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) FR25/451

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) FR25/452

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 this curve has reduced considerably.

		IC4502	Lyon Perrache - 10:42 Roanne - Nantes
		IC4504	Lyon Perrache - 13:12 Roanne - Nantes
		IC4506	Lyon Perrache - 16:13 Roanne - Nantes
		IC4402	Nantes - 11:19 St Germain-des-Fossés - Lyon Perrache
		IC4404	Nantes - 16:40 St Germain-des-Fossés - Lyon Perrache
		IC4406	Nantes - 19:42 St Germain-des-Fossés - Lyon Perrache

Ambérieu avoiding line: Ambronay-Priay – Torcieu

[ERT 341] (ERA-E 32B3; ERA-R 75C3) FR25/453

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) FR25/454

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

See the next entry for a map.

Culoz Platform C to Bellegarde line

[ERT 364, fiche 51 Chambéry - Genève] (ERA-E 32B3; ERA-R 76A3) FR25/455

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 using an 'inside curve'.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

		TER 96646	Genève-Cornavin - 17:12 Bellegarde - Chambery
		TER 96648	Genève-Cornavin - 19:11 Bellegarde - Chambery
D1	SSuX	TER 96601	Chambery - 06:09 Aix-les-Bains-Le Revard - Genève-Cornavin

Note D1:- SSuX plus 1,8 May 2025

Raccordement de Montmélian

[ERT Not shown] (ERA-E 32B3; ERA-R 76A2) FR25/456

This south to east curve allows trains from Grenoble to avoid Montmélian and proceed directly towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice or Modane. The curve is used in the 2024-25 winter sports season by a OUIGO train pair. Similar trains routed via Grenoble may also use the Raccordement.

D1		OGV 7891	10:42 Paris Gare de Lyon – 13:55/56 Grenoble – Bourg-Saint-Maurice
D2		OGV 7894	17:30 Bourg-Saint-Maurice 18:50 Albertville - Paris Gare de Lyon

Note D1: 21 December 2024 to 28 March 2025, Not 20,25 December, 1 January 2025, 27 January to 6 February 2025
Note D2: SSuO 21 December 2024 to 30 March 2025, SSuX 19 December 2024 to 21 April 2025, not 25 December, 30 December 2024 to 3 January 2025.

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) FR25/471

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.
See Villeneuve-lès-Avignon – Remoulins - Nîmes for any use of the Villeneuve-lès-Avignon – Remoulins - Nîmes line.

For such diversions, readers should check by means of the TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes website, fiche 05 and its associated engineering work notices. There are none shown in the fiche for the period 15 December 2024 to 12 July 2025, but this can change at short notice.

February 24 to 28, the 19:20 Lyon PD to Avignon is diverted south of Valence, calling additionally at La Teil.