Tramway Tour of Northern and Western France
Sep. 4th until 18th, 2011

More new tramway systems have been opened in France during the last few years than in any other European country. While we were still able to visit all French tramways on a single two-week tour in 2002, we had to make it two this time. The second part takes us to the East, and to the South of the country in 2012, featuring all tramways, metros, and trolleybuses in this area.

Very individual, often futurist designs of the low-floor cars in each city create much variety, as the innovative new French technologies such as the APS wire-free contact system, automatic VAL people movers, "Tram-sur-pneus", and "Tram-train" do. But we also visit tramway museums, and see heritage trams. Railway enthusiasts get the chance to tour two spectacular narrow-gauge railways, and everybody gets a good idea of the country itself, its culture, and its people as we travel by train through the countryside, and stop at nearly all major cities of the region.

Tour Itinerary:

Saturday, Sep. 8th, 2012.
12:50 dep. from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof or 13.30 from Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof on a French TGV high speed train to Lyon. Hotel accommodation in Lyon.

Sunday, Sep. 9th, 2012.
Full day excursion by regional train to nearby Saint Etienne, one of only three French cities that have never closed their tramway systems. Nowadays it has been completely modernized, and extended, but it is still one of the country's only two metre-gauge tramways. Saint Etienne also has one of the last three trolleybus systems in France. We also visit the museum of the transport authority housing some historic trams and trolleybuses. Hotel accommodation in Lyon.

Monday, Sep. 10th, 2012.
There is a dispute between Lyon and Marseille, which is the larger of the two cities. Fact is that the city of Marseille has a few more inhabitants than Lyon, but Greater Lyon has the second largest population in France after Greater Paris - about 1.3 millions. Like most other French cities Lyon has closed down its "old-fashioned" tramway system in the 1950s, but has opened a new modern one in 2000, having grown to an extensive network of four routes with a total length of 58 km since then. The front of the Citadis trams here looks like a silkworm in memory of the cities great history as a centre of textile industries, and silk processing in particular. Additionally there is a new airport tram run by a different company using Stadler-Tango cars, and a new light rail system operated by the State Railways with dual-voltage trams ("Tram-train"). Hotel accommodation in Lyon.

Tuesday, Sep. 11th, 2012.
Another day trip by train takes us to Grenoble to another comparatively new tramway network meanwhile grown to four routes as well. There are great photo spots with trams, and the panorama of the Alps in the background. Hotel accommodation in Lyon.

Wednesday, Sep. 12th, 2012.
For two reasons we have chosen a tour coach to take us to Clermont-Ferrand (180 km), and back today: train connections are not very convenient, and a coach also gives us the opportunity to visit the nearby electric rack-railway climbing up Mount Puy de Dome. This brand-new line will open in Summer 2012, using Swiss technology. Clermont-Ferrand itself features a so-called "Tram-sur-pneus" of Translohr type, opened in 2006. The French call such systems "Tramways on rubber-tyres", and the four-section articulated vehicles look like modern light rail cars indeed. However, we would regard them as kind of guided trolleybuses because of the missing rails. Last night hotel accommodation in Lyon.

Thursday, Sep. 13, 2012.
Additionally to its extensive tramway network Lyon also operates the country's largest trolleybus system, a quite interesting metro including one rack-rail line, and two funiculars. To see all that, plus the Henri Malartre automobile museum also featuring some historic Lyon trams, we spend a second day in town. In the late afternoon we take a TGV train South to Montpellier on the Mediterranean Sea, and spend the night in a hotel there.

Friday, Sep. 14th, 2012.
The Montpellier tramway was also opened as recently as in 2000, and has become a great success. Routes 3 and 4 will just have been opened at the date of our visit, and the numbers of passengers exceed all expectations. The appearance of the Citadis trams is varied as each line has its own colourful livery. Short train ride on to Perpignan in late afternoon, and hotel accommodation there.

Saturday, Sep. 15th, 2012.
Today we ride a unique electric metre-gauge railway belonging to the State Railways. It is called "Metro of the Pyreneean Mountains" as it is fed by third rail. In the early morning we take a regional train to Villefranche, have a three-hour ride on the full length of the narrow-gauge line to Latour de Carol, and continue our journey on standard gauge to Toulouse where we spend the next night.

Sunday, Sep. 16th, 2012.
The city of Toulouse has built two lines of rubber-tyred automatic VAL Metro running mostly underground, before it opened its first tramway line with Citadis low-floor cars in 2010. In the late afternoon we take an express train to Marseille. Three nights hotel accommodation in Marseille.

