The end of the interminable saga of the Aubrac Express ?
We reported last month that the railway line between Neussargues and Saint Chèly d'Apcher was closed on December 3rd after "faults" were discovered by an SNCF inspection vehicle. These "faults" (dérangements d'installation) have not been further described to the public nor repaired since that date.
Closure of this stretch of single track line (57 km) affects the only daily passenger train, the TET Aubrac express Clermont Ferrand - Bèziers. This train was originally created by SNCF in the summer of 1982 as a Corail express, targeted at tourists. It started at Paris Gare de Lyon combined with the Thermal express which was detached at Clermont-Ferrand for Le Mont Dore. The Aubrac continued to Neussargues with diesel traction. A second change of traction was operated there while passengers remained in their seats. The Corail train continued under 1500 volts to Millau and Béziers.
In 2006, the Aubrac express derailed near St Flour on a 30 km section of bullhead rails. Subsequently, a decision was taken to replace all such rails on the national network. But 15 years later, bullhead rails are still present on the Aubrac line, in particular on the 30 km section near St Flour.
In December 2007, the Corail carriages ( which at least gave substance to the word "express") were removed apparently due to the absence of suitable electric locomotives available on the Aubrac line. The train to Beziers started, thereafter, from Clermont-Ferrand. There followed 13 years of chaos as an incoherent set of different solutions was experimented to operate the Aubrac express. First, some X 73500 diesel railcars were borrowed from Nord Pas de Calais and operated in pairs or triplets all the way from Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers (390 km, about 6 hours in a rural railcar). After a few years, a change of trains was imposed at Neussargues and Z2 electric railcars were used on the Aubrac express. This equipment was the ultimate disgrace. The Z2 dated from 1982, boarding was up several steps and through a narrow door.
In December 2017, Occitanie agreed to share 50% of the costs to operate the daily TET Aubrac service while a permanent solution was sought. This arrangement for 2 years was extended as the solution proved elusive. It was elusive because all solutions reviewed required heavy expenditure on the infrastructure, track, overhead wires, signalling and rolling stock. Thus 3 years later, the Z2 is being withdrawn, and "faults" are widespread along the line. At this date, the Aubrac express is scheduled only until Feb 14th 2021. There is bustitution between Neussargues and Saint Chèly. It is supposed that there are arguments currently about what to do.
Below Left. Closure of the line managed to make the national lunchtime news at the end of January. Note the lovely clean Lio AGC that has arrived for the cameras compared with (right) the final Aubrac express, 21st century style, with Z2 No 7367, grubby and tagged