Home > Railways > Countries > Tech Info > Europe > France

Railway Technical Info - France

Information on this page is subject to the disclaimer. For details of information presented, see the Tech Info index.

National

SystemTypeTrack RouteElectrification Comment
SNCF: high-speed linesheavy railstandardLH25kV 50Hz AC overhead 
SNCF: main systemheavy railstandardLH pref. (see below for exceptions)25kV 50Hz AC / 1500V DC overhead (see below) 

SNCF Rule of the Road
This is LH, except for lines in Alsace-Lorraine, which are RH.

SNCF Electrification
Lines north of Paris (radiating from Paris Est, Nord and St. Lazare stations), and all LGV lines, are electrified at 25kV 50Hz AC. Lines south of Paris (radiating from Paris Montparnasse, Austerlitz and Lyon stations) are mostly electrified at 1500V DC, but certain lines electrified recently (e.g. Marseille - Nice - Ventimiglia) are also at 25kV 50Hz AC.

Regional and rural systems

SystemTypeTrackRouteElectrification Comment
SNCF: Ligne du Blanc-Argentlight railmetren/a?none 
SNCF: Ligne de la Cerdagnelight railmetren/a850V DC 3rd rail 
SNCF: Ligne de Savoielight railmetren/a830V DC 3rd railsome cross-border through working with [CH] Martigny-Châtelard
Chemin de Fer de la Provencelight railmetren/anone 
Chemin de Fer de Chamonix au Montenverslight railmetre, Strub rackn/a11kV 50Hz AC overhead 
Tramway du Mont Blanclight railmetre, Strub rackn/a11kV 50Hz AC overhead 
Chemins de Fer Corses {Corsica}light railmetren/anoneoperated by SNCF

Paris area

SystemTypeTrackRouteElectrification Comment
Paris metro: 'MF' linesmetrostandardRH750V DC 3rd rail'MF' = 'matériel fer'
Paris metro: 'MP' linesmetro'MP' (see below)RH750V DC 3rd rail'MP' = 'matériel pneu'; lines 1, 4, 6, 11, 14
Paris tramslight railstandardRH, stubs750V DC overhead 

Lyon area

SystemTypeTrackRouteElectrification Comment
Lyon metro - line Cmetrostandard, rackLH? 3rd rail 
Lyon metro - lines A, B, Dmetro'MP'? (see below)LH? 3rd rail 
Lyon tramstramstandardRH? overhead 

Other urban systems

SystemTypeTrackRouteElectrification Comment
Bordeaux tramstrammetreRH?? overhead 
Grenoble tramstramstandardRH, stubs? overhead 
Lille metrometroVAL (see below)RH?? 3rd rail 
Lille trams ("Le Mongy")trammetreRH, stubs? overhead 
Marseille metrometro'MP'? (see below)?? 3rd rail 
Marseille tramstramstandardRH? overhead 
Montpellier tramstramstandardRH? overhead 
Mulhouse tramstramstandardRH? overhead 
Nantes tramstramstandardRH? overhead 
Orléans tramstramstandardRH? overhead 
Rennes metrometroVAL (see below)?? 3rd rail 
Rouen tramstramstandardRH, stubs? overhead 
St. Étienne tramstrammetreRH? overhead 
Strasbourg tramstramstandardRH, stubs? overhead 
Toulouse metrometroVAL (see below)?? 3rd rail 
Valenciennes tramstramstandardRH, stubs? overhead 

French rubber-tyred metros:
There are two types:

Paris 'MP'
This comprises, on each bogie, steel wheels running on steel rails, vertically-mounted rubber-tyred wheels (for traction) running on concrete or steel bearing beams, and horizontally mounted rubber-tyred wheels (for guidance) running in contact with vertical guide bars, which are also the power rails. The steel wheels make contact with the rails on pointwork (where the bearing beams are lowered) and if a tyre deflates.
VAL
This is a purely rubber-tyred system; the wheels and track are similar to the 'MP' system with the steel wheels and rails removed. Guidance of trains at points is achieved using vertical blades on the bogies and movable deflectors in the "track".

Links

This page is copyright © of and maintained by Mark Waller
Last update: 2011-05-26 12:54