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Gare de Gravelines - Nord-Pas de Calais
Gravelines is a small port town of 12,000 inhabitants located by the side the river Aa, a short distance from the English Channel coast. Calais is 27km to the south and Dunkerque is 22km to the north. The town centre is a mile or so from a nuclear power station.
In the 19th century, this site was a strategic one occupied, at the mouth of the river Aa, by the Grand Fort-Philippe.
In March 1873, a first railway line was opened from the port of Gravelines inland, via Bourbourg, up the riverside to Watten on the way towards St Omer. The line was built for the Compagnie du Nord-Est, a newly formed railway group with Belgian interests which unfortunately had no rolling stock or staff at that time. Another more mature company,Compagnie du chemin de fer de Lille à Valenciennes, had rolling stock and staff, but no line ready, and the two companies made an agreement so that the Gravelines - Watten line could be opened with the rolling stock and staff originally intended for Lille-Valenciennes.
But, three years later , in August 1876, the powerful Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord took over the operations of this and other local lines, including the newly built railway line from Calais via Gravelines to Dunkerque and on to Ghyvelde, just by the Belgian border. The station there later served Bray-Dunes, a summer holiday resort. The single track from Dunkerque crosses the border into Belgium at Adinkerke. But in 2004 no cross-border trains, though dreams of connection with the long coastal tramway to Knokke-le-Zoute
Gravelines station(1876) was situated in the line of fire of the guns at the fort. For this reason it was constructed in wood and brick with the intention that, if necessary, it could be quickly dismantled.
It is seen here nicely restored in 2004, and is now a listed monument.
The booking hall is impeccable and well stocked with brochures. Unfortunately one could not say that the timetable was well stocked with trains in 2004 ! The autoroute A16 had dealt with that.
In fact, in 2004 on Mondays - Fridays there were three return services between Calais-Ville and Dunkerque which crossed at Gravelines at 07.01, 12.48 and 17.43. In addition, two extra Dunkerque - Calais TER passed at 16.09 and 18.56. On Saturdays after the extra Dunkerque - Calais passing at 13.53; no more trains until Monday morning.
The TER were operated with red and cream EAD units which are being replaced by X 73500 of
Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. Here, a pair of X 73500's crossed in the rain one Saturday in October 2004.
All rights reserved / Michael Bunn (photos) J.G.Skinner (text) / 2004-2007
Thanks to my correspondent, Michael, for the excellent photos on this page.
Two more views on a sunny Saturday at the end of October 2004.
Saturday October 30th 2004. The mid-day services between Calais and Dunkerque crossed at Gravelines in the misty light of autumn.
Just north of the station is to found this attractive lifting bridge over the canal. The countryside of Flanders is not far away, but the peaceful impression given by this scene is astonishing, bearing in mind that the industrial landscape of the Dunkerque urban area is only a few minutes ride northwards.
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