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The Railway between Nice, Tende and Cuneo – Part 8 – Drap-Cantaron Railway Station to Nice.

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The featured image above is a postcard view of la Trinite-Victor Railway Station in the very early years after the line opened. [20]

In the first seven articles about the line from Cuneo to the sea we covered the length of the line from Cuneo to Breil-sur-Roya and then to Ventimiglia, before beginning to look at the line between Breil-sur-Roya and Nice. These articles can be found here, [9]  here [10] here, [11] here, [12] here, [13] here, [14] and here. [15]

Woven into the text below are a series of stills from a video of the train journey from Breil-sur-Roya to Nice. The video can be seen here. [4]

This article begins the journey from Drap-Cantaron Railway Station.

The length of the line from Darp-Cantaron Railway Station to Nice-Ville Railway Station. [5]
Drap-Cantaron Railway Station, (c) Eugenio Merzagora and licenced for reuse under a Structurae (non commercial use) Licence. [6]

Drap-Canteron Railway Station. [Google Maps, September 2025]

The view South from the cab of a Nice-bound service waiting to depart from Drap-Cantaron Railway Station. [4]
The view from the same train heading South from Drap-Canteron Station. [4]
The bridge over the railway to the South of Drap-Cantaron Station. [4]
Looking North into the site of Drap-Cantaron Railway Station from the road bridge over the line. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The bridge over the line, seen from the Northwest. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
Looking South from the same road bridge. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

Tunnel de Serradone (33 metres long), seen from the cab of the Nice-bound train. [4]

Tunnel de Serradone. [23]

The same short tunnel seen from Terre d’Eze. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The view from the cab of the Nice-bound train leaving Tunnel de Serradone. [4]

Looking back along the line towards Drap-Cantaron Station, this is the South portal of Tunnel de Serradone. [23]

A level-crossing and railway house just beyond Tunnel de Serradone. The crossing takes Terre d’Eze across the line. [4]

Looking back Northeast towards Tunnel de Serradone from the level-crossing. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
Looking Southwest at the level-crossing. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

Continuing South along the line, this is the North portal of Tunnel du Moulin (83 metres long), seen from the cab of the Nice-bound train. [4]

Tunnel du Moulin. [22]

Immediately beyond Tunnel du Moulin, and with the sun in our eyes, the Nice-bound train passes under Penetrante de Paillon (D2204B). [4]

Looking back towards Tunnel de Moulin from the Penetrante de Paillon. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The line continuing towards Nice after passing under the Penetrante de Paillon. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

Looking back under the bridge carry the Pentrante de Paillon towards Tunnel du Moulin. [22]

With the sun in our eyes again, the Nice-bound train crosses the Pont de Paillon, a 95 meter long bridge across the River Paillon. [4]

Pont de Paillon (or Pont de Trinite Victor) seen from the bridge carrying Boulevard Georges Bueno over the river. [Google Streetview, February 2025]
An early photograph of the same bridge which was built in 1928. The bridge has three spans, one 28.7 metres, one 31.6 metres and one 28.7 metres (c) Unknown but probably Public Domain. [7]

Just a short distance further along the line and with the sun once more in our eyes, this cab view shows the bridge carrying Boulevard George Bueno over the railway. [4]

Looking back towards Pont de Paillon from the bridge carrying Boulevard Georges Bueno over the line. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
A strategically place signpost blocks our view Southwest from Boulevard Georges Bueno towards La Trinite Victor railway Station. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

La Trinite-Victor Railway Station as seen from the cab of a Nice-bound service. [4]

The La Trinite-Victor Railway Station. [Google Maps, September 2025]

Old postcard image showing the original buildings at La Trinite-Victor Railway Station, (c) Public Domain. [8]
La Trinite-Victor Railway Station seen from what was the Boulevard National, (c) Editions Gilletta, now Public Domain. [19]
A train heading for Nice arrives at La Trinite-Victor Railway Station, (c) Unknown but probably Public Domain. [20]
La Trinite-Victor Railway Station as seen looking East from Boulevard Anatole France. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

