‘Tourist Railways’ in France |
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To better understand the scope of this article I should first define a ‘tourist railway.’ In my opinion, the term tourist railway does not adequately explain a railway's function. After all, most railways have had a tourist dimension since the earliest days. Admittedly, the St. Étienne–Andrézieux line (Loire) was designed for industrial use, but the other end of the scale is represented by the Paris–St. Germain line, which opened in 1838 as the first railway meant almost exclusively for leisure travel and Sunday outings by Parisians. There are two basic elements underlying the term tourist railway: tourism, and history. Although most passengers on a tourist train are tourists, the history of rail transport—experienced through vintage rolling stock—is another important drawing card. A tourist railway helps travellers discover a tourist site and experience the vintage rolling stock and period atmosphere. Both aspects are attractions and maximum impact is achieved when both are present at the same time. Consequently, in France, there is a necessity to develop terms implying ‘vintage railway’ or ‘museum line,’ which exist in other languages. |
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Photo: Vermandois Tourist Railway excursion train composed of North Express vintage coaches hauled by 140 C 314 (2-8-0) on SNCF tracks at Villers-Cotterets between St-Quentin and Paris (Author) |
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Social Initiative with Multiple Goals |
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Since 1957, volunteers have come to play the major role in promoting tourist and vintage railways. In addition, the role of commercial interests, which was strong right from the beginning of rail travel, has remained strong and has sometimes grown. There is no contradiction between these two interest groups—some operations such as those of le Vivarais have even managed to combine them. In France, the movement to promote tourist and heritage railways initially focused on vintage rail operations in mountain areas. Volunteers came on the scene around 1960, often in association with the French Federation of Friends of Local Railways (FACS). This was at a time when some secondary railways were experiencing difficulties—in some cases, the objective of the volunteer groups was to save lines from closure. The course set around 1960 made change a possibility and this change led to operations resuming as a tourist attraction. In 1982, the regular tracks and secondary network of the French National Railways (SNCF) attracted a new wave of conservationists, some of whom were SNCF personnel who had generally not shown much prior interest in the ‘little trains.’ Regulations introduced by SNCF requiring the support of local communities also created a wave of ‘electoral’ railways that met with varying degrees of success. Since the rolling stock belonging to societies operating on SNCF tracks also includes special trains organized by railway preservation groups, I shall also discuss these tourist and heritage railways in this article. Even today, the majority of excursion and vintage railways are operated by non-profit societies. Their goals are twofold—to help the public discover unusual places, and to preserve vintage rolling stock and equipment. Their efforts make it possible to still travel today on a train hauled by a Pacific-class steam loco, or in coaches with side doors. Tourist trains have a seasonal nature. They are not intended to offer travel from point A to B, but rather to take people on a return journey to some memorable place. Recreation-park trains do not belong in this category, so they are not covered by the newly signed National Charter for Development of Tourist and Historic Railways (see pp. 35–37). |
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Economic Data |
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Although most excursion trains are operated by non-profit societies, some 60 tourist lines employ more than 250 persons on a full-time basis and have created at least as many indirect jobs. During the tourist season, almost 3000 people (including volunteers) are engaged in service of tourist trains. The 57 tourist and heritage lines in France carry more than 2 million people a year and enjoy sales totalling nearly 10 million. They play an important role in development of local tourism.
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Safeguarding Heritage and Transportation Knowledge |
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Tourist and heritage trains operate on tracks of all gauges using rolling stock sometimes dating from the 19th century (1870 for the oldest French locomotive). Track lengths run from 1.5 to 70 km and carry steam locomotives, coaches, railcars, gang cars, etc. The best examples of rolling stock on tourist lines have been classified by the government as historic properties since 1981. The diversity and large number of existing vintage rolling stock encouraged official support that reflected a willingness to provide vintage operations with the means to meet future challenges. Buildings and infrastructure (stations, sheds, bridges, etc.) have also been classified as historic properties, because a railway is a complete system. Just designating a locomotive as a historic property would be a half measure, and would only show how a steam engine is stoked to pull a train. France even proposed designating the Cerdagne Line in the Pyrénées as a Cultural Property on UNESCO's World Heritage List! Maintaining infrastructure and rolling stock in working order makes it possible to preserve old but exceptional expertise and techniques, some of which go back to the earliest days of rail travel. These assets can help us understand today's technologies. |
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Photo: SNCF's meter-gauge Cerdagne Line in the Pyrénées with famous suspension bridge designed by Albert Gisclard. (EJRCF) |
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Steps for Future Success |
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Current limits on tourist railway movement
We must guarantee a strong future for all activities of tourist railways, ensuring that they continue to enjoy the legitimacy and recognition patiently acquired during 40 years of operation. Partnership with local communities is inescapable for development and for longevity. These development conditions have led FACS and the Union of Tourist Railway Operators (UNECTO) to seek new members from among decision-makers and government authorities, and to develop a win-win partnership with them. Of course, these goals can only be accomplished if transportation safety standards are consistently high. Transportation safety is an area in which agreements and arbitrary decisions do not provide the best background for long-term development.
