Paris–Brest railway
Encyclopedia
The railway from Paris to Brest is an important French
622-kilometre long railway line, that connects Paris
to the western port city Brest
via Le Mans
and Rennes
. It is used for passenger (express, regional and suburban) and freight traffic. The railway was opened in several stages between 1840 and 1865.
in southwestern direction for the first 3 km, and turns west at Malakoff
, skirting the southern quarters of Versailles
. It turns southwest again until Maintenon
, where it starts following the river Eure upstream, passing Chartres
. At La Loupe
, it leaves the Eure valley in southwestern direction until it enters the Huisne
valley at Condé-sur-Huisne
. It follows the Huisne downstream to Le Mans
, where it turns northwest. At Sillé-le-Guillaume
it turns west, crossing the river Mayenne in Laval
.
After Vitré
, it follows the river Vilaine
downstream to Rennes
. It continues roughly northwest to Lamballe
, where it turns west. Just before Saint-Brieuc
(at Yffiniac
), it nearly touches the English Channel
coast. It continues west through Guingamp
and Morlaix
until it reaches its terminus Brest
, at a bay
of the Atlantic Ocean
.
TGV
high speed trains with destination Le Mans and further west use the LGV Atlantique
between Paris and Connerré
(20 km east of Le Mans) instead of the "classic" line.
. The oldest section of the line is the part between Paris and Viroflay
, built in 1840 as part of the railway between Paris and Versailles
. The part between Viroflay and Chartres
was opened in 1849, Chartres–La Loupe
in 1852, La Loupe–Le Mans
in 1854, Le Mans–Laval
in 1855, Laval–Rennes
in 1857, followed by Rennes–Guingamp
in 1863 and Guingamp–Brest
in 1865.
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...
622-kilometre long railway line, that connects 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 the western port city Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
via Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
and Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
. It is used for passenger (express, regional and suburban) and freight traffic. The railway was opened in several stages between 1840 and 1865.
Route
The railway leaves Paris-MontparnasseGare Montparnasse
Paris Montparnasse is one of the six large terminus railway stations of Paris, located in the Montparnasse area in the XIVe arrondissement. The station was opened in 1840, and rebuilt completely in 1969...
in southwestern direction for the first 3 km, and turns west at Malakoff
Malakoff
Malakoff is a suburban commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department southwest of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of the city.-History:The commune of Malakoff was created on 8 November 1883 by detaching its territory from the commune of Vanves...
, skirting the southern quarters of Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
. It turns southwest again until Maintenon
Maintenon
-Personalities:*Françoise d'Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon*Françoise-Marie de Bourbon - youngest daughter of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV, born here in 1677-Transportation:...
, where it starts following the river Eure upstream, passing Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
. At La Loupe
La Loupe
La Loupe is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
, it leaves the Eure valley in southwestern direction until it enters the Huisne
Huisne
The Huisne is a river is located in France. It is a left tributary of the river Sarthe, which it meets in Le Mans. Its source is near the town Pervenchères, in the Orne department.The Huisne flows through the following départements and towns:...
valley at Condé-sur-Huisne
Condé-sur-Huisne
Condé-sur-Huisne is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-References:*...
. It follows the Huisne downstream to Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
, where it turns northwest. At Sillé-le-Guillaume
Sillé-le-Guillaume
Sillé-le-Guillaume is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France, named after Guillaume de Sillé....
it turns west, crossing the river Mayenne in Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
.
After Vitré
Vitré
Vitré may refer to communes in France:* Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine* Vitré, Deux-Sèvres...
, it follows the river Vilaine
Vilaine
The Vilaine is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département , and flows out in the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département . It is 218 km long...
downstream to Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
. It continues roughly northwest to Lamballe
Lamballe
Lamballe is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.It lies on the Gouessant east-southeast of Saint-Brieuc by rail.- History :...
, where it turns west. Just before Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-History:Saint-Brieuc is named after a Welsh monk Brioc, who evangelized the region in the 6th century and established an oratory there...