A level-crossing to the South of La Trinite-Victor Station. [4]

The view back towards Lat Tinite-Victor Station from the level-crossing (Road: M2204C). [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The view South towards Nice from the level-crossing. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

Continuing Southwest alongside the Paillon the railway runs to the East of the modern road which sits below the flood defences on the East side of the River Paillon. The road is a later addition to the river bank and is protected from the river by a high retaining wall. To its East, the railway sits on a stone embankment. …

A typical example of the stone retaining wall that holds the railway above the immediately surrounding land and the modern road. The retaining wall is pierced by a stone-arched underpass. A number of such underpasses provided for access under the railway when it was first built. [Google Streetview, February 2025]

The next halt, alongside the River Paillon, is L’Ariane La Trinité. …

The Halt at L’Ariane La Trinité, seen from the cab of the Nice-bound train. [4]

The level-crossing just to the West of the halt at L’Ariane La Trinité. [4]

Another view of La Gare de l’Ariane La Trinité can be seen here. [21]

Looking Northeast from the junction of Pont de la Liberté with Boulevard Riba Roussa, the crossing barriers are closed as a train is just about to set off for Nice from the halt at l’Ariane La Trinité. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

Looking towards Nice from the level-crossing on Pont de la Liberté. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The line soon passes under the A8 flyover. The sun is still in our eyes as we look out from the cab of the Nice-bound service. The road to the right of the line and at a lower level is the Boulevard Anatole France. [4]

A short distance further along the line towards Nice it bridges the Route de Turin. This view looks West under the railway bridge. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The same bridge seen from the West on the Route de Turin. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The North portal of Tunnel du Bon Voyage (369 metres in length), seen from the cab of the Nice-bound train crossing the bridge over the Route de Turin with the sun low in the sky. [4]

The North portal of Tunnel du Bon Voyage and the adjacent bridge over the Route de Turin. [24]

Tunnel du Bon Voyage. [24]

The view from the cab of the same train as it leaves the South portal of Tunnel du Bon Voyage. [4]

The South portal of Tunnel du Bon Voyage. [Google Earth, September 2025]

A short distance further along the line the railway is crossed on the level by a minor road before it reached Tunnel de Roche. [4]

The Northwest portal of Tunnel de Roche, seen looking East from a minor road. [Google Streetview, December 2010]

A better view of the Northwest portal of Tunnel de Roche, from the level crossing mentioned above. [25]

Tunnel de Roche, 96 metres in length. [25]

The view Southeast from the Southeast portal of Tunnel de Roche. [4]

The Southeast portal of Tunnel de Roche. [Google Earth, September 2025]

Pont Michel seen from the cab of the Nice-bound service. [4]

A glimpse of the line to the North, from the carriageway over Pont Michel in Nice. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

Looking North along the line towards Pont Michel. [Google Earth, September 2025]

Looking South across Pont Michel. The running lines from Breil-sur-Roya are on the left of this image. The other lines are part of Nice Depot. Pont Michael Railway Station is at the bottom of the image. See the notes below about the history of this location. [Google Earth, September 2025]

Pont Michel Railway Station. [4]

The platform on the left was part of the Saint-Roch Railway Station, now closed. [4]

The Saint Roch Railway Station is highlighted in the top-right of this map extract. The line continues towards Nice-Ville bridging a number of roads before crossing the River Paillon again. [26]

The area to the West of Nice-Depot and Saint Roche Station. The line crosses three roads on its way to the riverbank. [Google maps, September 2025]
The first of these structures, seen looking North from Avenue Denis Semeria provides access under the line to Nice-Depot. [Google Streetview, February 2025]
The same bridge, seen from the North (from the access road to Nice-Depot. [Google Streetview, October 2022]

Looking towards Nice-Ville from the cab of the Nice-bound service as it crosses the access road to the Nice-Depot. [4]

A more modern structure now spans the M2204B, Route de Turin. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
A similar aged steel bridge spans Boulevard Jean Baptiste Verany adjacent to the River Paillon. A series of graceful arches make up the railway viaduct across the Paillon. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The Stone-arch viaduct across the River Paillon seen from the Southeast – 3 spans, 127 metres in length. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The same structure seen from the Southwest on Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey. The three arches over the river are clearly visible and the two steel spans at either end of the structure are also visible. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

After crossing the Paillon the line curves to the South and crosses another modern bridge. …

The bridge which carries the railway over Rue de la Gendarmerie, Nice. This photograph is taken facing West on Rue de la Gendarmerie. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

A short distance further along the line it enters Tunnel de Carabacel.

