Beyond the political sea serpent and its possible return, a brief history of the train in the Ardèche since the 19th century between the Rhône Valley and the Massif-Central.
Did you know that the Ardèche is the only département in France without passenger trains? Yes, there are tracks along the left bank of the Rhône, but they are used to transport goods. Yes, there were many tracks: here’s a brief history of the Ardèche railways.
Birth, heyday and decline in the Ardèche
The rail network in the Ardèche developed gradually from the 19th century onwards, with the opening of the line between 1862 (Livron / Privas) and 1880 (the entire line on the right bank of the Rhône).
Up until the First World War, the network continued to develop in the Ardèche, with several branches running north-south, such as between Le Teil and Alès in the Gard, Lalevade d’Ardèche and Vogüé, and Annonay towards Firminy in the Loire.
From the 1930s onwards, a number of local lines were closed, until the height of the rail desert with the closure of passenger access on the banks of the Rhône in 1973 and the last passengers getting off at Le Teil station.
The Ardèche then became the only département in France without passenger rail transport.
After 1973, rail tourism
After this closure to passengers, the line on the right bank of the Rhône River in the Ardèche is being maintained; it is used for rail freight and goods transport, which has also been in constant decline over the last 20 years.
A number of tourist trains were created, some of which have disappeared, such as the line between Vogüé and Saint-Jean-le-Centenier, now a velorail, and others which are flourishing, such as the Mastrou line between Tournon, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and Lamastre.
Tourist trains in the Ardèche
Two tourist trains with old steam locomotives depart from or arrive in the Ardèche:
- Le Mastrou in the Doux gorges: 28 kilometres between the Rhône valley and the Haut-Vivarais region
- The Velay Express, which runs to and from Saint-Agrève in the Ardèche to the Haute-Loire
Railways become greenways
Today, some of the former railway lines in the Ardèche are gradually being transformed into greenways and cycle paths, a major asset for tourism and soft mobility in the department.
- Cycle routes and greenways in the Ardèche
The railway sea serpent
Over the decades, politicians of all stripes have regularly announced promises of a comeback, along with dates and studies.
2008: protocol and studies
In January 2008, the Rhône-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon and PACA (Provence-
Alpes-Côte-d’Azur), as well as the departments concerned, to reopen the line between Le Teil, Avignon and Nîmes.
In 2014, Réseau ferré de France (RFF) estimated the cost of reopening the line at around €100 million, for derisory annual revenues; the line was deemed unprofitable.
2015-2016: first concrete studies
In May 2015, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region included the Romans-Le Teil-Avignon line in its State-Region contract. SNCF studies were financed (€65,000) and a timetable for 2017 with 7 return trips per day was announced.
In November 2016, the new regional majority (LR) decided to give priority to other small regional lines, temporarily abandoning the project in the Ardèche.
2020-2023: relaunch of the project
The region is providing €600,000 for studies between 2023 and 2024, with the aim of partially reopening the line by 2024, via Le Teil, Le Pouzin and Cruas, at an estimated cost of €16 million. The aim is to connect the stations in the Ardèche and the TER train to the TGV, via Rovaltain station, in less than an hour.
In December 2023, associations and users mobilised in Valence to demand that the region keep its promises. In December 2023, the regional vice-president in charge of transport mentioned €2 million of investment in Le Teil station, but deplored the environmental constraints and called on the State to finance the infrastructure.
2024-2025: Train en fête operation
In December 2024, the AuterVR (regional TER users) and CUTPSA (users’ collectives) associations announced the departure of a festive train on 16 November 2025 1 between Lyon and Bourg-Saint-Andéol, to raise awareness among elected representatives and the general public.
In January 2025, a meeting in Le Pouzin set out the schedule, with the participation of local elected representatives. The convoy will potentially provide a symbolic return of passenger traffic to the Ardèche, to increase the pressure on elected representatives.
Promises and reality
| Period | Political promise | Result / Reality |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Opening Le Teil-Nîmes (by 2010) | Study launched, too costly, not completed |
| 2015 | 7 AR/day from 2017, financed by Studies (€65,000) | Abandonment by region at the end of 2016 |
| 2023 | Studies with €600,000, partial reopening in 2024 | No effective service to date, expectations maintained |
| 2025 | Experimental “Train en fête” between Lyon and Bourg-Saint-Andéol | Scheduled for 16 November 2025, a symbolic milestone (cancelled) |
| 2025 | Consultation for the return of the train to Le Teil | Rendezvous in 2027? |
Political and economic issues
- Financial challenge and limited profitability
Costs (minimum €100 million) and low revenue: the project is considered unprofitable. - Multiple players
The State, the region, SNCF/RFF and local authorities have to reach agreement. With each change of regional majority, the timetable seems to slip… like a hot potato?
