Appendix Railways, Tourism and Heritage French National Charter for Development of Tourist and Historic Railways

Heritage Railways

Charter Objectives Promotion and to facilitate access to information on tourist The National Charter for Development of Enhancement of Tourist trains. Tourist and Historic Railways signed (Table 1) and Vintage Trains on 15 February 2001 promotes Information on excursion and vintage trains Greater Professionalism development of tourist railways in France, will be enhanced both in France and to Ensure Quality of a country that is the world’s most popular overseas. For example, a new brochure will Proposed Services tourist destination and which possesses an be compiled and distributed overseas FACS-UNECTO brings together 46 groups extensive rail network. through the offices of Maison de la France operating vintage trains on lines totalling It clarifies the relationships between the (French Government Tourist Office) whose 589 km in length (Table 2). It is committed partners to the agreement and lists the purpose is to promote France as a to strengthening the professionalism and commitments of those partners in various destination for travellers from other quality of services of its members and will domains, including promotion and countries. Maison de la France is under offer assistance and guidance to groups enhancement of railway lines through the authority of the Minister of Culture and wanting to launch a new service. publicity in France and overseas; Communication (Mme Catherine Tasca) It will prepare a guide explaining the guaranteed quality of services; safety and and her State Secretary for Tourism (Mme procedures required to establish a tourist proper control of infrastructure; preservation Michelle Demessine), and under the railway or modify an existing line. The of railway staff expertise; and development supervision of the Office of Tourism. It was guide will specify conditions for making of local economies. given an EIG (Economic Interest Group) some line sections available, safety structure to reflect the desire of the national regulations, expert evaluation and control Clarification of government and local communities and methods, the role of each party, and the Relationships between tourism professionals to work together. responsibilities of the operators and local Various Partners SNCF and RFF will play an essential role in communities. It will also list national and Railway enthusiasts spurred the promoting and assisting development of regional resources. development of tourist railways in France tourist train services. Furthermore, when around the end of the 1950s. Their primary RFF receives a request from a non-profit Commitments of Ministry aim was to preserve rolling stock and line society to make a line available for tourist of Public Works, sections. Consequently, various tourist train operations, it has agreed to consider Transport and Housing trains were launched on a case-by-case the request favourably and to consider Upon receiving a proposal from RFF and basis and each request was dealt with setting advantageous fees. SNCF, and after consultation with FACS- according to the conditions of the time and During the tourist season, SNCF will form UNECTO, the Ministry of Equipment, location. This led to a great disparity in partnerships with communities to ensure Transport and Lodging will draw up: operating methods, although safety was that travellers are well informed of services reference guidelines to ensure safe never called into question. to important tourist and cultural sites. operation of tourist railways that are As a result, one of the Charter’s principle In addition, SNCF, RFF, the French permitted to use sections of the national rail objectives is to progressively codify Federation of Friends of Local Railways and network; guidelines governing relations between the French National the Union of Tourist Railway Operators infrastructure, rolling stock and operating Railways (SNCF), Réseau ferré de France (FACS-UNECTO) and Maison de la France conditions; and certification procedures to (RFF), and the operators of tourist railways. will create links between their Internet sites be followed by operators applying under the guidelines. Table 1 Signatories to National Charter In addition, an edict is being formulated by the French state security transport services Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing to cover safety issues pertaining to tourist Minister of Culture and Communications and heritage railways operating outside the State Secretary for Tourism national railway network. State Secretary for Heritage and Cultural Decentralization President of SNCF President of RFF President of FACS-UNECTO