The line of the Tunnel de Carabacel is shown by the red, blue and green dots. It is 663 metres in length. [27]

The Northeast portal of Tunnel de Carabacel. [27]

The Southwest portal of Tunnel de Carabacel, seen through mesh fencing. The two tracks marked with the green arrows are those from Breil-sur-Roya. The yellow arrow marks the track which runs through Tunnel de Cimiez Nord and the orange arrow marks the track which runs through Tunnel de Cimiez Sud. [27]

The view West from the cab of the Nice-bound train after it has left Tunnel de Carabacel. [4]

Looking North along Avenue Desambrois, Nice the old railway bridge is dwarfed by the concrete structures of the motorway! [Google Streetview, July 2025]

Also looking North, this time on Rue de Lépante, Nice, the motorway structures loom over the old railway bridge. [Google Streetview, July 2025]

Looking North along Rue Miron, the motorway bridge seems to be even higher! [Google Streetview, April 2025]

The final structure before the line runs into Nice-Ville Station. This bridge spans Avenue Jean Médecin. [Google Streetview, May 2018]

The sun is in our eyes as we approach Nice-Ville Railway Station. [4]

Nice-Ville Railway Station seen from the cab of the train from Breil-sur-Roya which terminates in Nice. [4]

Nice Railway Station in 1933, © Public Domain. [31]
A 141R (2-8-2) locomotive sits at Nice Railway Station in 1957, © Michel Braun. [31]
At the head of the “Mistral” Paris-Lyon – Nice, BB 25243 is ready to leave Nice for Marseille in June 1976, © JP Rigouard – Publisher: Le Rail Ussellois in Ussel (Corrèze). [31]
TGV No. 842 to Paris-Lyon is preparing to leave Nice Railway Station in 1992, © Georges Martret – Publisher: AMC Côte d’Azur in Roquebrune – Cap-Martin. [31]
The exterior of the Station in Nice in the early years of the 20th century, © Public Domain. [31]
The exterior of Nice Railway Station in the 1990s, from the collection of M. Caron, © Unknown. [31]

Banaudo et al tell us that The first 5 kilometres of the line in the suburbs of Nice were constructed by the Nice-based company Orizet Frères, work began in August 1909. Their work included three tunnels with a total length of 1,127 metres, a bridge over the Paillon, nine metal-decked road underpasses, an overpass, and three level-crossings. Between Nice-Ville and Cimiez Hill, the track-bed of the existing line to Menton had to be be extensively reworked to accommodate the new tracks. [1: p101]

Work on the site of the Saint Roch station commenced in January 1910 and on the Tunnel de Carabacel in May 1910. Work on the tunnel was only undertaken from the Northeast end so as to avoid the need t remove spoil from close to the railway station in Nice. This also meant that the excavated material could be used in constructing the embankment from the tunnel towards the bridge over the Paillon. The river bad of the Paillon was found to be unstable. “Foundations up to 17 m deep had to be dug using compressed air to firmly establish the piers of the three shallow arches made of La Turbie stone. Despite these precautions, ground movements recurred, which an attempt was made to remedy in the fall of 1912 by overloading the Nice-side arch with a mass of gravel bags representing a pressure of 2,500 kg per square metre, while recording devices measured the gradual settlement of the ground.” [1: p103]

