Corbigny is an attractive small town, with a population of less than 2 000 inhabitants,in the department of Nièvre,
some 234 km from Paris, notable for its cattle market and as a centre for the transhipment of logs from the Morvan forests. There is a 16th century abbay.
The railway line reached Corbigny from Clamecy in June 1878, and continues south to Cercy-la-Tour, on the
Chagny - Nevers line. The Clamecy - Cercy-la-Tour line remains open for freight ( logs from the forest, transferred from road transport and stone ballast from the quarry at Epiry).
Through trains between Paris and Corbigny were introduced in 1926. Passenger services between Corbingny and Clamecy were transferred to road in June 1980 and then a weekly express from Corbigny to Paris on Sunday evenings returning Fridays evenings was introduced in 1982 and lasted until December 2005.
Train services in the region are now organised by Bourgogne Region and a daily return train service has been introduced between Corbigny and Paris-Bercy, operated by new BGC bi-mode articulated railcar. The TER service departs at the unearthly hour of 04.34 in the morning and returns at 22.12 in the evening.
In addition, on Sundays, there is a return train from Auxerre and a late afternoon BGC service to Paris-Bercy.
In fact, after many decades of slumber, the country terminus of Corbigny now awakes on Sundays for no less than five passenger trains: at 04.34 the departure to Paris, at 12.29 the arrival from Auxerre, at 15.50 the departure to Laroche-Migennes, at 16.31 the departure to Paris-Bercy and at 22.12 the arrival from Paris-Bercy.
The freight trains south of Clamecy were operated by C.F.T.A. on behalf of SNCF. The track was maintained also by CFTA. But this "more than 50 years old arrangement" finished at the end of August 2006. The SNCF subsidiary,VFLI, has now taken over responsibility for all freight traffic on the Morvan network.
[ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]
