Mont Blanc Tramway, Heritage railway in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France
This rack railway connects Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc to the Nid d'Aigle station across several altitude zones. The route passes through mountain forests and open slopes up to the glacier areas of Mont Blanc.
Construction of the line began in 1906 after Henri Duportal received approval from the Haute-Savoie departmental council. The official opening took place in 1909 and made the area accessible to mountaineers and winter sports enthusiasts.
Three trains named Anne la verte, Jeanne la rouge, and Marie la bleue run along the route through the French Alps to skiing and hiking areas. Each car carries its own colour and is well known among locals and visitors alike.
The line operates from December to March for access to winter sports areas and during summer months with several daily departures from Le Fayet station. Travellers should bring warm clothing as temperatures drop considerably with increasing altitude.
The route climbs over a thousand metres in elevation between the starting point at Le Fayet at 792 metres (2598 feet) and the final station at Bellevue at 1800 metres (5906 feet). Along the way it passes through several climate zones, from the temperate valley floor to the alpine high mountain landscape.
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