The extensive depot at Nice, Saint-Roch. The large engine shed can be seen at the top-left of this image. The Breil-sur-Roya to Nice line runs around the left-hand side of the site (the Southeast), passing very close to the engine shed. [28]
On 12th May 1960, a 141R locomotive (2-8-2 using UK notation) heads towards the steam depot exit, passing the signal cabin. At that time, Nice-Saint-Roch had 47 No. 141Rs, a number that increased to 56 in 1963, then gradually reduced following the progress of electrification. On 1st March 1968, the depot closed its doors to steam traction; the roundhouse was partially demolished in 1967, and completely demolished in 1969. [29]

Nice Saint-Roch locomotive depot soon after opening. [30]

The Nice Depot was built on the site of orange groves. “The Société des Travaux en Ciment Thorrand et Compagnie, … originally from Grenoble and based in Nice, used reinforced concrete to build a 110 m diameter rotunda for forty-eight locomotives, a maintenance workshop for six locomotives, a water tower supplied by the Paillon water table, a fuel park with an 80 m quay served by 4.40 m turntables, several buildings housing apprentices, administrative offices, … refectory, oil mill, lamp room, etc.” [1: p103]

And Finally ……

Nice-Premium reported on 2nd September 2024 that major works were to be undertaken on the railway between Nice and Breil-sur-Roya. [32]

The ambitious regeneration program for the Nice to Breil-sur-Roya railway line began in September 2024 and is due to be completed by 14th December 2025.

The work will cost about 78.1 million euros. It will strengthen the infrastructure, improve the transport service, and guarantee better comfort for travellers.

The work aims to reinforce the many engineering structures and improve the stability of the tracks. This will not only secure the transportation of users but also protect this vital infrastructure against climate hazards. It promises concrete improvements for users. By the end of the work, it’s planned that one TER per hour, per direction, will run between Drap and Breil. As well as two TERs per hour between Nice and Drap. This increase of 46% in transport service will be accompanied by a notable improvement in traveler comfort thanks to the renewal of equipment and modernization of infrastructure. These changes aim to make the service more reliable and regular!

The closure of the line between September 2024 and December 2025 is necessary, particularly to permit a large number of tunnels to be renovated The closure will ensure the efficiency and speed of the work, as opposed to a partial closure which could prolong the timeline.

The total cost of the work amounts to 78.1 million euros, with an additional approximately 8 million euros for the transport substitution system. The Region is contributing 56.5 million euros, with participation from the State, SNCF Réseau, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, as well as the Communauté d’Agglomération de la Riviera Française and the Communauté de Communes du Pays des Paillons. [32]

More information can be found here. [33]