What does the future hold?
By adopting this Charter, one aim of which is to professionalize tourist railways' activities (about which we are very serious) to ensure service quality, tourist and vintage trains will provide even greater opportunities for development of tourism and employment in many rural areas. |
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Photo: Decauville 020 (0-4-0) steam engine with home-made tender on narrow-gauge ARVO Railway in Burgundy rebuilt on abandoned standard gauge railway (Author) |
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Charter Objectives |
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The Charter signed on 15 February 2001 promotes the development of tourist railways in France, the world's most popular tourist destination and a country with an extensive railway network.
However, the Charter does not cover excursion trains with vintage steam engines on national lines, although many pieces of rolling stock competing for the same tourist trade on the national network have already been classified as historic properties and are in use in regular tourist operations. SNCF and FACS-UNECTO signed a supplementary agreement in this regard in April 2001. Nor does the Charter cover so-called ‘marginal’ activities, such as those of trains operated by recreation parks, and museums that do not have lines in operation. |
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Clarification of Relationships between Partners |
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The start of tourist train operations has been done on a case-by-case basis since the end of the 1950s. Each request was dealt with according to the conditions of the time and location of the proposed service. This case-by-case approval has led to a great disparity in operating methods, although safety has never been called into question. One objective of the Charter is to progressively codify relationships between SNCF, RFF and tourist railway operators.
Increased professionalism for better services
Preservation of vintage knowledge |
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Safety |
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The safety of railway users and personnel is always a priority. Written SNCF guidelines have existed since 1982 to provide a framework of safety regulations for groups using the national rail network. Since the previous SNCF guidelines were incomplete and technically questionable, new guidelines will be issued for groups operating outside the national rail network. The national government has the power to establish safety regulations and control technical aspects of the transportation industry. Similarly, it is responsible for monitoring the implementation of these regulations and controlling their application. Tourist trains running on the national rail network are subject to SNCF operating and safety regulations that have been approved by the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing, Mr Jean-Claude Gayssot. Trains running on rail lines belonging to local communities fall under the jurisdiction of departmental prefects who are also responsible for taking measures to ensure traffic safety on private lines by issuing edicts. Specifically, inspections cover level crossings, infrastructure, track, and implementation of operating and maintenance regulations for infrastructure and rolling stock. The Charter allows the government to determine safety guidelines for tourist railway operations on sections of the national rail network based on proposals by RFF and SNCF after consultation with FACS-UNECTO. The guidelines cover infrastructure, rolling stock and operating conditions, as well as certification procedures to be followed by all operators, whether or not they are members of FACS-UNECTO. |
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Photo: Diesel railcars or locos also work trains on the Seudre Tourist Railway on the scenic French Atlantic coast (Author) Photo: Meter-gauge 030T Corpet steam loco returned to mint condition at Valmondois Railway Museum near Paris (Musée des Tramways à Vapeur et Secondaires) Photo: Unusual 50-cm gauge Tarn Tourist Railway with Decauville 030 T (0-6-0 T) rebuilt on site of abandoned local 60-cm gauge railway (Chemin de fer touristique du Tarn) Photo: Splendid wooden electric loco on La Rhune meter-gauge rack-and-pinion track near Biarritz (Author) |
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Promotion and Improvement of Lines |
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Tourist information will be improved both in France and overseas. A brochure will be compiled and made available overseas through the French Government Tourist Office, established to promote France as a destination for travellers from other countries. The Office has an Economic Interest Group to achieve the aims of the national government, local communities and tourism professionals working together as partners. SNCF and RFF will play an essential role in promotion and development of tourist services. If a request for line availability is made from a non-profit society, RFF is committed to examining the request favourably and to consider setting advantageous fee conditions. During the tourist season, SNCF will form partnerships with relevant communities in order to inform travellers of services to important tourist and cultural sites. In addition, SNCF, RFF, FACS-UNECTO and the French Government Tourist Office will create links between their Internet sites in order to facilitate access to information on tourist trains. |
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Conclusion |
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The Charter achieves of a common goal between French institutions and FACS-UNECTO, and offers a strong impetus to continue our operations. It commits FACS-UNECTO to a new role of adviser and representative, bringing it closer to the status of a professional association. This necessitates establishment of an organization that can prepare and implement action plans.
The Charter represents an important step towards preservation of vintage railway technologies and makes it possible to establish bases for increased cooperation between volunteers, decision-makers, and local communities in France. However, it is not a guarantee of success, because the most important tasks still remain to be done. But the Charter certainly offers a means for strong development of tourist and vintage railways based on transportation safety, which is fundamental to all railway operations. |
This article was first presented at the international conference ‘Slow Train Coming: Heritage Railways in the 21st Century,’ held in York in September 2001. |
Frédéric Dufetrelle Mr Dufetrelle is administrator and treasurer of FACS-UNECTO and webmaster of www.trains-fr.org and www.railtourisme.info. He was editor of Chemins de Fer Régionaux et urbains from 1993 to 2000. He is Data Processing Division Manager at SNCF. |