Grenoble–Montmélian railway
A Z 24500 leaving Échirolles for Lyon
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerRFF
LocaleFrance (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
Termini
Service
SystemSNCF
Operator(s)SNCF
History
Opened1864
Technical
Line length52 km (32 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track[1]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV AC[2]
Route map

Position within France

Line from Chambéry
49.766
Montmélian
Line to Modane
River Isère
(153m)
A43
(70m)
46.844
Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac
River Bréda
(14m)
41.393
Pontcharra-sur-Bréda
to La Rochette
36.673
Le Cheylas-La Bussière
30.694
Goncelin
26.810
Tencin tunnel
(26m)
26.250
Tencin-Theys
20.029
Brignoud
16.473
Lancey
11.472
Domène tunnel
(18m)
11.018
Domène
6.852
141.998
Grenoble Universités-Gières
Rocade Sud (N87)
Eybens (Jeux Olympiques)
135.225
Échirolles
133.682
from Veynes and Gap
131.629
Abandoned route
0.000
130.538
Grenoble
to Lyon and Valence

The railway from Grenoble to Montmélian is a 52 km (32 mi) long railway in southeastern France. It was built by the PLM and opened on 15 September 1864 (as a double track) to provide a link between Grenoble and Montmélian.[3] In September 1991 it was electrified between Grenoble and Gières and electrification of the whole line was realised and in service by 15 December 2013.[4]

History

In the past, the line took a route more north, closer to the centre of Grenoble. However, as part of the city's preparations for the 1968 Winter Olympics, the route was moved south, next to the Rocade Sud. A station was opened at Eybens and was used to serve the nearby Olympic Village. This deviation added about 3 km (1.9 mi) to the total length of the track. So as not to have the laborious task of changing all the milestones along the route, this new section was given distances as if it were part of the Ligne de Lyon - Grenoble, all the while staying part of this line. A part of the old line still exists at 45°10′46.10″N 5°43′12.16″E / 45.1794722°N 5.7200444°E / 45.1794722; 5.7200444.

The end of electrification at Grenoble Universités-Gières until 2013

In an effort to make the line more profitable, the stations St Hélène du Lac, Le-Cheylas-la-Bussière, Tencin-Theys, Lancey and Domène were all closed to passenger traffic during the 1990s. Domène station stayed open in order to man the nearby factory slidings although trains do not stop. There is also a bus service between Goncelin and Le-Cheylas-la-Bussière. Lancey was reopened in 2005, something very exceptional in France. For this, the station was completely refurbished.[5]

See also

References

  1. "RFF - Network map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18.
  2. "RFF - Map of electrified railway lines" (PDF).
  3. "Grenoble-Montmélian". Rail 21. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  4. "Sillon Alpin Sud - Gières - Montmélian, modernisation et électrification" (in French). Sillon Alpin Sud. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  5. "Lancey : quand la Région réouvre une gare TER" (in French). 123Savoie.com. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
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