References

  1. Jose Banaudo, Michel Braun and Gerard de Santos; Les Trains du Col de Tende Volume 1: 1858-1928; FACS Patrimoine Ferroviaire, Les Editions du Cabri, 2018.
  2. Jose Banaudo, Michel Braun and Gerard de Santos; Les Trains du Col de Tende Volume 2: 1929-1974; FACS Patrimoine Ferroviaire, Les Editions du Cabri, 2018.
  3. Jose Banaudo, Michel Braun and Gerard de Santos; Les Trains du Col de Tende Volume 3: 1975-1986; FACS Patrimoine Ferroviaire, Les Editions du Cabri, 2018.
  4. https://youtu.be/rLXAEz-n4mM?si=RLQC31jynGeM_lQR, accessed on 26th August 2025. Permission to use these still images from the YouTube video has been sought.
  5. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A9ma_de_la_ligne_de_Nice_%C3%A0_Breil-sur-Roya, accessed on 17th September 2025.
  6. https://structurae.net/en/structures/drap-cantaron-station, accessed on 27th September 2025.
  7. https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/aJYAAOSwP5pjDPCA/s-l1600.webp, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  8. https://www.cparama.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8002, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  9. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/07/22/the-railway-from-nice-to-tende-and-cuneo-part-1.
  10. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/07/26/the-railway-from-nice-to-tende-and-cuneo-part-2.
  11. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/06/the-railway-from-nice-to-tende-and-cuneo-part-3-vievola-to-st-dalmas-de-tende
  12. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/16/the-railway-between-nice-tende-and-cuneo-part-4-st-dalmas-de-tende-to-breil-sur-roya
  13. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/25/the-railway-between-nice-tende-and-cuneo-part-5-breil-sur-roya-to-ventimiglia
  14. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/29/the-railway-between-nice-tende-and-cuneo-part-6-breil-sur-roya-to-lescarene
  15. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/09/26/the-railway-between-nice-tende-and-cuneo-part-7-lescarene-to-drap-cantaron-railway-station/
  16. Franco Collida, Max Gallo & Aldo A. Mola; CUNEO-NIZZA History of a Railway; Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo, Cuneo (CN), July 1982.
  17. Franco Collidà; 1845-1979: the Cuneo-Nice line year by year; in Rassegna – Quarterly magazine of the Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo; No. 7, September 1979, pp. 12-18.
  18. Stefano Garzaro & Nico Molino; THE TENDA RAILWAY From Cuneo to Nice, the last great Alpine crossing; Editrice di Storia dei Trasporti, Colleferro (RM), EST, July 1982.
  19. https://www.cparama.com/forum/cartes2015/1438155711-06-La-Trinite-Victor-4.jpg, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  20. https://www.cparama.com/forum/cartes2018/1528437503-ZLa-trinite-victor-06.jpg, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  21. https://www.provence7.com/a-a-z-des-articles/lariane-quartier-village-de-nice/attachment/gare-lariane-la-trinite-1c, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  22. https://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/tu06/06149.1.pdf, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  23. https://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/tu06/06149.2.pdf, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  24. https://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/tu06/06088.7.pdf, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  25. https://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/tu06/06088.6.pdf, accessed on 28th September 2025.
  26. https://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/mx06/06088.07B.pdf, accessed on 29th September 2025.
  27. https://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/tu06/06088.5.pdf, accessed on 29th September 2025.
  28. https://papybricolo.over-blog.com/2020/10/nice-st-roch-l-ancien-depot-des-locomotives.html, accessed on 29th September 2025.
  29. https://www.laviedurail.com/bonnes-feuilles/vif-annees-1960, accessed on 29th September 2025.
  30. https://journals.openedition.org/rhcf/1792, accessed on 29th September 2025.
  31. https://www.cparama.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=99249, accessed on 30th September 2025.
  32. https://www.nice-premium.com/eur78-million-invested-to-modernize-the-nice-breil-sur-roya-railway-line, accessed on 7th October 2025.
  33. https://www.soletanche-bachy.com/en/soletanche-bachy-france-contributes-to-the-modernization-and-securing-of-the-nice-breil-railway-line, accessed on 7th October 2025.

The Railway between Nice, Tende and Cuneo – Part 7 – L’Escarene to Drap-Cantaron Railway Station.

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The featured image above is a rather grainy image of steam at Drap-Cantaron Railway Station.

In the first six articles about the line from Cuneo to the sea we covered the length of the line from Cuneo to Breil-sur-Roya and then to Ventimiglia. These articles can be found here, [9]  here [10] here, [11] here, [12] here, [13] and here [14]

Woven into the text below are a series of stills from a video of the train journey from Breil-sur-Roya to Nice. The video can be seen here. [4]

This article begins the journey from L’Escarene.

Initially, the line heads Southeast but then gradually turns to the the Southwest through Peille, Peillon and Drap before running into Nice.

The map below shows the two routes which headed from Nice and Ventimiglia North to Cuneo, as they existed prior to the alteration of the border between France and Italy after the Second World War.

The lines Nice to Tende and Ventimiglia to Tende in the period from 1928 to the Second World War, before the annexation, in 1947, of St-Dalmas de Tende and Piene to France. [15]

From l’Escarene to Drap-Cantaron

The line from L’Escarene to Drap/Cantaron. [25]

L’Escarene sits at the head of a long climb from Nice, it was one of the historic staging posts on the old royal road from Nice to Turin. Like Sospel Station, that of l’Escarene has substantial facilities which would allow the reception of military convoys in the event of conflict with neighbouring Italy. [1: p92]