(at Yffiniac
Yffiniac
Yffiniac is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Yffiniac are called yffiniacais.-External links:*...
), it nearly touches the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
coast. It continues west through Guingamp
Guingamp
Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
and Morlaix
Morlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
until it reaches its terminus Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, at a bay
Roadstead of Brest
The roadstead of Brest is a roadstead or bay located in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. The surface area is about 180 km² . The port of Brest is located on its northern edge and one of the two French naval bases...
of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
high speed trains with destination Le Mans and further west use the LGV Atlantique
LGV Atlantique
The LGV Atlantique is a high-speed railway line running from Paris to Western France. It opened in 1989-1990. It divides into two parts at Courtalain, one going westward to Le Mans , the second one going southwestward to Tours .-Route:The line leaves Gare Montparnasse to cross Paris's southern...
between Paris and Connerré
Connerré
Connerré is a commune in the Sarthe department in the Pays de la Loire region in north-western France.-References:*...
(20 km east of Le Mans) instead of the "classic" line.
Main stations
- Gare MontparnasseGare MontparnasseParis Montparnasse is one of the six large terminus railway stations of Paris, located in the Montparnasse area in the XIVe arrondissement. The station was opened in 1840, and rebuilt completely in 1969...
(Paris) - Gare de Versailles-Chantiers
- Gare de ChartresGare de ChartresGare de Chartres is a railway station serving the town Chartres, Eure-et-Loir department, central France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare du MansGare du MansGare du Mans is a railway station serving the town Le Mans, Sarthe department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway, Le Mans–Angers railway and the non-electrified Tours–Le Mans railway.-Services:The following services call at Le Mans:...
- Gare de LavalGare de LavalGare de Laval is a railway station serving the town Laval, Mayenne department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de VitréGare de VitréGare de Vitré is a railway station serving the town Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de RennesGare de RennesRennes railway station is situated in the town centre of Rennes, France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest, Rennes–Saint-Malo and the Rennes–Redon railways....
- Gare de LamballeGare de LamballeGare de Lamballe is a railway station serving the town Lamballe, Côtes-d'Armor department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway and the branch line to Dinan and Dol-de-Bretagne.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de Saint-BrieucGare de Saint-BrieucGare de Saint-Brieuc is a railway station serving the town Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-d'Armor department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway and the branch line to Pontivy and Le Légué .-Services:...
- Gare de GuingampGare de GuingampGare de Guingamp is a railway station serving the town Guingamp, Côtes-d'Armor department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway. It is also an important station for the local railway network Réseau Breton.-Services:...
- Gare de Plouaret-TrégorGare de Plouaret-TrégorGare de Plouaret-Trégor is a railway station serving the town Plouaret, Côtes-d'Armor department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway and the branch line to Lannion.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de MorlaixGare de MorlaixGare de Morlaix is a railway station serving the town Morlaix, Finistère department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway and the branch to Roscoff.-Services:...
- Gare de LanderneauGare de LanderneauGare de Landerneau is a railway station serving the town Landerneau, Finistère department, western France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest railway and the branch to Quimper.-Services:-References:*...
- Gare de BrestGare de BrestGare de Brest is the station serving Brest, France. It is the western terminus of the Paris–Brest railway. The new station, built above the town's harbour in 1932 on the site of its 1865 predecessor, includes a tall clock tower and a semi circle passenger hall...
Line history
The railway Paris–Brest was first built and exploited by the Chemins de Fer de l'OuestChemins de Fer de l'Ouest
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest , often referred to simply as L'Ouest or Ouest, was an early French railway company.- Birth of the company :...
. The oldest section of the line is the part between Paris and Viroflay
Viroflay
Viroflay is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center and from the Palace of Versailles....
, built in 1840 as part of the railway between Paris and Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
. The part between Viroflay and Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
was opened in 1849, Chartres–La Loupe
La Loupe
La Loupe is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
in 1852, La Loupe–Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
in 1854, Le Mans–Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
in 1855, Laval–Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
in 1857, followed by Rennes–Guingamp
Guingamp
Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
in 1863 and Guingamp–Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
in 1865.