Table 2 List of FACS-UNECTO Tourist and Heritage Railways

Department Alsace Department Lorraine 68 Railway of la Doller Valley: St-André – Sentheim 08/55 South Ardennes Tourist Railway: Pont-Maugis – Stenay 68 Rhine Tourist Railway: Volgelsheim – Port Rhénan 57 Forest Railway of Abreschviller: Abreschviller – Grand-Soldat Department Aquitaine 57 Vallée de la Canner Tourist Railway: Hombourg-Budange – 33 Guitres – Marcenais Tourist Train Vigy 33 PGV Pointe-de-Grave – Soulac 57 Tourist and Museum Railway of Coal Basin: Petite-Rosselle – 33 Cap-Ferret Tramway Mariennau 40 Ecomusée de Gascogne: Sabres – Marquèze Department Midi-Pyrénées 64 Col de St Ignace – La Rhune 46/12 Quercy-Rail: Cahors – Capdenac 64 La Sagette – Artouste 46 Haut-Quercy Tourist Railway: St-Denis-près-Martel – Martel Department Auvergne 81 Tarn Tourist Railway: St-Lieux-les-Lavaur – Les Martels 15 Haut-Cantal Tourist Train: Riom-ès-Montagne – Lugarde Department Nord Pas-de-Calais 43/07 Railway lines of Velay: Dunières – St-Agrève 59 Vallée de la Deule Tourist Tramway: Marquette – Wambrechies 63/43 AGRIVAP: Courpière – Ambert – Sembadel 62 Vallée de l’Aa Tourist Railway: Arques - Lumbres Department Burgundy Department Basse Normandie 21 Vallée de l’Ouche Tourist Railway: Bligny – Pont-d’Ouche 14/27 Pontaurail – Pont-Audemer – Honfleur 71 Combes au Creusot Railway 50 Contentin Tourist Train: Carteret – Port-Bail 89 Yonne Railcar Association: Toucy – Villiers-St-Benoit Department Haute Normandie 89 Massangis Slow Train 27 Railway of Vallée de l’Eure: Pacy-sur-Eure – Breuilpont Department Brittany 27/14 Pont-Audemer – Honfleur 22 Paimpol–Pontrieux 76 Tourist Train Etretat – Pays de Caux: Les Loges - Etretat 22 Cotes du Nord: St-Brieuc Department Pays de Loire Department Centre 72 la Sarthe Tourist Railway: Connerré – Bonnétable 37 Touraine Steam Trains: Chinon – Richelieu 72 Semur-en-Vallon Railway 37 Lac de Rillé Railway 85 la Vendée Railway: Montagne/Sèvre – Les Herbiers 41 Val de Loir Tourist Train: Thoré-la-Rochette – Troö Department Picardie 45 Pithiviers Transport Museum: Pithiviers – Bellébat 02 Vermandois Tourist Train: St-Quentin – Origny-Ste-Benoite Department Champagne Ardenne 80 Baie de Somme Railway: Noyelles – le Crotoy et Noyelles – 08 Tourist Railway of South Ardennes: Amagne-Lucquy – Cayeux Challerange 80 Picardie Association for Preservation of Vintage Vehicles: 08/55 Tourist Railway of South Ardennes: Pont-Maugis – Stenay Froissy – Dompierre 51 la Traconne Forest Tourist Railway: Esternay – Sézanne Department Poitou Charentes 52 Blaise and Der Tourist Railway: Eclaron – Doulevant-le-Château 17 Seudre Tourist Railway: Saujon – la Tremblade Department Franche-Comté 17 Saint-Trojan – Maumusson Tourist Tramway 25 Pontarlier – Vallorbe – Les Hôpitaux-Neufs Department Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur 25 Vapeur Val de Travers: Neuchatel-Pontarlier 06/04 Provence Railways Study Group: Puget-Théniers – Annot Department Ile de France 13 RDT13: Arles-Fontvieille 77 Tacots des Lacs: Moncourt 83 Centrevar: Carnoules-Brignoles 91 Port aux Cerises: Draveil Department Rhône Alpes 92 Parc des Chantereines: Villeneuve-la-Garenne 07 Vivarais Railway: Toumon-Lamastre 95 Valmondois Steam Railway Museum: Butry-Valmondois 07 Viaduc 07: Vogüé – St-Jean-le-Centenier Department Languedoc-Roussillon 07/43 Railway Lines of du Velay: Dunières – St-Agrève 11 Minervois Tourist Railcar: Narbonne – Bize 38 La Mure Tourist Railway: St-Georges-de-Commiers à la Mure 30 Cévennes Steam Train: Anduze – St-Jean-du-Gard 38 Haut-Rhône Railway: Montalieu – Sault-Brenaz 66 SNCF-Cerdagne: Villefranche-Latour de Carol 69 Brévenne Tourist Railway: L’Abresle – Ste-Foy-l’Argentiere 66 Fenouillédes Railway: Rivesaltes-St-Martin du Lys 74 Mer de Glace Railway: Chamonix – Montenvers Department Limousin 74 Le Fayet – Glacier de Bionnassay 87/19 Vienne Vézère Steam Train: Limoges – Ussel Note: Infrequent tourist-train traffic on national railway lines, recreation park lines, cycle-rails, and museums not possessing a line in operation are not included.