The site of l’Escarene railway station, as shown on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, September 2025]
L’Escarène Railway Station, seen from the North soon after, or during, construction, © Public Domain. [17]
L’Escarene Railway Station © Public Domain. [17]
L’ Escarene Railway Station, post card image © Unknown. [17]
The station building at l’Escarène. Google Streetview, March 2023]
The underpass, just to the Southeast of l’Escarene railway station, seen from the D2566 to the Southwest. [Google Streetview, March 2023]
The same structure, seen from the Northeast. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
Further to the Southeast, the manmade plateau which created the Station and large Goods facilities is pierced by a tunnel which allows the D2566 to pass under the station site. [Google Streetview, April 2023]
The same structure, seen from the East. [Google Streetview, April 2023]

It is only a very short distance to the abutment of the viaduct that carries the line through l’Escarene.

The D2566 passes West-East under the railway and then curves round to join the D2204 and pass North-South under the West end of the railway viaduct. The Anc. Rte de L’Escarène passes through the first arch of the viaduct. The D2204 passes through the second arch of the viaduct. [Google Maps, September 2025]

Setting off from l’Escarene Railway station, this is the first view of the l’Escarene Viaduct from the cab of a Nice-bound train. The viaduct over the Redebraus has eleven 15 metre arches. [4]

L’Escarene viaduct, seen looking North from the Anc. Rte de l’Escarene. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
The viaduct seen from the North. The D2204 is directly ahead of the camera and to its right the Anc. Rte de l’Escarene climbs through the first arch of the viaduct. [Google Streetview, March 2023]
A train crosses the viaduct at l’Escarène, © Public Domain. [17]
A service from Nice approaches l’Escarene Railway Station across the viaduct, © Public Domain. [17]
The Railway Station and viaduct at l’Escarene, © Public Domain. [16]
A modern train on the viaduct at ‘Escarene, © Unknown. [17]
L’Escarene and its Viaduct, (c) J. P. Chevreau and licenced for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-SA 4.0 International). [18]
Viaduc de l’Escarene seen from the town. [Google Streetview, May 2013]

Part way across the viaduct the camera in the cab of the Nice-bound service picks up the metal parapet rails of the viaduct and the short tunnel ahead. [4]

The tunnel at the Southeast end of l’Escarene Viaduct is the Tunnel de Brec (382 metres in length. [19]

The Northwest portal of Brec Tunnel seen from alongside the line. [19]

The same crossing on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2025]

The view Southeast from the mouth of Brec Tunnel. [4]

Turning through 180, provides us this view of the Southeast portal of Brec Tunnel. [19]

A gated crossing over the line a little further to the Southeast. [4]

The view from Rte de Tres, looking back towards l’Escarene Railway Station. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
From the same location looking Southeast. Notice the bridge over the line. [Google Streetview, November 2022]

The view of the same bridge from the cab of the Nice-bound train. [4]

The bridge carry Rte de Tres over the line. [Google Maps, August 2025]

Looking Northwest along the line from the bridge carrying Rte de Tres over the line. [Google Streetview, November 2022]

The view Southeast from the same bridge. [Google Streetview, November 2022]

The next overbridge carries Rte de l’Eira over the line. [4]

Looking North from the bridge carrying Rte de l’Eira over the line. [Google Streetview, April 2013]

Looking South from the same bridge. [Google Streetview, April 2013]

Southeast, the line enters Tunnel de Ecluse (136 metres in length). Just before this, there is a footpath access under the embankment. [34]

The underbridge mentioned above, seen from the D21. [Google Streetview, March 2023]

The Northwest portal of Tunnel de Ecluse, seen from the cab of a Nice-bound train. [4]

The same tunnel mouth, seen from the lineside. [34]

The view from the cab of the Nice-bound train at the Southeast portal of Tunnel de Ecluse. [4]

Turning to face Westnorthwest, this is the Southeast portal of the Tunnel de Ecluse. [34]

The next feature on the line is a short tunnel – Tunnel d’Euira (63 metres in length). [32]

Tunnel d’Euira is on the right side of this satellite image. [Google Maps, September 2025]

