Early start today. Heading further south. Finally no trackworks and a working timetable for some #streckensammeln of 2 pieces of line I still need to fill on my map.
Starting with this freshly cleaned and renovated AGC to La Bastide st. Laurent les bains. #interrail
In Bastide changing trains. The A-TER of Ocitanie region will take me to Le Monastier via Mende. A line I long tried to figure and ride some way. Trackworks and timetable always refused it to me, and I allmost considered it impossible. But today it suddenly worked out. Its a wonderful line slowly weaving across high altitude plains of the central massive.
Well over an hour since the train left Mende. We stopped 200meter down the line because a level crossing broke down. After an hour a van with a sncf mechanic arrived... and he is no on his flipflops trying to fix it. Interesting to see they can pull out some emergency barrier to close the crossing. But wondering why we can't pass slowly with a lot of honking, the crossing js closed and there js even a man to stand watch... Anyway, most plans for today down the drain.
Last minute a crazy lady comes by car and starts standing in front of the train shouting to let her son out.. after being told to get out of the way and drive to the next station the train finally slowly continues after atleast 1.5hr waiting.
With about 100minutes delay arrived in Marvejols. We were all told to wait for the next Bezier bound train. Decided to not opt to wait at Le monastier, as that in the middel of nowhere. Marvejols is a wonderfull quaint town. Sadly its also completely deserted, would expect a lot more tourists this time of year. I only see people from the train wandering round.
Atleast I got that pesky line through Mende crossed from my map. Sadly no chance to fix the gap between Cerbere and Port Bou, but I can live with that for now.
Got to Bézier with the IC Aubrac. Slight delay of +25 on arrival. Fine for me, I'm on the backup plan anyway. From here it will be #TeamNightTrain to Paris, thats if staff are fine with me boarding on a Cerbere reservation. According staff in Marvejols they will. And I guess the total mess here in Béziers caused by a incident with a freight train between Narbonne and Perpignan, it will be fine. But you never know with SNCF. There still are backup plans existing, which I discovered too late to make my main goal. (ryanair from here to Weeze is surprisingly cheap). Would have loved to visit another Tour de France stage and Montpellier 8lis around the corner tomorrow.
Well a beer to lessen the worries while waiting then. Although I would rather be standing in an open window of a corail and enjoying the mediterranean views while drinking it. #TeamOpenWindows
There is my train. 😍 With a wonderfull nez cassé locomotive hauling it. Bi voltage BB22280, wonder if that has a reason over usual BB7200. A un-renovated corail couchette, didn't know these still existed in 1st class. My compartment is still empty, lets see what happens, would be a luxury.
You can say what you want about SNCF, but their nighttrain product is by far best bangs for buck. General type of traveler also differs to for example nightjet. I always experience much more regular people just going to paris instead of leisure travel and holiday makers.
Anyway, I didnt board in cerbere, but thats all french night trains ridden. (I really need to redo it to get to cerbere do I?)
Jordi
Rens