Paris–Lille railway
Encyclopedia
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. The opening of the LGV Nord
high speed line from Paris to Lille in 1993 has decreased its importance for passenger traffic.
in Paris
, running north for 6 km until Saint-Denis. From here, it climbs in northeastern direction at a constant 5 mm/km incline. Near Marly-la-Ville
, it turns north and then northwest, and descends towards the river Oise. At Creil
, the Oise is crossed. The line
to Saint-Quentin
and Brussels
branches off at Creil.
The line leaves the Oise valley and continues north to the river Somme at Longueau
near Amiens
. Here the Longueau–Boulogne railway
to the Gare d'Amiens
and Boulogne-sur-Mer
branches off to the west, and a line to Laon
to the east. The line to Lille continues in northeastern direction, following the valley of the Somme until Corbie
, and then the river Ancre
until Miraumont
, where the line turns north until it reaches Arras
.
From Arras it follows the river Scarpe in eastern direction until Douai
, where it turns northwest. After Ostricourt
it turns north again, entering the agglomeration of Lille
. After a total length of 251 km, it reaches its terminus Gare de Lille-Flandres
.
to Belgium
and England
was studied by the French government
as early as 1833. By November 1842, the northern French cities Lille
and Valenciennes
were already connected to the Belgian
railway network. In July 1844 a law was passed that determined the route of the new railway from Paris to Lille. Exploitation of the line from Paris to Lille and several branch lines was granted to the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord
. Owners of the CF du Nord were Hottinger, Laffitte, Blount and Baron de Rothschild
as president. The railway line as well as the Parisian station was inaugurated on June 1846.
The line originally passed through the Oise valley, along Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône
and Persan
. This way a steep climb and descent between Saint-Denis and Creil could be avoided. The arrival of stronger engines prompted the CF du Nord to construct a 19 km shorter line between Saint-Denis and Creil over the plateau, passing along Chantilly
. This new section was opened on 10 May 1859.
Since the opening of the LGV Nord
high speed line between Paris and Lille in 1993, most long-distance passenger traffic has shifted away from the classical Paris–Lille 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...
251-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 northern French city Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. Branch lines offer connections to Belgium
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...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. As one of the first railway lines in France, it was opened on 20 June 1846. 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 Paris–Lille railway begins at the Gare du NordGare du Nord
Paris Nord is one of the six large terminus railway stations of the SNCF mainline network for Paris, France. It offers connections with several urban transportation lines, including Paris Métro and RER...
in 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...
, running north for 6 km until Saint-Denis. From here, it climbs in northeastern direction at a constant 5 mm/km incline. Near Marly-la-Ville
Marly-la-Ville
Marly-la-Ville is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France.-References:** -External links:* * *...
, it turns north and then northwest, and descends towards the river Oise. At 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...
, the Oise is crossed. The line
Creil–Jeumont railway
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...
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....
and 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...
branches off at Creil.
The line leaves the Oise valley and continues north to the river Somme at Longueau
Longueau
Longueau is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Longueau is situated southeast of Amiens, a suburb just by the airport, on the N29 road-Population:-Places of interest:The town was once a railway centre...
near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
. Here the Longueau–Boulogne railway
Longueau–Boulogne railway
The Longueau-Boulogne railway is a French railway which runs from a junction with the Paris-Lille railway at Longueau to the coastal port of Boulogne. A double track...
to the Gare d'Amiens
Gare d'Amiens
Gare d'Amiens is the main station for the Northern French city of Amiens.The station opened on 15 March 1847 when the line to Abbeville opened to passengers. The station building was subsequently replaced by the present structure following the allied bombardment and was built in 1955 by Auguste...
and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
branches off to the west, and a line to Laon
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
to the east. The line to Lille continues in northeastern direction, following the valley of the Somme until Corbie
Corbie
Corbie is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The small town is situated up river from Amiens, in the département of Somme and is the main town of the canton of Corbie. It lies in the valley of the River Somme, at the confluence of the River Ancre. The town...
, and then the river Ancre
Ancre
The Ancre is a river of Picardy, France. Rising at Miraumont, a hamlet near the town of Albert, it flows into the Somme at Corbie. It crosses no départements other than the Somme.-See also:* Battle of the Ancre Heights...
until Miraumont
Miraumont
Miraumont is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.Current agricultural products include grains, potatoes, and beets.-Geography:Miraumont is situated on the D107 and D50 crossroads, some northeast of Amiens,...
