This single track railway line was constructed south from Avallon for 87km across rural Burgundy skirting the Morvan forest to the west to reach Autun. The line was opened by the PLM company in 1882. The only village of any size is Saulieu, and the line carries two passenger trains a day in each direction, plus two freight trains. In fact, it is the freight traffic of logs and stone ballast which justifies keeping the line open and Autun, Saulieu and La Roche-en-Brenil, and Avallon are the transhipment points for this traffic. None the less, a local action group, T.R.A.M., has succeeded in preventing withdrawal of the limited passenger services with the support of the Bourgogne Region, and despite extremely low passenger numbers on the two daily trains between Avallon and Autun.
From 2000 to 2006, the railway line from Avallon to Autun was maintained and trains operated by Voies Ferrees du Morvan company ("VFM") on behalf of SNCF. VFM was a subsidairy of VFLI.,which is a 100% "low cost" subsidiary of SNCF Holdings. VFLI is a train operator.
VFM was responsible for expanding traffic on the line; it improved the loading facilities for logs at Autun, Saulieu and, in 2003, at La Roche-en-Brenil. The company employed 50 staff and its drivers operated both passenger and freight trains down to Cravant-Bazarnes and Laroche. However in 2006, SNCF decided to rationalise the management of train services all round the Morvan, and replaced VFM, (and CFTA at Clamecy) by Fertis, another subsidiary of VFLI. It is believed that most of the staff of VFM were transferred to Fertis which operates trains on the national network of SNCF for the account of its parent VFLI.
The two daily autorail services provide connections between Laroche-Migennes, Autun and Etang-sur-Arroux which is located on the Nevers-Dijon cross-country line. On Friday evenings, a connection to Autun is provided from the Paris AGC service, at Avallon. On Sunday afternoons, a return autorail service from Autun connects at Avallon with the Paris bound AGC.
This is a remote, attractive and even romantic, line which was nearly closed, before the potential of traffic of logs from the forest and ballast from a stone quarry at La Roche-en-Brenil was finally exploited.
Stations open on the line: Avallon, Maison-Dieu, Sincey-les-Rouvray, La Roche-en-Brenil, Saulieu, Liernais, Manlay, Cordesse-Igornay, Dracy-St-Loup, Autun, Brion-Laizy, Etang-sur-Arroux.
June 1999.
Autun station, SNCF ex PLM, from the town side looking quite grand for a station with just a few autorails each day.
But, of course, until ten years ago, the town was linked to Paris by direct express. And 25 years ago, there was a direct train service to Chagny and Chalons-s-Saone on the main line to the south.
August 2004.
Etang sur Arroux, junction for the branch to Autun. An EAD from Autun joins the Chagny - Nevers cross country double track main line with a midday service to Le Creusot which unfortunately was virtually empty. The train reverses at Etang and within a few minutes will pass by to the right.
April 8th 2003. The 14.02 from Laroche-Migennes, leaves Dracy-St-Loup, the last stop before Autun, now unstaffed and a private home.
This was a former junction with a line from Autun to Chagny via Epinac-les-Mines, closed at the end of the 1970's due to construction of the LGV which crossedthe rural line. Although a bridge was budgeted, it was never built.
June 1999. Arrival at Autun from Avallon in the early evening. At this date, none of the trains between Autun and Avallon had any onward connections. A year later the battle had been won, and the new timetable "reconnected" the line with the rest of the network.
But most of the passengers had by then changed their habits and were reluctant to return to the train, which still offered 30 year old stock and comfort, while the speed restrictions on the line rendered it uncompetitive with the road.
[ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]