- Pressure from the public and the environment
Local associations are trying to mobilise people in favour of opening up the Ardèche to rail transport and reducing car dependency, an argument taken up in political speeches (environment, congestion, road safety).
- Announcements and concrete projects
Electoral promises abound, but what actually happens depends on government funding, studies and regulatory constraints (Environmental Authority).
Costs and constraints of the line in Ardèche
- Planned investments
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region has earmarked €12 million for the complete renovation of Le Teil station between now and 2027. A further €2 million is to be invested in technical rail improvements.
- Financing arrangements
Infrastructure (track, platforms) is still the responsibility of the State via SNCF Réseau, which is demanding a national financial contribution for the reopening of the line. The Region has a 5 billion euro plan for the purchase of rolling stock (130 trainsets) for use on regional lines, including the Ardèche line.
- Technical and regulatory constraints
In June 2023, an impact study covering four seasons of the entire Nîmes-Le Teil section, not just the station, was required by the Environmental Authority. According to regional vice-president Frédéric Aguilera, these requirements will increase costs and extend the project by 18 to 24 months.
- Institutional logic
The Region is financing the rolling stock and station facilities: Le Teil station (€12m) and station facilities (€2m). The State, via SNCF Réseau, must finance the infrastructure: tracks, platforms and technical installations.
- State blockage
The Fédération nationale des associations d’usagers des transports (FNAUT) and elected representatives are accusing the State of suspending its funding, calling into question the Region’s commitments signed in 2020.
- Mobilising local players
Citizens, elected representatives and associations are mobilising, including public transport users in the Ardèche (CUTPSA ), the mayor of Le Teil in the Ardèche and more than 20 elected representatives from the département, with a symbolic return to the right bank of the Rhône on 16 November 2025 for the train festival.
- Operating forecasts for 2026
Technical objectives: to open up Le Teil station to passenger services and bring the platforms up to standard for boarding and disembarking.
Offer 4 daily return trips between Avignon and Le Teil + 1 return trip from Nîmes to Le Teil (TER liO Occitanie), integrated into the TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes service.
Expected impacts: potential ridership based on commuter flows of 1,500 trips/day to Le Pouzin, a reduction in road traffic, environmental benefits and social inclusion.
- Risks and obstacles
Delays with the environmental studies commissioned by the Environmental Authority, which are extending the timetable by at least 2 years. The lack of State funding remains the main obstacle, in addition to the disparities between the policies of the Occitanie and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, which are slowing down decisions.
- Tomorrow, a train in the Ardèche?
In November 2025, the Train en fête* operation was to serve as a symbolic test, mobilising local and national attention. Cancelled for lack of the necessary authorisations from SNCF.
The prospect of a real resumption of TER services for the people of Le Teil is more likely to be in 2026, with a gradual extension towards Le Pouzin and Cruas, and further north into the Ardèche, in line with political ambitions and the economic reality of the railways. Possible developments as far as Romans and Valence TGV station are envisaged, increasing the number of connections for the department.
Since its demise in 1973, the passenger train in the Ardèche has been regularly mentioned, sometimes as a miracle solution, often as a campaign promise. But financial, political and technical constraints have held back progress. The first symbolic test, scheduled for November 2025, could mark a turning point towards a permanent reopening by 2030.
So far, the promises made in 2008, 2015 and 2023 have only resulted in studies and actions that have not been put into practice. The trigger for action will probably be a collective commitment from the public sector, with clear funding and an operational timetable.
Mobility and transport in the Ardèche
So how do you get around in the Ardèche? By car, mainly, and by bus, with a fairly dense departmental network, with inter-departmental links to the Loire, Haute-Loire, Gard, Isère and, of course, the Drôme on the other bank of the Rhône.
To find out more about transport in the département, visit the page dedicated to your mobility:
History of the train in France
The history of the train in the Ardèche is part of the development of the national rail network in France. Here is an animated map from 1827 to 2021:
- Consultation for the return of the train to Le Teil in southern Ardèche
- CFD Réseau du Vivarais, Wikipedia
- Maps of lines and stations in France, Pouey 1933 directory (Amazon)
- Ardèche, where did your train go, Clive Laming
- Disused railway lines in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Wikipedia
- The train returns to the Ardèche, France Bleue 2024