samkiller42 Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Hi All, I'm back in France for a week in July/August, Flying into Limoge, I'll have about an hour while waiting for my train to Bellac. I'm Also hoping to get at least 2 days where i can disappear to Bordeaux and another location, and i'm thinking Brive, I know Bordeaux has Corail, TGV and the new Regio2N's, Oh, And the Trams. My main question is, What sort of stock movements, frequency could i expect? My second question is where else i could go? I like the look of Brive-la-Gaillarde, Mainline between Toulouse and Paris, TER routes and i'm hoping for some freight too, But another good location would be good to know, One that's easy to get too/from Limoge. Thanks for any advice. Sam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matabiau Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Caling the line between Toulouse and Paris a mainline is technically correct, but in practice is very much of a backwater. Most Toulouse-Paris trains now pass through Bordeaux via the TGV line into Montparnasse. This route is a long way around but it takes about an hour less than the old route through Brive and Limoges. The current timetable has fewer than one train every four hours so you may need a good book if you want to go to Brive. Bordeaux St Jean is still your best bet with a mixture of TGVs, Corails and TER. If you want to see more movement go to Toulouse or Orleans, but these may be a little too far for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foulounoux Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Angouleme is an option Although the front of the station is a worksite at the moment getting ready for the new LGV improvements Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNCF stephen Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I spent a few hours at Limoges during my holidays to the region in the last couple of years. I always found it an interesting place to watch the trains go by with a mix of freight and Corail services and regular TER departures. It does depend on the time of day you go as to what you get. I remember seeing fruit trains heading north and intermodal services running South. In the sidings there was a good mix of locomotives, autorails and maintenance stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I'd suggest Bordeaux and Toulouse. I've done both, the depot at Toulouse is tantalisingly close to the station, being served by a traverser you can see a lot of what's there, but beware of Railway Police........ask first at the Chef de Gare's office before commencing photography, (they will be OK), and stay at the ends of platforms. Bordeaux is more photgenic and has marginally more trains. The shed is a 1/2 mile walk. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matabiau Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Following the terrorist attacks in Paris in January France is still in a maximum state of alert so taking photographs of railway infrastructure without asking permission beforehand may be deemed suspicious instead of just bizarre! Trainspotting is not a recognised hobby here (propbably as it doesn't involve food and drink). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Wot about sandwiches and Tizer? Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matabiau Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Philistine! Set up a table and chairs at the end of the platform, eat very smelly cheese and drink a small glass of something red and no one will bat an eyelid. Take photographs of trains and the world will descend upon you. P.S. only the glass is small, not the bottle from which you fill it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 LOL, I actually did that at Miramas....folding chair and table, picnic, camera, video, books, bottles of pop, (I was driving) etc. The French workers passing from station to shed found it highly amusing. I had eight hours there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkiller42 Posted June 27, 2015 Author Share Posted June 27, 2015 Thank you all for the thoughts, I had forgotten France was on High Alert, and possibly more so after the attack's yesterday. Sam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Thank you all for the thoughts, I had forgotten France was on High Alert, and possibly more so after the attack's yesterday. Sam And if the SUGE (the security people SNCF employ) tell you to move- move. They've been know to arrest SNCF drivers and beat up SNCF staff! If you must try to reason with them, address you comments to the dog, as you'll have more success.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 As I said, if you want to take photos, as the Chef de Gare. It's unlikely you will be refused, but do follow instructions about keeping to ends of platforms and not photographing people if you can help it. Anybody that tells me the terrorists aren't wining will be laughed at, sadly. They are making us change the way WE live. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 I have to admit I have toned down my rail side activity with camera these days. The Gendarmerie regularly set up check points at the entry to the village - they were there this morning. The last time I remember such regular checks was when the Toulousain shooter went on a rampage a few years ago. Anyone looking vaguely North African seemed to be a target at the checkpoints (and there are lot of ex-Algerians in Languedoc Roussillon). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.