Train du Centre Var - Provence

Historic French railcars in the heart of Provence.

Soon 20 years ago, a group of French railways enthusiasts gathered in Carnoules to initiate an activity that today has grown into a historic railway and museum activity.

An association (ATTCV) was created and a Picasso railcar acquired with permission to place it on the Besse-sur-Issole station's old track yard. Besse-sur-Issole is located on the more than 130 years old Gardanne to Carnoules line, where passenger traffic ceased before WWII. The line is now kept only for military purposes. It took 7 years until the association got permission to operate the Picasso on the line, from Carnoules to Brignoles.

Since, the ATTCV has substantially grown. It now has an interesting collection of some 25 operational heritage railcars, passenger carriages, locomotives and other rail vehicles, stored in the depot at Besse-sur-Issoles. Scheduled operation of railcars between Carnoules-les-Platanes and Brignoles twice a week April – October each year, with planned extension to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.

Photos on railtrain.org/attcv/slideshow/ give an overview of ATTCV's rolling stock and link to the association's web sites in English and French.