36 Japan Railway & Transport Review 30 • March 2002 Copyright © 2002 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Commitments of Ministry services on the national rail network. network’s off-peak days and times, on of Culture and Member operators undertake to raise the sections that are not heavily travelled. The Communication level of their technical and commercial railways will offer the societies a fixed fare A study commission will propose specific professionalism. As one important that includes usage fees received by RFF measures to ensure the continued existence example, they will ensure that their and which will be limited, in this case, to of the specialized skills necessary for advertising reflects the true nature and the sole right to operate on the line. A preserving restoring, maintaining and quality of services. detailed invoice for extraordinary services operating vintage infrastructure and rolling will be sent to the societies. Permission to stock to ensure the longevity of tourist SNCF and RFF use a line will be granted provided that railways and the technical and cultural Commitments safety regulations are respected and regular heritage they embody. In addition to the SNCF and RFF are committed to enhancing services are not disturbed. Reasons will be signatories to the Charter, the commission their contributions to development of given if an application for use of a line is can also work with institutional partners, tourism in France, both nationally and rejected. such as the Regions, and associate partners, locally. They will encourage development Railway and tourist information will be such as the French Railway Historical of tourist railways, especially on sections enhanced. The SNCF will increase its efforts Society (AHICF), and the French Railway of the national rail network that are not in in this regard, especially during the tourist Museum (Mulhouse). current use. Through ongoing dialogue, season, working with the relevant societies they will provide guidance and support to to give tourists information on excursion Commitments of State societies and local communities that are services in major tourist and cultural Secretary for Tourism promoting tourist and heritage railways. destinations. Information on and To enhance tourist information, tourist SNCF and RFF are convinced that the identification of tourist railways will be railways will be listed and described in preservation of vintage infrastructure and enhanced, particularly at stations. publications detailing tourist destinations, rolling stock and the operation of heritage, A guide explaining the procedures required focusing on the cultural, heritage, historic, cultural and tourist trains will not impede to develop a tourist railway (or modify an recreational and scenic attractions of the the development of high-speed rail travel existing operation) will be drawn up in tourist rail network. A brochure providing and other advanced operation modes, but cooperation with all Charter signatories. It information on tourist railways will be will instead highlight France’s transportation is intended for local communities and published with the assistance of heritage. Indeed, they are well aware that societies, and will specify: conditions for organizations under the State Secretary for tourist and heritage railways demonstrate making line sections available; safety Tourism. The offices of the State Secretary the progress that has been made in rail regulations; expert assessment and control for Tourism, especially regional delegations travel, and contribute to the development procedures; the role of each party; and the for tourism working in cooperation with the of local economies. responsibilities of the operator and local French Agency for Touristic Engineering Plans call for the progressive harmonization communities. The guide will also give (AFIT), will support the improvement of of fares to pay for tourist operations on contacts with relevant national and regional existing operations and launching of new available line sections of the national rail bodies and will describe the type of projects. They will also suggest what types network. In the meantime, requests from guidance and services that these of specialized training programmes will be local communities and non-profit societies organizations provide. required, with emphasis on training service will be viewed favourably. Fares will be Societies and local communities may industry workers. raised gradually and payment conditions contact RFF, SNCF or FACS-UNECTO to ask will be adjusted to take account of the large questions about procedures. Each group FACS-UNECTO start-up investments. agrees to pass on requests to the competent Commitments A special fare schedule has been devised organization(s). SNCF, RFF, FACS-UNECTO FACS-UNECTO is committed to improving for infrequent traffic of a tourist, cultural or and Maison de la France will collaborate the quality of service and the heritage nature on national lines used for to establish links to their respective Internet professionalism of its member operators. regular traffic. This schedule will apply only sites, in order to offer easy access to tourist It will provide assistance and guidance to to traffic organized by designated non-profit railway information. I groups wishing to launch a new service organizations (under the proviso that the and requesting assistance in operating a tourist, cultural or heritage nature of the tourist railway or establishing infrequent tours is amply demonstrated), during the