Paris Orléans

The Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans (PO ) is a former French railway company. Founded in 1838 as a public company whose railway operation were nationalized in 1938 and introduced a "national of the chemins de fer français Société " (SNCF) in the newly established. The remaining company was acquired by the French branch of the Rothschild banking family mainly after the Second World War and since 2008 serves as a central holding company for the bank transactions of the British and French branch of the Rothschild family.

History

The company was founded in 1838 under the name " Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans ( PO) ". It had the legal form of a joint stock company and was equipped with a starting capital of 40 million francs. The company also had a awarded by the French Government and temporary to 70 -year concession to build a railway line between Paris and Orléans and operate.

On May 2, 1843, the inauguration of the railway between Paris and Orléans took place. With 114 km it was at that time the longest railway line in France.

First merger

With government support, took over the " Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans " on March 27, 1852, several competing pathways. These were to:

  • " Compagnie du Centre "
  • " Compagnie du chemin de fer de Tours à Nantes "
  • " Compagnie du chemin de fer d'Orléans à Bordeaux "

1853 still followed by the acquisition of the " Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Sceaux ".

With these mergers, the " du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans Compagnie " had almost reached its final stretch.

From 1852 to 1934 she was the second largest French private railway. It had its headquarters in Paris. From there Gare d'Austerlitz, the network extended over the area of the Loire and Garonne to Orléans and Tours. From here, led by branches Vendôme, Le Mans, to the Atlantic coast over Angers, Nantes, St. Nazaire to Landerneau, south to Villefranche, Clermont-Ferrand and Toulouse, south-west through Poitiers and Angouleme to Bordeaux.

Scope of the network in 1912

Second merger and nationalization

1934 merged the P. O. and the Chemin de Fer du Midi for the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi (PO -Midi ). After the merger, the new PO -Midi solved with a route network of nearly 12,000 miles from the Compagnie des Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM ) as hitherto largest private railway in France.

In order to create an efficient, uniform and nationwide network under government control, the railroad operation of the PO -Midi January 1, 1938 and nationalized " Société nationale des chemins de fer français " incorporated into the newly founded (SNCF). This also took nor the railway activities of five other companies:

Private companies

  • Chemin de Fer de l' Est (EST )
  • Chemin de Fer du Nord ( NORD )
  • Compagnie des Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM )

State-owned companies

  • Chemins de fer de l' État, including the 1909 merged Chemins de fer de l' Ouest
  • Réseau ferroviaire d' Alsace-Lorraine ( Alsace- Lorraine network)

After the nationalization of rail operations, remained the " Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi " but still an extensive real estate holdings.

Majority takeover by the French Rothschilds

The French branch of the Rothschild banking family took over after the Second World War, the majority of the listed company and converted it into a holding company for its banking and corporate investments.

After the nationalization of the " Banque Rothschild " 1982, used the French Rothschilds now "Paris Orléans SA. " these entities as a starting point for building a new Rothschild bank in France. The following year founded the Paris- Orléans, the " Paris - Orleans Gestion ", which later became the " Rothschild & Cie Banque " emerged.

The merger of the banking activities of the British and French branch of the Rothschild family in January 2008, the company was " Paris Orléans SA. " The central holding company for the business of the family. The share capital will be 58.64 % of the Rothschild family controlled (as of end of March 2011). The rest of the shares is broadly on the stock exchange.

External links and sources

  • Röll, Freiherr von: Encyclopedia of railways, Volume 7, Berlin, Vienna, 1915, pp. 468-469.
  • French article about the history of the " Compagnie du Chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans ".
  • Homepage of the company Paris Orleans SA.

AL | État | EL | Est | Midi | North | PLM | PO | PO -Midi | Ouest

  • Former Railroad Company ( France)
  • Rothschild
S.A. (corporation) Administrative centre Villefranche-de-Conflent Chemins de fer du Midi
181164
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