Le Train Jaune, The Little Yellow Train by Eurostar

If you fancy a day trip from Perpignan you could take the open top Train Jaune up into the Pyrenees and enjoy the stunning views and the fresh, pine-scented, mountain air.

The Cerdagne line, better known as “Le Train Jaune (El Tren Groc)” owing to the livery applied on its rolling-stock, was opened in stages by Compagnie du Midi from 1910 until 1927.
Under the Nationalisation Act 1937, SNCF took this line over on 01/01/1938. Operation remains entrusted to SNCF, with regional passenger services part of the TER Languedoc-Roussillon network. Freight traffic ceased in 1974. Infrastructure passed to RFF in 1997.
This line features steep gradients (up to 6%) and tight curves, while it serves the highest station in France (Bolquère-Eyne, 1592m). Long-term projects include a diversion through the Spanish enclave of Llívia and to Puigcerdà (Spain), along with an extension to La Seu d’Urgell (Spain) and possibly Andorra-la-Vella (Andorra).

Pyrenees (Petit Train Jaune)

Perpignan today is primarily a place of arrivals and departures, with access, via its station, to the highest railway line in Europe, Le Petit Train Jaune. The train makes regular, year-round, trips onto the Cerdagne, the high mountain region near the Spanish border.

What is the highest train ride in France? The charming Yellow Train in the French Pyrenees or “Le Train Jaune” as they say in French. The Yellow Train is not just a tourist train, but a regular train that has been running for over 100 years.

The Yellow Train is perfect for family travel to explore the Pyrenees. We loved the colorful conductor and these ladies dressed as they would be if they took the train when it began.

When we stayed in beautiful Colliore we did this as a day trip via train and took this unique Yellow train from Villefranche de Conflent to the Unesco World Heritage Site, Mont-Louis which was built by the famous French architect, Vauban.

Unesco World Heritage Site Villefranche de Conflent is a gorgeous medieval village with charming stone houses and the views are are quite spectacular during the ride in this train with it’s bright Catalan colors with some open topped cars. A perfect day trip to escape the heat and enjoy nature, small villages and the charms of yesteryear.

Villefranche de Conflent

Andorra to Perpignan: ‘Le petit train jaune…’

If you don’t mind paying for a taxi between Andorra and Latour de Carol (the bus service was withdrawn in 2005), the scenic narrow gauge ‘petit train jaune’ runs from Latour de Carol through the Pyrenees twice-daily in winter, much more frequently in summer, connecting with a standard gauge service at Villefranche at the eastern end of the line into Perpignan. This makes for a very scenic and interesting alternative route into/out of Andorra. The ‘petit train jaune’ is run by the French national train operator SNCF, so train times, fares and online ticketing for the petit train jaune can all be done through the SNCF website, www.voyages-sncf.com or www.tgv-europe.com. For info of the Petit Train Jaune, see www.trains-touristiques.sncf.com/region.asp?menu=1&train=jaune&lang=fr. For train times between London and Perpignan, see the London to France page.

The Petit Train Jaune from Perpignan/Villefranche to Latour de Carol…

Le Petit Train Jaune

This remarkable yellow train on a one metre gauge can be joined at Villefranche. It then takes you up to Latour de Carol via the highest station in France at 1600 metres (5250 feet).

Location: The Petit Train Jaune runs between Villefrance-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol. Best approached from Perpignan via the N116.

General Info: Tel Enquiries: 08 92 35 35 35. €34 Euros return fare for the whole 63km. Shorter routes are possible (see the SNCF website for details). The SNCF (French Railways) official Train Jaune web site.
Description: The “Petit Train Jaune de la Cerdagne” runs along a 63km route, climbing steeply from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Bolquère and then crossing the plateau of the Cerdagne to Latour-de-Carol. Bolquere is the highest station in France at 1593m
Our recommendations: Although expensive for a family, there is some dramatic scenery here. The cost can be managed if you don’t go all the way. The best scenery is towards the Mediterranean.
For the children: 63km is a long way to sit on a train – don’t travel the whole distance and have a break part way along to make a day of it.

True symbol of the Languedoc-Roussillon, the colors red and gold, the yellow train TER travels throughout the year this territory for over 100 years.

The train trip, especially in open carriages, actually looks like a panoramic film, punctuated by swinging car halfway up the steep slopes of the valley of the Tet, the train then crosses the vacuum tu smooth bucolic open spaces at the foot of Canigou, the Cambre d’Aze, Carlit and Puigmal, with the distance the silhouette of the Serra del Cadi.
At the bend of a curve, we see a village or a Romanesque church, one guesses the entrance narrow valleys of Upper Conflent available only to hikers, winter is discovered hanging from the ski slopes of Cerdagne.
The yellow train is considered one of the Catalan heritage since it has non-standard features. This is the first railway line the highest in France (without rack) with station-Bolquère Eyne which rises to 1592 meters, a vertical drop of 1165 meters from the station of Villefranche (427 meters). Slopes up to 60% over a significant portion of the trail to track very sinuous curves which allow a very tight low-speed traffic.
Finally, the yellow train passes through a rich heritage with the Regional Natural Park of Pyrénées Orientales which it is the major axis. It also ensures the connection between two sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, Villefranche de Conflent and Mont-Louis, known worldwide for their fortifications built by Vauban.
Recognized as serving the public service, the yellow train line is also included links TER under agreement by the Regional Council. This is the only railroad that connects the Cerdagne to the plain of Roussillon, contributing to the opening of this region.
Despite its 100 years, the railway, electricity from its origin, is perfectly in line with modern transportation and environmentally friendly.

