Bordeaux–Irun railway
The double-track railway line Bordeaux - Irun, the railway connection between the French city of Bordeaux to the Spanish border town of Irun Represent runs within the three departments of Gironde, Landes and Pyrénées -Atlantiques and has a length of 235 km. This route is served by both the TGV high-speed trains as well as TER regional trains and freight trains. Previously, a variety of side -chain routes of other companies of this route from. Today, there are only two other major routes: At Le Teich to Arcachon and Bayonne to Pau.
Route
The route from Bordeaux first in southwestern direction before it swings after 40 kilometers to the south. The train station of Morcenx it runs due to flat terrain profile straight. Behind Dax, the track fits in the hilly country with slightly sinuous lines. The speed limit here is only 110 km / h to 140 km / h From Biarritz can be seen from the route from the Bay of Biscay. From the border town of Hendaye parallel tracks in the Spanish Iberian broad gauge. The speed limit on this two and a half kilometer stretch is due to static problems on the bridge over the Bidasoa only 30 km / h
History
The first section was opened from Bordeaux Coming 1841 to Le Teich. 1854, the 105 km long stretch was completed by Dax and put into operation the following year to Bayonne. 1864 Finally, the track reached the Spanish border at Irun. Owner and operator of the track was the private railway company Compagnie des Chemins de fer du Midi.
The approximately 66 -mile, except a wide curve, straight section of Lamothe to Morcenx was from the mid 1950s until the 1970s, the test track for high -speed operation of the SNCF. The trips began in the station Facture, in the 1950s even without the addition Biganos, and reached 3 kilometers Lamothe. The world record runs at the SNCF 28-29. March 1955 took place on this section.
In the same section of the SNCF TGV 001 reached in 1972 a speed of 318 km / h
Operation
The route is operated today by the TER Aquitaine under the line number 61 ( Hendaye -Dax -Bordeaux ) with ten to thirteen trains a day. In addition, TGV run to Irun or ( branching in Dax ) Tarbes.