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[ Gare de Mirecourt, Vosges ]

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all rights  reserved 2005-2006 | J.G.Skinner.

Located 61 km ( 38 miles) south of Nancy, the small town of Mirecourt (7,000 inhabitants) in the department of the Vosges, is known for the invention of the luth.  It was also an important rail junction opened in December 1879, where a line from Epinal to Neufchateau  and Chaumont crossed the Nancy - Vittel - Merrey - Culmont-Chalindrey line.  The railway line from Epinal to Mirecourt was closed in May 1989 and a passenger service is now provided by Metrolor motor coach. The railway line to Neufchateau has been closed since January 1990.  Between the two visits that I have made to Mirecourt, the track layout has been simplified and the photos below ( taken in October 2005)  have a historic significance, because the station site has since changed dramatically.  The rails have been removed from all the sidings on the west side of the station and half the mechanical signals have gone.  For pictures of Mirecourt in October 2006 go to this page.

Visited 24th-25th october 2005 and 2nd-3rd october 2006

Signal box 1 at the Nancy end of the station site was built in 1956. Since spring of 2006, all the tracks visible in this photo have been lifted.

What future for this box ?

In October 2005, the trains from Mirecourt to Nancy left on week days at 05.30, 06.25, 07.34, a long gap, 12.10, a great long gap, 17.04, 19.22.  In the opposite direction, trains from Nancy arrived at 07.23, 11.11, 13.49, a great long gap, 18.00, 19.08.  Journey time between Mirecourt and Nancy is about 70-80 minutes.

On Mondays in Sept-October 2005, a Corail express from Metz to Grenoble passed along the line, leaving Nancy at 12.08, nonstop to Mirecourt 13.08, Merrey 13.55, Dijon 15.02, Lyon 16.55, Grenoble 18.52. This was a temporary diversion - ended 14.11.05.

The return working of this train from Grenoble to Metz travels on the electrified line via Neufchateau and Toul to Nancy. Further diversions of this train in 2006 are expected due to engineering works on the Nancy - Merrey line.

Above, we see the 16.15 train from Mirecourt to Contrexéville operated with a modernised EAD, badged Metrolor.  This train is for school children, it is not listed in the timetable.

Above, October 2005, the TER leaves the south end of Mirecourt station for Contrexéville at 16.15, past three mechanical signals. 

October 2005.  About 45 minutes later the TER from Merrey - Nancy arrives at 17.02.  The red & cream Caravelle is in desperate need of a clean.

October 2005, after a short stop, the autorail re-starts with thick black exhaust smoke pouring out as the unit crosses the station site which is overgrown with weeds and bushes.

October 2005.  This is the 13.50 arrival from Nancy, the following day, which will wait two and a half hours at Mirecourt before forming the 16.15 to Contrexéville.

This brand new AGC is operating the 12.10 semi-fast service to Nancy (13.09) in October 2005.  It provides a striking contrast with the tired infrastructure.

The unit has not yet received its regional badges and new SNCF logo.

VézeliseVittelOther photos on the line Nancy - Merrey

Mirecourt, October 2003.  The Metz - Grenoble express was diverted via Mirecourt due to engineering works elsewhere.  CC 472009 of the FRET division was in charge of this Corail train and it made a striking contrast with the older infrastructure of mechanical signals and telegraph poles.

D Michel Costes took this picture and profited from good weather that was absent on my trip.

Merci Michel !

Since March 2006, only the two through tracks next to the station building remain, the others have been lifted.

We are looking towards Nancy. Since March 2006, all the tracks and sidings on the left of the island platform have gone.  The sidings to the right on the town side have been kept. Only the carré on the main up line remains, the other mechanical signals have been removed, along with the rails, but not the sleepers.

Since March 2006, this scene looking south towards Vittel has changed, and the layout has been simplified.  The up line to Nancy now runs straight into the station.  All the points and other track have been removed.

Only the semaphore remains, the other two signals have gone and the signal box built in 1893, and the oldest of its type(Saxby Est), has been closed.

See this page for a picture of the scene now.

WARNING: a sad sight !

In the spring of 2006, all the track in the foreground on either side of the signal box was removed as part of the simplification of the site and the land has probably been sold to the town council.

This signal (to the south of the station) has survived the simplification carried out in the spring of 2006.  For how long ?

Bibliography:"Sur les Rails Vosgiens" by Robert Le Pennec, published by Les Editions du Cabri in May 2006.

Page revised November 2006