We are going to visit a region easily accessible from Paris, by autoroutes A5, A6 and N6.and by rail.via Auxerre.
This is the MORVAN, a hilly region some 200 km south of Paris covered by forest and containing many lakes.
The region covers parts of four departments: YONNE to the north, NIEVRE on the west, COTE D'OR to the east and SAONE-ET-LOIRE to the south.
The northern gateways into the area are through Auxerre, a cathedral city with a population of 40 000 and a famous football team, and Avallon, a fortified town of 9,000 inhabitants, on the eastern edge of the Morvan.
South of the Morvan is Autun, a regional capital of 18 000 inhabitants, of Roman origin.
To the west is Clamecy, a small village of 5 200 residents, located 40 km south west of Auxerre.
The first railway line to serve this area was opened in 1855 from a junction at Laroche-Migennes (on the PLM main line from Paris to Dijon) to Auxerre-St Gervais, a distance of 19 km ( 12 miles ) with 7 stations and halts. From Auxerre the line was extended southwards along the Yonne valley to the village of Cravant, where a junction station was constructed. New railway lines were then built along the Yonne to Clamecy(1870) and up the valley of the Cure to Avallon(1873).
Auxerre-St-Gervais station in February 2003. The station has since been renovated, the front approach modified, and track and signalling arrangements have been changed to allow a majority of trains to use the No 1 platform next to the entrance hall.
Currently the line from Laroche-Migennes to Auxerre is not electrified although the main Paris-Dijon line was electrified in 1951. Since then, a change of locomotive has been required at Laroche for the through trains between Paris and Auxerre, adding 10-15 minutes to the journey.
In December 2003, 3 car X 72500 diesel sets were introduced between Auxerre and Paris-Bercy, saving ten minutes on the journey time with loco-hauled Corail stock. One early morning X 72500 service( not Sundays) from Paris-Bercy(07.10) ran through to Avallon(10.15), returning later in the morning to Paris-Bercy.
As of August 28th 2006, all rail passenger services on the Morvan lines are normally scheduled to be operated by modern railcars: BGC 3 and 4 car units and X 73500's of Bourgogne Region.
As of December 2007, two daily return services between Paris Bercy and Clamecy and Avallon are operated with the BGC bimode railcars. The two railcars are joined and seperated at Cravant Bazarnes. One return service is extended to Corbigny. Additional services operate between Auxerre and Paris Bercy and Auxerre and Dijon.
July 25th 1998. The 09.11 Sats only Corail express from Paris to Auxerre leaves Laroche-Migennes hauled by a BB66400 diesel locomotive for the short run to Auxerre.
February 17th 2003, A pair of EAD units substitute for an X 72500 on the 09.00 service from Paris-Bercy to Auxerre, seen here passing through Moneteau-Gurgy about ten minutes late.
In February 2003, a morning service from Clamecy operated by an X4600 unit arrives at 11.30 at Auxerre, with a connection to Paris
In February 2003, a new X 72500 three car unit arrives at Auxerre St-Gervais with the 10.36 from Avallon to Paris-Bercy.
[ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]
