Ligne du Haut-Bugey

Ligne du Haut-Bugey
Cize-Bolozon station and viaduct
Technical
Line length64.727 km (40.219 mi)
Rack systemno[1][2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius300 m (984 ft)
Electrification1.5 kV DC or 25 kV 50 Hz
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Maximum incline35
Route map

to Besançon, Mâcon and Paris
0.000
Bourg-en-Bresse
0.211
to Lyon and Ambérieu
9.860
Ceyzériat
12.100
Tunnel de Sénissiat
(186 m)
12.803
Sénissiat-Revonnas
15.075
Viaduc de Ramasse
18.900
Villereversure
19.320
Pont sur le Suran
22.351
Simandre-sur-Suran
23.120
Tunnel de Racouse
(1686 m)
24.810
Viaduc de Cize-Bolozon
25.060
Cize-Bolozon
29.445
Tunnel de Bolozon 1
(201 m)
29.696
Tunnel de Bolozon 2
(817 m)
31.235
Tunnel de Mornay
(2565 m)
33.047
Nurieux
35.617
Brion—Montréal-la-Cluse
branch to Oyonnax and St. Claude
36.750
La Cluse
38.645
Tunnel de la Malatière
(279 m)
40.427
Nantua
43.199
Les Neyrolles
46.970
Tunnel de Sylans
(617 m)
49.069
CharixLalleyriat
53.748
Saint-Germain-de-Joux
54.965
Viaduc de Tacon
57.845
Tunnel de Trébillet
(86 m)
58.105
Former Tunnel de La Crotte
(136 m)
59.214
Châtillon-en-Michaille
59.715
Tunnel de Châtillon
(257 m)
63.975
Tunnel de Musinens
(573 m)
Line from Lyon via Culoz
134.252
65.088
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Line to Geneva

The Haut-Bugey line (French: Ligne du Haut-Bugey) (also nicknamed Lignes des Carpates) is a railway line in France. It is 65 kilometres in length and connects Bourg-en-Bresse with Bellegarde, travelling through the Jura Mountains. For a century and a quarter after its opening in 1877, it was a local line only, and with steep grades, tight curves, and a long poorly ventilated tunnel, it was a challenging line to operate. It suffered a gradual decline, until in 2006 it had a new lease of life as its renovation was chosen as the most cost-effective way to shorten the journey time from Paris to Geneva. The line was closed in 2006 for complete reconstruction and electrification. The upgraded line was inaugurated on 2 December 2010 featuring 25 kV AC electrification, replacement of 18 level-crossings with bridges, avalanche protection and daylighting a tunnel.[3] Today the line enables a faster link between the French TGV network and Geneva, giving a Paris to Geneva journey time of just over three hours (a saving of nearly 20 minutes compared to the old route via Amberieu and Culoz).

  1. ^ "Bourg-Bellegarde". Rail 21. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  2. ^ "La Ligne du Haut Bugey". Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  3. ^ Railway Gazette: Haut-Bugey line inaugurated