Train des Pignes

The Chemins de Fer de Provence line opened in stages between 1891 and 1911 and runs about one hundred and fifty kilometres from Nice to Digne-les-Bains on metre gauge, independent of the national network, taking a little over three hours. It climbs from the coast up the Var valley through tunnels, viaducts and gorges to over a thousand metres near Thorame before dropping to Digne, passing Entrevaux, Annot and the red rock country of the upper Var. The name comes from pine cones, variously explained by the fuel used in hard times or the train's leisurely pace. A preserved steam train runs some summer sections.

History

The name Train des Pignes, from the southern French word for pine cones, once covered four metre-gauge lines in Provence, from Nice to Meyrargues, Nice to Digne, Saint-Raphaël to Toulon and Cogolin to Saint-Tropez; work on them began in 1887, and only the Nice to Digne line, 150 kilometres long, still runs. Its sections opened between 15 May 1892 and 3 July 1911, and until the final stretch from Puget-Théniers to Saint-André-les-Alpes was finished, passengers were carried between them by stagecoach, a trip of 6.5 hours. The line is run today by the Chemins de Fer de Provence with railcars, four trains a day (Wikipedia, Train des Pignes).

Highlights

• The valley climb - the Var gorges, tunnels and viaducts on the way up.
• Entrevaux and Annot - fortified and sandstone villages served by the line.
• The high section - over a thousand metres near Thorame-Haute.
• The steam service - a preserved train on some summer weekends.

When to go

April to October; the steam service runs on set summer dates and needs booking. Autumn colour in the valleys is good. The line runs year-round as a working railway.

Practical notes

This is a normal service train, not a tourist observation car, and views depend on which side you sit. There are four or five departures a day, so a return trip needs planning. Steam runs only on limited dates.

Nearby

Entrevaux and Annot are stops on the line; Digne-les-Bains is the northern terminus.

Key facts