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Chemins de Fer de la Corse (CFC) is the name of the regional rail network serving the French island of Corsica. It is centred on the town of Ponte-Leccia, from which three main lines radiate to Ajaccio, Bastia, and Calvi. The section following the northwest coastline between L'Île-Rousse and Calvi, known as the Balagne line, gives access to many beaches and is very popular with tourists.
A fourth line, running from Casamozza (on the Bastia line) down the east coast of the island to Porto-Vecchio was badly damaged by bombardment during World War II and never reopened.
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In 1877 it was decided to build a metre gauge railway in Corsica, despite the very difficult terrain it would have to cross.[1] Legislation was passed on 4 August 1879 for the construction of the railway.[2] The first lines opened on 1 August 1888[2] between Bastia and Corte and also between Ajaccio and Bocognano. The network was gradually opened in sections until 1894. A line to Porto-Vecchio opened in stages, the final section opening in 1935, but this was to be short lived owing to the war. There were proposals to build lines from Ajaccio to Propriano and also from Porto Vecchio to Bonifacio, but these lines were not built.[1]
In 1955, there was a proposal to close the Calvi - Ponte-Lecchia line; and in 1959 another proposal to close the whole network, which was successfully opposed by the railway workers and the citizens of Corsica. In 1972, another proposal for closure was fought off.[3]
With a length of 232 kilometres (144 mi), the network is composed of two lines, both single track:
A third line of 130 kilometres (81 mi), opened between 1888 and 1935, serving the east coast; it linked Casamozza to Porto-Vecchio. After suffering much damage during World War II in September 1943, it was never restored, although the section between Casamozza and Folleli remained open until 1953.[4] The track of the disused line, between Casamozza and Moriani, at , is being considered for reopening.
The island's geography and topography has forced the line to follow it. The network has 32 tunnels and 51 bridges and viaducts. The longest tunnel, at 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi), is near Vizzavona. This tunnel, at 906 metres (2,972 ft) high, is also the highest on the network. The viaduct at Vecchio, 140 metres (459 ft) long and 94 metres (308 ft 5 in) high,[5] was designed by Gustave Eiffel.[6]
The CFC is the only metre gauge line in France carrying freight. One train a day operates over the Ajaccio-Bastia line. In winter, the Vizzavona pass is often blocked, and closed to road traffic. Most of the goods wagons are today used for track maintenance purposes.[7]
The network is owned by the government of France and not by Réseau Ferré de France. The Collectivité Territoriale de Corse, CTC, is the concessionary holder of the network, under the act of parliament on regionalisation of railways in France, and is the transport authority and regulator of railway services. The CTC has entrusted the SNCF with the operation of rail services since 1 January 1983. A nine-year agreement between these bodies under the Loi Sapin came into effect on 1 September 2001.
A modernisation plan agreed by the national government, the CTC and the SNCF envisages the investment of 110 million euros. These funds are to be allocated to the modernisation of rolling stock and infrastructure, thus reducing travel time. An extension of the network towards the airports at Bastia and Ajaccio is also envisaged.
Services are provided with sixteen multiple units and locomotives.
There are also ten Billard railcars that have had their engines removed, used as trailers. These include XR113, XR504, XR505 and XR526.
Twelve AMG800 railcars are scheduled to be delivered between June 2007 and 2009. These will reduce journey times on the Bastia-Corte-Ajaccio route to 2h 30m and allow the Soulé railcars to be transferred to the Bastia-Calvi route.[1] The first AMG800 railcar arrived on 23 June 2007.[8]
Amongst the freight stock still in service is a bogie flat wagon converted into a fire-fighting wagon.[7]
X2000 destroyed by fire in 1980.[8]
Two petrol-electric Crochat railcars were in service from 1928 until an accident in 1928 led to their withdrawal.[8]
X158 OC1 series. Ex Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, Réseau Breton and Chemin de Fer des Côtes-du-Nord, preserved at Langueux, France.
The CFC had over 500 freight wagons. Open wagons were on 10 tonnes capacity. Other wagon types included flat wagons, vans, tarpaulin wagons, tank and hopper wagons, as well as three cranes.[7]
Service is essentially composed of passenger trains. It is divided into different activities:
Goods traffic amounts to less than 1000 tons per annum.
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