Creil–Jeumont railway
Encyclopedia
The railway from Creil to Jeumont is an important French
187-kilometre long railway line, that connects Creil
, a northern suburb of Paris
, to Jeumont
on the Belgian
border. It was opened in several stages between 1847 and 1855. The opening of the LGV Nord
high speed line from Paris to Lille in 1993 has decreased its importance for passenger traffic.
, where it branches off the Paris–Lille railway
. It follows the river Oise upstream on its right bank, in generally northeastern direction. It passes through Pont-Sainte-Maxence
, Compiègne
, Noyon
and Chauny
until it turns north at Tergnier
, leaving the Oise valley. It reaches the river Somme at Saint-Quentin
and continues northeast. It passes through Busigny
, Le Cateau-Cambrésis
, and reaches the river Sambre
at Ors
. It follows the Sambre downstream through Aulnoye-Aymeries
and the industrial town Maubeuge
until it reaches its terminus Jeumont
. The railway continues to Erquelinnes
and Charleroi
in Belgium.
. The first section that was opened in 1847 led from Creil
, on the Paris–Lille railway
, to Compiègne
. The line was extended to Chauny
in 1849, and to Saint-Quentin
in 1850. Finally in 1855 the section from Saint-Quentin to Jeumont
was opened. Being connected to the Belgian railway network at Hautmont (towards Mons
, Brussels
and Amsterdam
) and at Jeumont (towards Charleroi
, Liège
and Cologne
), the railway was very important for international traffic. Since the opening of the LGV Nord
high speed line between Paris and Lille in 1993, most long-distance and all international passenger traffic has shifted away from the classical Creil–Jeumont line. It remains an important railway for freight traffic and regional passenger traffic.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
187-kilometre long railway line, that connects Creil
Creil
Creil is a large town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-History:Archaeological remains in the area include a Neolithic site, as well as a late Iron Age necropolis, perhaps belonging to a Gaulish fortress or protected camp.The city itself...
, a northern suburb of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, to Jeumont
Jeumont
Jeumont is a commune lying on the Belgian border, located in the Maubeuge-Nord canton department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
on the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
border. It was opened in several stages between 1847 and 1855. The opening of the LGV Nord
LGV Nord
The LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
high speed line from Paris to Lille in 1993 has decreased its importance for passenger traffic.
Route
The Creil–Jeumont railway begins near the Gare de CreilGare de Creil
Gare de Creil is the railway station serving the northern French city of Creil. It is an important railway junction, situated on the Paris–Lille railway and the branch lines to Saint-Quentin, Beauvais and Pontoise....
, where it branches off the Paris–Lille railway
Paris–Lille railway
The railway from Paris to Lille is an important French 251-kilometre long railway line, that connects Paris to the northern French city Lille. Branch lines offer connections to Belgium and Great Britain. As one of the first railway lines in France, it was opened on 20 June 1846...
. It follows the river Oise upstream on its right bank, in generally northeastern direction. It passes through Pont-Sainte-Maxence
Pont-Sainte-Maxence
Pont-Sainte-Maxence is a town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
, Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
, Noyon
Noyon
Noyon is a commune in the Oise department in northern France.It lies on the Oise Canal, 100 km north of Paris.-History:...
and Chauny
Chauny
Chauny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day...
until it turns north at Tergnier
Tergnier
Tergnier is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
, leaving the Oise valley. It reaches the river Somme at Saint-Quentin
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
and continues northeast. It passes through Busigny
Busigny
-References:*...
, Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Le Cateau-Cambrésis is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.The term Cambrésis indicates that it lies in the county of that name which fell to the Prince-Bishop of Cambrai.-History:...
, and reaches the river Sambre
Sambre
The Sambre is a river in northern France and Wallonia, southern Belgium, left tributary of the Meuse River. The ancient Romans called the river Sabis.-Course:...
at Ors
Ors
Ors is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is located on the Sambre–Oise Canal, in a small wood called Bois l'Évêque.-History:The commune was a theater of intense fighting in November 1918 for control of the canal...
