Ffestiniog Travel

Friday 7 September to Sunday 23 September 2012

Enjoy a unique opportunity to run your own railway; try your hand at driving, firing or being a guard during a day on the narrow gauge ‘CF de la Vallée de l’Ouche’. Further rail highlights include travel on three different gauges (60cm, metre and standard), in steam, diesel and electric trains, at speeds between 20kph and 300kph. Across France from the enigmatic estuaries of the Somme to the coastal charms of Nice, we take time to rest and enjoy the memorable towns of Beaune, Perpigan, St Valery, Alès and unforgettable Paris whilst appreciating the ingenuity of France’s railway engineers.

Day 1   By Eurostar to Paris

Depart London St Pancras on the Eurostar service to Paris, where we stay for 3 nights.

Day 2   AJECTA Museum at Longueville

The first of our fascinating excursions in France is a visit to the AJECTA Museum, a roundhouse completed in 1911 which now houses a collection of 14 steam locomotives and nearly 100 other items of rolling stock. We travel to Longueville, where the museum is situated, and back, by local train. Returning in the afternoon there is to relax and explore Paris.

Day 3   Tramway Pithiviers

This morning we take a 90-minute private coach journey to Pithiviers, a pivotal location for railway enthusiasts. Here we find the 60cm gauge Tramway de Pithiviers – Bellébat which includes the surviving portion of one of the first, and most extensive, Decauville railways, one of the earliest preserved railways in France. Although the round trip is only 8km long, the unique roadside running offers scope for some lineside photography and is a poignant reminder of the near 20,000km of secondary lines that were built to open up rural France. With an important collection of working steam locomotives as well as an excellent museum, there is plenty to explore in Pithiviers, or perhaps just take time to relax in a café and enjoy the local ‘patisserie’ by the same name.

Day 4   By Train from Paris to Beaune

A free day in Paris, explore or simply relax and soak up the ambience. We take a late afternoon departure by train to our next destination Beaune, a historic town where we stay for 3 nights.

Day 5   Run your own Railway

A truly memorable day, as once again our friends will open up the Chemin de Fer de la Vallée de l’Ouche for our sole use. Enjoyably, we can make several trips over the 60cm gauge line with steam and diesel engines, hauling passenger and goods trains. Bligny-sur-Ouche where the railway headquarters are situated is a serene Burgundy market town.

Day 6   Free Day in Beaune

A day at leisure to explore the charming town of Beaune. Once capital of the Dukedom of Burgundy, there are several remarkable late medieval buildings including the Hotel-Dieu, a “palace” built to provide care for the poor and needy. Guided tours (in English) of this beautiful town are available or tours of the Burgundy wine district are a firm favourite and worth investigating.

Day 7   Onwards to Nice

Departing Beaune by train, we continue our journey this morning to Nice, arriving mid to late afternoon for a stay of 4 nights.

Day 8   Free Day in Nice

Relax for the day on the French Riviera, in the chic and vibrant city of Nice. Stroll along the ‘Boulevard de Anglais’ admiring the ‘Belle Époque’ architecture, visit the Matisse museum or immerse yourself in the winding atmospheric lanes of the old town. The central market, adjacent to the sea and boulevard, is open every morning and is a wonderful place to visit for regional foods and wines.

Day 9   Train des Merveilles & Breil sur Roya

A wonderful day spent travelling leisurely by rail on a triangular return trip to Breil-sur-Roya where we visit a small railway museum. Our journey takes us across the Alps to Ventimiglia in Italy and via Limone. This scenic line takes us along the glorious Mediterranean coast and up the Roya valley into the Alps. An abundance of viaducts and tunnels create a backdrop to a thrilling journey, whilst in the upper Roya Valley near Tende, the train actually makes a couple of full 360-degree loops while in tunnels. Even with so many tunnels there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the stunning mountain, pastoral and coastal scenery.

Day 10   Steam train on the CF de Provence

Another interesting day as we depart from Nice’s narrow gauge terminus by railcar to Puget-Théniers. Here we travel on the regular Train de Pignes steam train returning from Annot by railcar to Nice.

Day 11   Alès

Time to relax during the morning; leaving Nice we travel on the renowned coastal line to Marseilles, travelling onwards on regional lines via Nimes to Alès in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Stay of 2 nights.

Day 12   Steaming through the Cévennes

A treat is in store today as, after a short coach journey to St. Jean du Gard, we ride on the Train à Vapeur des Cévennes to Anduze. This established standard gauge preserved line, displaying impressive civil engineering, could probably be classified as the best in France. We travel through evocative landscapes and charming rural stations on this enigmatic rail journey before returning by coach to Alès.

Day 13   Alès to Perpignan

We enjoy a leisurely morning in Alès before boarding our train to Perpignan, where we stay for two nights. At Perpignan station, look for a monument to Salvador Dali and intrigue at the importance of the arts to the town.

Day 14   Crossing the Pyrenees by Metre Gauge train

A wonderful day on the electric Petit Train Jaune (the Little Yellow Train) as we climb more than 4000ft into the Pyrenees.  Grades of 6%, 19 tunnels, a unique rail suspension bridge, and many distinctive viaducts take us via the valley of the Tet through the highest railway station in France. At the far end of the line we arrive at Latour-de-Carol, a rare tri-gauge station on the border with Spain. We return to Perpignan by the same route.

Day 15   St Valery sur Somme

Heading back north we travel by rail, via TGV to Haute Picardie, and onwards by coach to our hotel in St. Valery. Stay for 2 nights.

Day 16   Baie de Somme Railway

A full day to enjoy this charming railway that serves both sides of the Somme estuary with its profusion of wetland birds and plants. The railway is centred on St Valery sur Somme a delightful riverside fishing port and site of the main depot and works. We ride the train to Noyelles and on to Le Crotoy where there is time for a leisurely lunch before the return journey. The Junction at Noyelles has some dual gauge track, and the opportunity for photos of trains running side by side.

Day 17   Homeward Bound

We transfer to Abbeville for our journey home to London St. Pancras, via Boulogne and Calais Frethun.