The SNCF line between Tarbes and Toulouse closed for six months
In ten days, there will be no more trains in circulation between Tarbes and Toulouse. Neither TER, nor Intercités, nor night trains. Very big works will start this Monday, October 17, and must last until March 31, more precisely between Tarbes and Montréjeau. Instead of trains, the SNCF offers cars to make all or part of the journeys. This is a new phase of a project carried out in 2015 and which should run until 2029, for a total amount of one billion euros.
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replacement cars
The work over the next few months – costing 70 million euros – will make it possible to modernize the tracks, change catenaries, and renovate three tunnels on this structuring axis. “These are major works, closing the line allows these works to be grouped together, the other solution was to do them at night for ten years, with endless impacts for our passengers.“, argues Catherine Trevet, director of SNCF network for the Occitanie region. The line between Toulouse and Hendaye, 300 kilometers long, is used by around fifty trains every day, carrying 10,000 passengers.
SNCF implemented several substitution systems during this period: if you plan to take a TER departing from Pau, Lourdes or Tarbes, in the direction of Toulouse, it will first be by car to Montréjeau, then in a train from Montréjeau to Toulouse – and the same obviously in the other direction -, the SNCF indicates that all the stops will be maintained. For Intercity journeys between Toulouse and the Basque coast, it will be by car for the entire route, whatever it may be, with a consequent increase in travel time. Same for Paris/Tarbes night trains or Lourdes, via Toulouse, where it will take 1h30 to two hours more. Last precision, whatever your route, the ticket will cost you the same price as in normal times.