This train is a real adventure. and free of any supplements.

For details of the train schedule: train-schedules-europe-t1025.html
fill in Latour de Carol-Enveitg and Villefranche Vernet les Bains
the real train connection starts at the end of May with at least 5 connections per day. Train times London ? Andorra

Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 16:22 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 19:47. Cross Paris by métro to the Gare d’Austerlitz.
Travel from Paris to l’Hospitalet près l’Andorre overnight by ‘Lunéa’ sleeper train, leaving Paris (Gare d’Austerlitz) at 21:56 and arriving at l’Hospitalet at 07:20. This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes and 2nd class reclining seats. It does not run on 24 or 31 December. It can sometimes be affected by engineering works, so check the service for your date of travel using www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.

A daily bus service connects with the train, leaving L’Hospitalet station forecourt at 07:35 for Pas de la Casa (arriving 08:15), Soldeu (08:40), Encamp, and Andorra La Vella, arriving 09:05. It’s a very scenic ride through the Pyrenees – try and get the front seats for the best views. The bus is operated by La Hispano Andorrana SL, www.andorrabus.com. Subject to cancellation when the mountain passes are blocked by snow!

You do need to book. We went to the Villefranche de Conflent station and were turned away because the train was full. I think we arrived about 1 hour early and it was too late.

Here’s the official website which has the times:

trainstouristiques-ter.com/train_jaune.htm

This site has some info also:

http://www.countrycousins.co.uk/yelltren.htm

Note: The Villefranche station is not in the town but a minute or two down the highway.

The trip takes approx. 3 hours one way so you can do it in one day.

Villefranche : departure 9.05 am

Latour de Carol : arrival 11.52 am

Latour de Carol : departure 3.27 pm and 4.20 pm

Villefranche : arrival 6.27 ap and 7.08 pm

Of course you can get off where you want provided you have a return ticket. But I do not see the point in doing so, most of the stations are in very small villages where there is not much to see. What is interesting about the ride is the view, especially after Fontpedrouse.

Gare du Nord map for Paris breaks

Of course these onward journey points are all well signposted at the station itself but it dosn’t do any harm to reassure yourself you know where you are going especially if it’s your first Paris break from the UK.

Here’s a brief introduction to Eurostar Deals for those unfamiliar with the international high speed rail service.

What are eurostar deals?

The Eurostar fast train service under the English channel is one of the most famous railway journeys in the world, joining the world capital cities of London and Paris from city centre to city centre. Launched in 1994, the prestigious Eurostar trains have helped to make journeys quicker and more convenient for buisness and leisure passengers, when compared with the traditional ferry crossing or short haul air flights. Eurostar deals are best value travel packages with inclusive return tickets for the Eurostar train and an optional hotel stay for two or more people.

Air travel versus the Eurostar train

There are several advantages of the Eurostar over air routes

* city centre terminals
* fast check in and boarding
* less inconvenient security measures
* less environmental impact

Current deals

Eurostar Deals from London can include a central Paris Hotel with a return rail fare for a reasonable price provided two people are traveling and staying together and sometimes there is a stipulation that you have to stay over a Saturday night. So weekend eurostar deals are particularly worth looking out for.

Connecting to Other Mainline Stations in Paris

Arriving at Gare du Nord, the other mainline stations are all within easy reach but you should allow an hour to get to Montparnasse, forty minutes for Gare de Lyon and Orleans, a bit less for St Lazare and Gare de l’Est. The Paris metro is very frequent and efficient but if you are more used to the London Underground then it’s important to realise that the metro stations are closer together, so a journey of just a couple of miles will comprise of more stops, and therefore take a little longer than in London, but this is balanced out by the fact that the lines are not so deep underground, being mostly cut and cover tunnels, so there are not so many steps corridors and escalators to navigate except in the biggest interchange stations such as Montparnasse and Chatelet.

The RER metro service also runs from Gare du Nord providing a faster journey but to less destinations.

Non stopping Eurostar Deals to France bypassing Paris

Paris is wonderful to visit as often as possible and it’s great that you can get eurostar deals for short breaks weekends or even day trips but the eurostar can also be used for getting further into France quickly. It’s always been possible to combine a eurostar ticket to Paris with a TGV journey from one of the other Paris terminal stations to somewhere further down. I used to catch one to La Rochelle on the West coast, but this generally meant allowing a full day for the journey. Now there are some direct services such as to Avignon in the summer and Winter Ski Train Eurostar deals to Moutiers and Bourg Saint Maurice which is wonderful news for winter sports enthusiasts who want to get to the alps without all the fuss at the airports and difficult onward journeys.

Le Buci is the name of the restaurant bar you can see in this picture which was taken from the hotel room in le Petit Trianon which is one of my favourite hotels for Paris breaks. The road streching into the distance leads to Pont Neuf and La Samaritaine while to the right is the rue St Andre Des Arts with leading to place St Michel.

So this is downtown Paris, the latin quarter, left bank, rive gauche.

It’s a lively area with plenty going on at night but not just for tourists. Lots of people actually live here. To the left there are some fabulous seafood stalls and restaurants. and to the far right, the famous pub St Germain and the main Boulevard St Germain with the cinemas and metro station at Odeon.

You can get here by RER metro from Gare du Nord in about twenty minutes so quite doable for overnight Paris breaks.