. It follows the Sambre downstream through Aulnoye-Aymeries
Aulnoye-Aymeries
Aulnoye-Aymeries is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.Before the opening of the high-speed railway line between Brussels and Paris, it was a major railway crossing, where the lines Paris-Brussels and Calais-Lille-Thionville connected....
and the industrial town Maubeuge
Maubeuge
Maubeuge is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is situated on both banks of the Sambre , east of Valenciennes and about from the Belgian border.-History:...
until it reaches its terminus Jeumont
Jeumont
Jeumont is a commune lying on the Belgian border, located in the Maubeuge-Nord canton department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
. The railway continues to Erquelinnes
Erquelinnes
Erquelinnes is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Erquelinnes had a total population of 9,549. The total area is which gives a population density of 216 inhabitants per km²....
and Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
in Belgium.
Main stations
The main stations on the Creil–Jeumont railway are:- Gare de CreilGare de CreilGare de Creil is the railway station serving the northern French city of Creil. It is an important railway junction, situated on the Paris–Lille railway and the branch lines to Saint-Quentin, Beauvais and Pontoise....
- Gare de CompiègneGare de CompiègneGare de Compiègne is a railway station serving the town Compiègne, Oise department, northern France. It is situated on the Creil–Jeumont railway.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de Saint-QuentinGare de Saint-QuentinGare de Saint-Quentin is a railway station serving the town Saint-Quentin, Aisne department, northern France. It is situated on the Creil–Jeumont railway.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de MaubeugeGare de MaubeugeGare de Maubeuge is a railway station serving the town Maubeuge, Nord department, northern France. It is situated on the Creil–Jeumont railway.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de JeumontJeumontJeumont is a commune lying on the Belgian border, located in the Maubeuge-Nord canton department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
History
The railway was built by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du NordChemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord , often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company created in September 1845, in Paris, France. It was owned by among others de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, England, Hottinger, Laffitte and Blount...
. The first section that was opened in 1847 led from Creil
Creil
Creil is a large town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-History:Archaeological remains in the area include a Neolithic site, as well as a late Iron Age necropolis, perhaps belonging to a Gaulish fortress or protected camp.The city itself...
, on the Paris–Lille railway
Paris–Lille railway
The railway from Paris to Lille is an important French 251-kilometre long railway line, that connects Paris to the northern French city Lille. Branch lines offer connections to Belgium and Great Britain. As one of the first railway lines in France, it was opened on 20 June 1846...
, to Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
. The line was extended to Chauny
Chauny
Chauny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day...
in 1849, and to Saint-Quentin
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
in 1850. Finally in 1855 the section from Saint-Quentin to Jeumont
Jeumont
Jeumont is a commune lying on the Belgian border, located in the Maubeuge-Nord canton department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
was opened. Being connected to the Belgian railway network at Hautmont (towards Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) and at Jeumont (towards Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
, Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
and Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
), the railway was very important for international traffic. Since the opening of the LGV Nord
LGV Nord
The LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
high speed line between Paris and Lille in 1993, most long-distance and all international passenger traffic has shifted away from the classical Creil–Jeumont line. It remains an important railway for freight traffic and regional passenger traffic.
Services
The Creil–Jeumont railway is used by the following passenger services:- IntercitésIntercitésIntercités is a brand name used by France’s national railway company, SNCF, to denote medium-distance passenger rail services in France. SNCF established the Intercités system in January 2006 as an upgrade of the former Corail network...
from Paris to Cambrai and Maubeuge on the section between Creil and Maubeuge - TER PicardieTER PicardieTER Picardie is the regional rail network serving the Picardy region of France. It is based at the Gare d'Amiens in the town of Amiens.- Rail :- Road :- Multiple units:* SNCF Class Z 26500* SNCF Class X 4630* SNCF Class X 72500...
and TER Nord-Pas-de-CalaisTER Nord-Pas-de-CalaisTER Nord-Pas-de-Calais the regional rail network serving Nord-Pas-de-Calais région, France.- Network :*Lille - Calais - Boulogne-sur-Mer *Lille - Dunkerque *Lille - Arras -Multiple units:...
regional services on the whole line