We will have a couple of days in the Pyrenees in late October. We've read about the "yellow train" that goes from Font-Romeu to Villefranche-Vernet les bains. Looking at the (very confusing) timetable, it doesn't look like the train runs that full distance during the dates we will be there (October 25 and 26). It does look like we could do a shorter leg of the train ride. From Font-Romeu to Latour-de-Carol-Enveitig. Has anyone does this train? Is it worth it to do just that leg of the ride, turn around and come back to Font-Romeu that same day? Thanks in advance for your help!
Posted by
Waikikamukau
448 posts
I have travelled the full length from the station at Villefranche de Conflent (one of my favourite places in France) up to Latour de Carol sitting in one of the topless carriages. Loved it.
The section from Font-Romeu to Latour was quite scenic from memory. I am not sure the open top carriages will be in operation in October though.
Posted by
France Southwest
1841 posts
You will find the timetables for the yellow train until December 9, 2023 here: (PDF file in French, the English version is not updated)
The numbers at the top of the columns indicate the dates when the train is running.
For October 25 and 26 only columns with numbers 4 and 7 numbers are valid.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5945 posts
You are correct that the line is closed for engineering works between Villefranche and Font Romeu between 2 October and 3 November.
With a bit of basic railway French the timetable is easy to read to me, but then I am used to French railway timetables in their native language.
The rail diversion is via Toulouse and Perpignan on the main line trains to La Tour.
There is one return train on your dates between Font Romeu and La Tour de Carol [Coded dates 4 on the timetable]- at 1145, returns at 1550-gives you 1 hour 35 minutes at La Tour.
The timetable does say there should be a replacement bus between Villefranche and Font Romeu, but details have not yet been announced (either on SNCF or on die bahn) . La tour is a unique station with three gauges (sizes) of train. It is a route I have always fancied doing through to Barcelona (change to the Spanish train at La Tour), but never managed to do. On the via Perpignan (main line) route there used to be sleeper trains from Paris to La Tour de Carol.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5945 posts
This is the ordinary service bus/city bus which runs from Perpignan to Villefranche to Font Romeu- https://storage.googleapis.com/is-wp-90-prod/uploads-preprod/2023/08/OC-0723-FHliO-66-560-web.pdf
Posted by
France
39 posts
Thanks for this post! Le petit train jaune is supposed to run all year, but it doesn't. It was shut down earlier in 2023 for several weeks for maintenance and now is being shut down from October until sometime in November for more maintenance. In addition, whenever the TER Occitanie goes on strike, it doesn't run. This happened this week again on Tuesday. It's pretty hit or miss.
I've been trying to take this train for years and finally got lucky yesterday. It ran, there was sunshine, and I got to sit in the open carriage. The experience was glorious -- not just the sights, but also the feel of the elements, the scents, the sounds. Train buffs are in heaven, plus nerd out at the Latour-de-Carol station where three types of train lines run (Spanish, French, yellow train). I don't think it would have been as much fun if seated in one of the super cramped and uncomfortable indoor carriages. I went from Villefranche-le-Conflent to Bourge-Madame (having a tapas lunch in Spain).
I took the one Euro Lio bus (linked above) in the opposite direction from Latour-de-Carol to Prades and actually enjoyed the scenery more from the road than the train. It's easier to see the deep mountain gorges and castles, fortifications, solar over, ski resorts etc. that way.