, where the line turns north until it reaches Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
.
From Arras it follows the river Scarpe in eastern direction until Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
, where it turns northwest. After Ostricourt
Ostricourt
-References:*...
it turns north again, entering the agglomeration of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. After a total length of 251 km, it reaches its terminus Gare de Lille-Flandres
Gare de Lille-Flandres
Lille-Flandres is the main station of the city of Lille, France. It is a terminus for SNCF Intercity and regional trains and was named Flandres in 1993 when Lille-Europe station opened....
.
Main stations
The main stations on the Paris–Lille railway are:- Gare du NordGare du NordParis Nord is one of the six large terminus railway stations of the SNCF mainline network for Paris, France. It offers connections with several urban transportation lines, including Paris Métro and RER...
(Paris) - 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 LongueauGare de LongueauLongueau station is a railway station in Longueau near Amiens, France. It is situated on the Paris–Lille railway. Longueau is served by trains of the TER Picardie and Intercités networks...
- Gare d'ArrasGare d'ArrasGare d'Arras is a railway station serving the town Arras, Pas-de-Calais department, northern France. It is situated on the Paris–Lille railway, is the origin of the Arras-Dunkirk railway and accessible from LGV Nord.-Services:-References:* *...
- Gare de DouaiGare de DouaiGare de Douai is a railway station serving the town of Douai, Nord, France. It is situated on the Paris–Lille railway. It is served by TGV long distance trains to Paris, Lille and Valenciennes, and by regional TER Nord-Pas-de-Calais trains....
- Gare de Lille-FlandresGare de Lille-FlandresLille-Flandres is the main station of the city of Lille, France. It is a terminus for SNCF Intercity and regional trains and was named Flandres in 1993 when Lille-Europe station opened....
History
The idea of linking FranceFrance
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...
to Belgium
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...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was studied by the French government
Government of France
The government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
as early as 1833. By November 1842, the northern French cities Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and Valenciennes
Valenciennes
Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
were already connected to 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...
railway network. In July 1844 a law was passed that determined the route of the new railway from Paris to Lille. Exploitation of the line from Paris to Lille and several branch lines was granted to the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord
Chemin 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...
. Owners of the CF du Nord were Hottinger, Laffitte, Blount and Baron de Rothschild
James Mayer de Rothschild
James Mayer de Rothschild was a French banker and the original founder of the French branch of the Rothschild family.-Biography:...
as president. The railway line as well as the Parisian station was inaugurated on June 1846.
The line originally passed through the Oise valley, along Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône
Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône
Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise, created in the 1960s.-Transport:...
and Persan
Persan
Persan is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France.-References:** -External links:* *...
. This way a steep climb and descent between Saint-Denis and Creil could be avoided. The arrival of stronger engines prompted the CF du Nord to construct a 19 km shorter line between Saint-Denis and Creil over the plateau, passing along Chantilly
Chantilly, Oise
Chantilly is a small city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune in the department of Oise.It is in the metropolitan area of Paris 38.4 km...
. This new section was opened on 10 May 1859.
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 passenger traffic has shifted away from the classical Paris–Lille line. It remains an important railway for freight traffic and regional passenger traffic.
Services
The Paris–Lille railway is used by the following passenger services:- TGVTGVThe 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....
, ThalysThalysThalys is an international high-speed train operator originally built around the high-speed line between Paris and Brussels. This track is shared with Eurostar trains that go from Paris or Brussels to London via Lille and the Channel Tunnel and with French domestic TGV trains. Thalys reaches...
and EurostarEurostarEurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
on the section between Paris and Villiers-le-Bel - Gonesse, and on short stretches near Arras and Lille - TGVTGVThe 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....
additionally on the section between Arras and Lille - 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 Boulogne on the section between Paris and Longueau, and Intercités from Paris to Cambrai and Maubeuge on the section between Paris and Creil - 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 - TransilienTransilienThe Transilien is the brand name for suburban railway services of the SNCF-owned railway network operating within the Île-de-France région...
regional services on the section between Paris and Saint-Denis - RER DRER DThe RER D is one of the five lines in the RER rapid transit system serving :Paris, France.The line officially runs from the northern terminus Orry-la-Ville – Coye to the southern terminuses Melun and Malesherbes...
Paris rapid transit on the section between Paris and Creil