France (Auvergne Rhône Alpes) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Obscure Services

Racc de St.Germain-des-Fossés

[ERT 328, fiche 06 Lyon - Clermond-Ferrand] (ERA-E 32A1; ERA-R 75A4) FR23/451

The line from Lyon via Roanne makes a triangular junction with the Paris to Clermont-Ferrand main line south of St.Germain-des-Fossés station. The south-facing curve is used by TER services between Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand via Vichy.

St.Germain-des-Fossés - Roanne

[ERT 290, fiche 06 Lyon - Clermont-Ferrand] (ERA-E 32A1; ERA-R 75A4) FR23/452

This east to north curve is used by Intercités trains between Lyon and St Germain-des-Fossés. This used to be the main line to Roanne, but after the east to south curve was built the service on the this curve has reduced considerably.

		IC4504	09:20 Lyon Perrache - Nantes
		IC4504	11:47 Lyon Perrache - Nantes
		IC4506	15:32 Lyon Perrache - Nantes
		IC4402	Nantes - 11:27 St Germain-des-Fossés - Lyon Perrache
		IC4404	Nantes - 16:42 St Germain-des-Fossés - Lyon Perrache
		IC4406	Nantes - 19:36 St Germain-des-Fossés - Lyon Perrache

Ambérieu avoiding line: Ambronay-Priay – Torcieu

[ERT 341] (ERA-E 32B3; ERA-R 75C3) FR23/453

Used by TGVs between Bourg-en-Bresse and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard. Services between Paris and Chambéry not calling at Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard can be expected to run via Lyon St Exupéry and not use this route.

Culoz avoiding line: Seyssel-Corbonod – Vions-Chanaz (Bifurcation de Chambéry

[ERT 364, fiche 51 Chambéry - Genève] (ERA-E 32B3; ERA-R 76A3) FR23/454

Used by trains between Bellegarde and Aix-les-Bains-Le Revard not scheduled to call at Culoz.

The few trains between Bellegarde and Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard scheduled to call at Culoz reverse in platform C and use a connection from that platform towards Bellegarde. Culoz platforms A and B (the normal platforms for Bellegarde trains) are some distance away from platforms C/D/E. The connection from platform C towards Bellegarde is therefore some distance away from the line through platforms A and B towards Bellegarde. Some people may consider these as being two separate routes.

Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions

Rhône West Bank (Rive Droite) line: Givors Canal – Nîmes (Poste 1) and branches

[the southern portion of this line is in Occitanie region]

[fiche 05] (ERA-E 32B2-33A2; ERA-R 75C2-79B4) FR471

This line runs parallel with the Lyon to Montpellier main line between Givors and Nîmes, though mostly on the opposite bank of the River Rhône, principally as a freight and diversionary route. There are intermediate links between the two routes at St.Rambert d'Albon, Livron and Avignon Centre.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

A local passenger service between Avignon Centre and Pont St Esprit (between Avignon and Le Teil) started on 29 August 2022, following an opening event and special services on 28 August.

The line is used fairly regularly by passenger trains diverted for engineering work, although few passenger trains run the full length of the West Bank line. Diverted trains may call at St.Péray and/or Le Teil on the West Bank line, instead of Valence and Montélimar, respectively. It is often possible to deduce diversions from St.Péray and Le Teil stops and from omission of regular stops on the main line.

For such diversions, readers should check by means of the TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes website, fiche 05 and its associated engineering work notices.