Tourist trains in Languedoc Roussillon

The Little Yellow Train of Cerdagne, The Cévennes steam railway and Cathar Country by train...

Tourist Trains -Train Tours France

The Cévennes steam railway

This steam train chugs along the tourist line from Anduze to Saint Jean du Gard: a nine-mile journey along the Gardon Gorge, with a stop at the bamboo plantation at Anduze. The history of this line goes back to 1881, the period when the Cévennessilk-production was at its height.

The first section to be opened ran from Lézan, on the Alès-Montpellier line, as far as Anduze. in 1909, the Steam Railway was going up to Saint-Jean-du-Gard. The steep landscape of the Cévennes made the work especially costly. There were four tunnels, five viaducts, a large metal bridge and many holding walls for only nine miles of track. It was very little used, because the number of goods trains on the line was dramatically reduced in 1940 due to economy measures. The line closed for good in 1971.

However, with the help of railway enthusiasts, The Cevennes Steam Railway started up again as a tourist attraction. Website

Cathar Country by train

Now that the Cathar Country and Fenouillèdes Tourist Train has opened, the glorious countryside of Cathar Country and Fenouillèdes is there for all to see. From the end of April until the end of October, this train connects Rivesaltes, the Muscatel capital of France, with Saint-Martin-Lys, via Axat.

During your Train Journey from the sea to the mountains, you will discover hidden valleys, vineyards and forests, and travel across rivers on centuries old viaducts. Website

The Little Yellow Train of Cerdagne

With its red and gold livery, the Yellow Train is a true symbol of the Catalan region. It has journeyed through Cerdagne all year round for the past 90 years.

Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the aim of the Yellow Train line was to link the high Catalan plains with the rest of the region. The first section was completed in 1910 and linked Villefranche with Mont Louis. But the line wasn’t completed until 1927, when it reached Latour de Carol.

The train’s route takes it through very hilly landscape, so a great deal of engineering work was needed. There were 650 engineering works along the route, including 19 tunnels and two remarkable bridges: the Séjourné viaduct and the Gisclard suspension bridge, which allow the Yellow Train to make light work of the 44-mile climb. Website