meauxreims

[ RURAL RAILWAYS IN FRANCE ][ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]

[ (Meaux) Trilport - La Ferté Milon - Bazoches (Reims) ]

The construction of this double track country line, which follows the valley of the Ourcq, between Meaux and Reims made possible a direct route from Paris to Reims (156 km), shorter than via Epernay (173 km). The line was opened in 1894.

The line leaves the Paris - Strasbourg main line at Trilport (PK 51) and serves the villages of Lizy-sur-Ourcq, Crouy-sur-Ourcq, Mareuil-sur-Ourcq, La Ferté Milon (PK 80) Ouchy-Brèny, Fere-en-Tardenois, Bazoches (PK 125) (junction on the Reims-Soissons line).

The electrification of Epernay - Reims reduced the importance of the shorter, but slower route via La Ferté Milon. That line remains open, however, as a useful diversionary route.

By 1975, the passenger services between Reims and La Ferté Milon were operated by road transport.

By 2007 the actions of the regional governments of Champagne-Ardennes Region and the Ile de France Region had revived, a little, the passenger rail services. The cut off point is the small town of La Ferté Milon. This is placed in the Transilien Ile de France network and commuter services are provided morning and evening between that town and Meaux and Paris-Est.

The occasional autorail is provided in the middle of the day between Reims and La Ferté Milon and Meaux on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. But the lightly populated agricultural area east of La Ferté Milon provides little business for the infrequent trains.

Lizy-sur-Ourcq, (PK 60) has been renovated and has an underground passage way. The original brick built platform sheltor on the left is typical.

Crouy-sur-Ourcq, the next station along the valley towards La Ferté Milon has also been modernised, and is sited next to a castle on the edge of the village. April 2007

The 11.57 from Meaux to Reims runs on Wednesdays only and is seen here in April 2007.

Next station is Mareuil-sur-Ourcq newly renovated in March 2003.

In March 2007, the Saturday afternoon service from Reims to Meaux arrives at Mareuil at 14.13

On a Saturday afternoon in March 2007, a Meaux - La Ferté Milon TER is seen between Mareuil and its terminus.

In March 2003, a modernised EAD "Caravelle" of Champagne-Ardennes Region is parked at

La Ferté Milon.

BB 67591 + RIO is parked at La Ferté Milon in March 2003. Services to the east of this station, to Reims, are sparse

A Saturday service from Meaux to Reims arrives at the station of Fère en Tardenois in March 2003. This is a remote country town in the Aisne with 3,300 inhabitants.

The deserted station at Fère en Tardenois, midday on a Saturday in March 2003. Shortly, the autorail from Reims will arrive.

March 2003. A red and cream EAD arrives from Reims with the Saturday service to Meaux.

This type of un-modernised autorail is rarely seen on this line now.

The platform sheltor is the same as that at Lizy.

Here is a reason to keep the line open east of La Ferté Milon. On a March 2007 Saturday, a Charleville-Mézières - Paris-Est Corail express was diverted from its usual electrified route via Epernay due to signalling work at Reims. It is seen here emerging from a tunnel near Mareuil.

[ Published in 2007 ]