Monday, Sep. 17th, 2012.
Marseille itself is not yet on our schedule today. A full-day excursion by train takes us along the Mediterranean coast to Nice instead. Since 2007 a new tramway is running there, traversing the beautiful Old Town without overhead wire, powered by the APS wire-free contact system. Hotel accommodation in Marseille.

Option: Rather than going back straight from Nice to Marseille, railway enthusiasts have the opportunity to tour a second extraordinary narrow-gauge line, the so-called "Train des Pignes" ("Train of Pinecones"), operated by Chemin de Fer de Provence. It is a long day as a oneway trip on the diesel railcar from Nice through the Southern Alps to Digne takes nearly four hours. As we have to charter a tour coach from Digne back to Marseille (arrival around 22:30 hrs.), the cost of this optional excursion is 50 € per person provided there are at least 15 participants. If you wish to participate, please make a note on your booking form!

Tuesday, Sep. 18th, 2012.
The city of Marseille is on today's schedule. It features a standard-gauge tramway dating back to the 19th century, but completely refurbished in recent years. As an exception, the vehicles have been provided by Bombardier rather than Alstom. To point out that Marseille is a big port, they have been designed to look like ships. There is also a metro running in Marseille. Hotel accommodation in Marseille.

Wednesday, Sep. 19th, 2012.
By train we go back North to Lyon, and further to Dijon. Afternoon visit to the country's newest tramway, not even three weeks in operation at the date of our visit. Short TGV ride to Mulhouse in late afternoon, and hotel accommodation there.

Thursday, Sep. 20th, 2012.
The tramway of Mulhouse has been opened in 2006. Since 2010 there is also a "Tram-train": dual-voltage Siemens Avanto light rail cars run both on a railway line, and on city centre tramway tracks. Railway enthusiasts should take their time for an individual visit to the official French railway museum. Short ride by regional train on to Strasbourg, and hotel accommodation there.

Friday, Sep. 21st, 2012.
The new tramway of Strasbourg, opened in 1994, is another great success. The network has grown to no less than six routes meanwhile, and has by far become the main means of public transportation in town. The whole day is dedicated to this extensive system operated by futurist-looking Socimi, Bombardier, and Alstom cars. Hotel accommodation in Strasbourg.

Saturday, Sep. 22nd, 2012.
The last city to be visited on this tour is Nancy, a 1 1/2 hour ride away on a regional train. Here we find another "Tram on rubber tyres" with Bombardier technology different from that used in Clemont-Ferrand. Afternoon return to Strasbourg. There we take a TGV train back to Karlsruhe where our tours ends at 18:30 hrs. If it is more convenient for you, you may continue on the same train to Stuttgart, Ulm. Augsburg, or Munich. Please state your chosen cities of departure, and of arrival on the booking form to enable us to make the right seat reservations for you.

The Tour Price includes:

* 2nd class rail travel from and to Karlsruhe or Stuttgart as per itinerary *).
* 14 nights accommodation with breakfast at good, centrally located hotels, twin rooms with private facilities.
* Tramway, trolleybus, metro, and museum visits as per itinerary, including entrance fees and charter coaches as far as necessary.
* Day Passes for all transit systems visited.
* English speaking tour guide.

Our programme in each city usually comprises an official reception, and depot visit. After that you have sufficient time to tour, and to photograph the network on your own, using your day pass. Tramway charters normally do not make sense in France as the modern systems do not have any types of cars other than those in regular service.

*) Notice: You have the choice to join the tour at Karlsruhe or Stuttgart, and to leave at Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg, or Munich with no price difference. Please state your chosen station of departure, and of arrival on your booking form to enable us to make the right seat reservations for you.

If you wish to book the optional ride on the "Train of Pinecones" on Sep. 17th, please also make a note on your booking form (extra cost 50 € per person).

Tour Price:

€ 1,850 per person. Single room supplement € 530. As on all our tours, individual participants wishing to save their money are welcome to book a shared twin. We are sure to find an English-speaking roommate for you.

A connecting 2nd class return ticket from any DB station (including all border stations) to the station where you join the group, and back costs € 110.00 per person additionally. It is valid on all trains including ICE. If you wish to book it, please state your chosen station of departure, and arrival on your tour booking form! Please care about your seat reservations yourself, if required.

Regulations of Immigration.
France is a member of the European Union. EU citizens just need a valid Identity Card or Passport for this tour.

Tour guide: Thomas E. Fischer.

Booking Deadline Date: June 25th, 2012.

Minimum number of participants required to let this tour go: 30.

Would you like to book this tour? Click here for our online booking form!