Closing thoughts on #TournéeSudEst , I'm disappointed I couldn't take the reopened service on the "rive droite du Rhône" line (below in fuchsia) from Avignon Centre (easternmost blue marker) to Remoulins (westernmost blue marker).

Unfortunately:
- no stations have been reopened between Avignon and Nîmes
- the schedule is insanely poor (and weird, so many notes!)

This is a double track electrified main line. What's the point? More trains and a few more stations needed. It's a start, I guess...

Finally, train #10 got me back to Paris from Valence Ville. An unremarkable Océane-upgraded TGV Duplex. Wifi, power socket, got there +15 min but I didn't mind.

The first few minutes on board were absolutely horrible though: an older woman was sitting in my seat. I simply asked her what her seat number was and she literally barked at me. People around were shocked too. I didn't want to start a fight on the train, but she was def the rudest passenger I've ever encountered. 🤬

#TournéeSudEst

Train #8 and #9 were supposed to be TERs to and from Valence TGV. This mess is one SNCF's own doing, a mess that is still ongoing with recent and future LGVs, though there have been some positive changes over the years. And yet still some recent major fumbles (looking at you, Lorraine TGV and Montpellier Sud de France 🤬)

So instead, I hung out near Valence Ville and sat down in a coffee shop after looking at some trains and the train shed, the latter being very nicely renovated.

#TournéeSudEst

Train #6 was another shuttle ride from Avignon TGV to Centre but my southern host graciously offered to drive me to Avignon Centre directly, chopping 40 min off my trip. 🙏

Train #7 was TER AuRA 886184 to Valence Ville. Unit Z 24537/8 was clean inside and out, fairly comfortable seats, though with weird power socket placement on window pillars (seats ofc don't line up). Very scenic route on the east side of the Rhône.

#TournéeSudEst

Trains #4 and #5, Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre and back. #Takt like service between Avignon TGV and Carpentras. Single voltage BGC B 81500 unit on the way in, Régiolis B 84500 unit on the way back.

The BGC seats were clean but beyond tired, the foam essentially provided no support. I was really glad my trip lasted only 7 minutes.

But still 10/10 for this half-hourly service which should be standard in many places across the country. Good job, Région PACA 👍

#TournéeSudEst

Train #4 TGV inOui 5010 from Valence TGV to Avignon TGV. MU consist of 3kV-capable-Belgium-certified TGV Réseau 45xx units. Lacroix interior, aged but still comfortable 👌

32 uneventful minutes.

The view however... is just so different from what I'm used to. More darker shades of green, more lighter, almost pastel, shades of greens. The blue in the sky is *nothing* like up north.

Terrain shapes, rock and soil hues, line-side vegetation, even the vineyards. All very different!

#TournéeSudEst

Valence TGV

1️⃣ top of railhead on track 3, one of the passing loops serving the station: nice and shiny in the middle 👌
2️⃣ top of railhead on track 5, the connection to the Valence-Grenoble [0] line: rusty, no wear marks, an absolute failure 👎

#TournéeSudEst

[0] https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_de_Valence_%C3%A0_Moirans

So train #3 was supposed to be TER AuRA 17512, essentially the same as train #2 in the reverse direction but I managed to fsck things up and miss it at Saint-Hilaire–Saint Nazaire, my own damn fault 🤬

So instead, here's the view from the southern end of Valence TGV. I have a bench with a power socket, shaded from the sun. Decent waiting area until I catch train #4.

Notice the track work going on the leftmost track (serving platform 5) which is brand new and already abandoned.

#TournéeSudEst

Train #2, AuRA TER 17592 from Valence TGV to Saint-Hilaire–Saint-Nazaire. A 3-car Alstom TER 2N-NG Z 24500 unit. Not full but well packed.

Bikes, people with luggage, a few elderly folks in wheelchairs, kids, parents, a nice variety of travelers.

#TournéeSudEst

First leg of the trip, TGV 6223 from Paris to Valence TGV. Train was held up near St-Quentin Fallavier and works further south. Running +5.

Couldn't see the front unit, but the rear unit is TGV Réseau-Duplex 602. RD units were a mix of (then) brand new Duplex Dasye double decker coaches and older TGV Réseau power cars. As they are currently being refurbed and reassmbled into their original types (6 out 19 already done), these units will become a rare sight.

#TournéeSudEst