Train Jaune

The Train Jaune opened between 1910 and 1927 to link the isolated Cerdagne plateau to the rest of France, and it was electrified from the start using hydropower, drawing current from a third rail. It climbs from about four hundred and twenty-seven metres at Villefranche to one thousand five hundred and ninety-two at Bolquere-Eyne, the highest station in France, over sixty-three kilometres. The line crosses the Sejourne viaduct and the Gisclard bridge, the only suspension railway bridge still in service in France. Some carriages are open-topped in summer. It is painted yellow and red, the Catalan colours.

What you actually see

• The Gisclard bridge - the only working suspension railway bridge in France.
• The Sejourne viaduct - a tall stone viaduct in the Tet gorge.
• The open carriages - roofless coaches running in summer.
• Bolquere-Eyne - the highest railway station in France at 1,592 metres.

When to go

May to October, when the open carriages run and the plateau is clear; the service continues in winter for local traffic. Journeys are slow, around three hours end to end.

Honest expectations

It is a working local service with limited departures, so a return trip needs timetable planning. Open carriages are cold and exposed even in summer at altitude. Sections have been suspended for engineering work in some years.

Nearby

Villefranche-de-Conflent is the lower terminus; the Cerdagne plateau is at the top.