acquired from Vivarais in 1969. XR1341-XR1344 | | | 1912 | ? | Originally numbered as A521-A524, later renumbered in AT1-AT4. XR1371, XR1372 | | | 1948 | | Acquired from Appenzeller Bahn in 2004. XR1376 | | | | | Acquired from CJ. Hopper car F260 in station Nice-Lingostière. ### Freight cars[edit] No. | Wheels Arr. | Builders Details | Date Built | Date out of service | Notes. | | | | | D 273, D 61 | | | | | Closed car. E 216, 221, 223, 226, 230 | 2 | | | | Open car. F 259-263 | | | | | Maintenance ballast car. F 301-303 | | | | | Maintenance ballast car. G 205-214 | | | | | Closed car. K 233-238 | 2 | | | | Flat car. L 239-246 | | | | | Flat car. R 247-254, 257 | | | | | Flat car. U 265 | | | | | Special car. U 267-270 | | | | | Snow plough. Y 271 | | | | . | Special car. ## Notes and references[edit] Abbreviations: 1. ^ a b c B et L: Brissonneau et Lotz 2. ^ a b CFD: Compagnie de Chemins de Fer Départementaux Sources: 1. ^ Vieu, Bernard (July 2012). "De la route au rail, un défi pour la Safra". Rail Passion. Éditions La Vie du Rail (177): 68–71. ISSN 1261-3665. ## External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chemins de Fer de Provence. * Official Chemins de Fer de Provence site * Official site Le Groupe d'Etude pour les Chemin de fer de Provence (GECP) * v * t * e Heritage railways in France Open| * Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme * Chemin de Fer de La Mure * Chemin de Fer de Semur en Vallon * Chemin de Fer du Blanc-Argent * Chemin de fer du Vivarais * Chemins de Fer de Provence * Chemin de fer Touristique d'Anse * Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn * Froissy Dompierre Light Railway * Musée des tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires français * PontAuRail * Train Touristique du Cotentin * Tramway de Pithiviers à Toury Closed| * Réseau Guerlédan *[v]: View this template *[t]: Discuss this template *[e]: Edit this template