Sud Express
Encyclopedia
Sud Express is the name of a famous night train
connection originally between Paris
and Lisbon
, but now covering only the southern part of the traditional route. The trip used to take two nights.
, a direct link between Saint Petersburg, Russia and Lisbon
, Portugal
with connecting ships to South America
and North America
.
For many years a branch of the Sud Express reached Madrid
and Oporto.
station before asking for permission, since he thought that Coimbra
traffic manager had informed all stations about the priority of the 30 minute delayed Sud Express, when asked for permission, the traffic manager was informed by Moimenta Dão-Alcafache that a train was just expelled from there, since Mangualde station had expelled the train before with permission of Nelas, but Mangualde was not informed that the delayed Sud Express had priority over other services, so the factor at Moimenta Dão-Alcafache expelled the train, the train was a Regional (Guarda
-Coimbra).After noticing the mistake, Nelas manager contacted a level crossing guard in order to stop the trains, but it was too late, some minutes after, the two trains collided frontally near Moimenta Dão-Alacafache station, at one of the few points of Beira Alta line that in those times allowed speeds in the order of 100 km/h..
The locomotives exploded and immediately the carriages caught fire, the Sud Express transported about 400 passengers, the Regional train had some 40 passengers, but only 47 deaths were officially confirmed, most caused by the fire blaze that consumed most of the carriages.
The locomotives that hauled the trains were, respectively, 1961 (CP 1960 Class) and 1439 (CP 1400 Class), for Sud Express and Regional train.
A memorial monument was erected on site.
, the direct service was discontinued in favour of a (faster) combination of two different trains. The original connection from and to Paris is made with a TGV
to Irun and from Hendaye (the twin border towns on opposite sides of the French/Spanish border). The continuing Sud Express then runs as a night train from Irun
at the French/Spanish border to Lisbon and from Lisbon to Hendaye
. Until april 2010, facilities exist for 2rd class seated accommodation, 2nd class couchette cars (6 bunk sex segregated compartments), and 1st class private sleeping compartments for 1, 2 or three passengers. Passengers in 1st class compartments traditionally find a bar of chocolate and a small bottle of port in their compartments upon boarding the train. Dinner is served in a well-appointed dining and bar car, which also serves a continental breakfast the following morning. Now the train is composed by Talgo
cars hired from Renfe
.
Sleeper car
Sleeper car may refer to:* Sleeping car, a railroad passenger car that can accommodate its passengers in beds* Sleeper , a car that has an unassuming exterior but is capable of high performance...
connection originally between 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...
and Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, but now covering only the southern part of the traditional route. The trip used to take two nights.
History
In its first days of existence at the beginning of the 20th century Sud Express formed, together with Nord ExpressNord Express
The "Nord Express" was a train service introduced in 1896 by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, a Belgian night train company...
, a direct link between Saint Petersburg, Russia and Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with connecting ships to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
For many years a branch of the Sud Express reached Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and Oporto.
Accidents
On 11th September 1985, a Sud Express train was expelled from NelasNelas
Nelas is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 125.7 km² and a total population of 14,504 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 9 parishes and is located in the district of Viseu....
station before asking for permission, since he thought that Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
traffic manager had informed all stations about the priority of the 30 minute delayed Sud Express, when asked for permission, the traffic manager was informed by Moimenta Dão-Alcafache that a train was just expelled from there, since Mangualde station had expelled the train before with permission of Nelas, but Mangualde was not informed that the delayed Sud Express had priority over other services, so the factor at Moimenta Dão-Alcafache expelled the train, the train was a Regional (Guarda
Guarda
Guarda Municipality is located in Guarda District, Beira Interior Norte sub-region in Centro Region in Portugal. It has a total area of 712.1 km² and a total population of 44,149. It contains the city of Guarda, Portugal....
-Coimbra).After noticing the mistake, Nelas manager contacted a level crossing guard in order to stop the trains, but it was too late, some minutes after, the two trains collided frontally near Moimenta Dão-Alacafache station, at one of the few points of Beira Alta line that in those times allowed speeds in the order of 100 km/h..
The locomotives exploded and immediately the carriages caught fire, the Sud Express transported about 400 passengers, the Regional train had some 40 passengers, but only 47 deaths were officially confirmed, most caused by the fire blaze that consumed most of the carriages.
The locomotives that hauled the trains were, respectively, 1961 (CP 1960 Class) and 1439 (CP 1400 Class), for Sud Express and Regional train.
A memorial monument was erected on site.
The service today
With the opening of the LGV AtlantiqueLGV 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...
, the direct service was discontinued in favour of a (faster) combination of two different trains. The original connection from and to Paris is made with a 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....
to Irun and from Hendaye (the twin border towns on opposite sides of the French/Spanish border). The continuing Sud Express then runs as a night train from Irun
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
at the French/Spanish border to Lisbon and from Lisbon to Hendaye
Hendaye
Hendaye is the most south-westerly town and commune in France, lying in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and located in the traditional province Lapurdi of the French Basque Country...
. Until april 2010, facilities exist for 2rd class seated accommodation, 2nd class couchette cars (6 bunk sex segregated compartments), and 1st class private sleeping compartments for 1, 2 or three passengers. Passengers in 1st class compartments traditionally find a bar of chocolate and a small bottle of port in their compartments upon boarding the train. Dinner is served in a well-appointed dining and bar car, which also serves a continental breakfast the following morning. Now the train is composed by Talgo
Talgo
Talgo is a Spanish manufacturer of railway vehicles. It is best known for a design of articulated railway passenger cars in which the wheels are mounted in pairs, but not joined by an axle, and being between rather than underneath the individual coaches...
cars hired from Renfe
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
.