The North portal of Tunnel d’Euira. [32]

The South portal of Tunnel d’Euira and the galleried retaining structure which carries the line from a point very close to the tunnel portal. [32]

From many an angle, you would be forgiven for thinking that the railway crosses a viaduct. It appears, however, that the structure is a galleried retaining structure which creates a platform for the railway to run on while limiting the wight of the structure on the rock face beneath. [Google Maps, September 2025]

This view of the location from a little further ‘South, shows that the trackbed abuts the rockface on the East side of the line. [32]

Looking East from a short length of the D21, the galleried retaining structure, which is almost a viaduct, can be seen. [Google Streetview, March 2023]

The railway continues on a ‘berm’ built out from the East face of the Paillon valley and high above the D21, until it reaches the Ruisseau d’Euira.

This small extract from Google’s satellite imagery shows Le Paillon, the D21 and the railway in parallel. The railway bridge over the Ruisseau d’Euira is on the right of this image. [Google Maps, September 2025]

The Viaduc d’Euira crosses the valley of the Ruisseau d’Euira. The viaduct has one 30 m arch and two 5 m arches. [31]

The Viaduc d’Euira was designed by Paul Sejourne. It is a beautiful masonry arch structure which features a large central semi-circular arch framed by two smaller semi-circular arches piercing the spandrel walls, © Public Domain. [31]
The same viaduct seen in much more recent times from the West side of the Paillon valley. The tunnel mouth is the north portal of the Tunnel de Santa Augusta which is the next structure on the line. [31]

The Tunnel de Santa Augusta (754 metres in length) runs under the Ste-Augusta Chapelle. [30]

The South portal of the Tunnel de Santa Augusta. As can be seen the tunnel runs straight between the two portals, allowing the light from the North portal to be seen from outside the South portal. This photograph was taken alongside the track crossing the Viaduc d’Erbossièra. [30]

The Viaduc d’Erbossièra (205 metres in length). [29]

The Viaduc d’Erbossièra is another of Paul Sejourne’s elegant designs. It comprises 9 semi-circular arches of 8-metre span; a large 36-metre span arch across the Erbossiera torrent/stream and a final arch of 10-metre span. The spandrel walls of the arch, in this case being pierced by three small arches. The portal to the Ste-Augusta Tunnel can be seen on the left of this picture, © Public Domain. [29]
The main span of the viaduct, as seen from the D21 in the valley floor. [Google Streetview, March 2023]

More pictures of this structure, including some early photographs taken during construction can be found here. [29]

A short distance further South the line enters Tunnel de la Verna (197 metres in length). [28]

The North Portal seen from the cab of a Nice-bound service. The sun is low in the sky and the tunnel mouth is in deep shade. [4]

The view from the same train, looking South from the South portal of Tunnel de la Verna. [4]

Turning round to face North, this is the South portal of Tunnel de la Verna. [28]

About a further kilometre to the South the line enters Tunnel de’Ecluse.

Tunnel de l’Ecluse (78 metres in length, sits just to the North of Viaduc de Faquin. [21]

The North portal of Tunnel de l’Ecluse. [21]

The South portal of Tunnel de l’Ecluse and the Viaduc de Faquin. [21]

Viaduc de Faquin. [22]

Viaduct de Faquin as seen on Google’s satellite imagery (seven 11-metre arches). [Google Maps, September 2025]

Viaduct de Faquin soon after construction, seen from the Southwest, © Public Domain. [20]

Viaduct de Faquin seen from the West on Chemin de Sainte Lucie in the valley floor. [Google Streetview, January 2011]

The northern mouth of Tunnel de Coletta, seen from a Nice-bound train. [4]

Viaduct de Faquin, seen from the D53 which crossed the line above the tunnel mouth to the South of the viaduct (Tunnel de Coletta). [Google Streetview, April 2023]

Tunnel de Coletta. [23]

Immediately to the South of Tunnel de Coletta the railway enters Peille Railway Station in Grave de Peille.

The approach to Grave Railway Station, seen from the cab of a Southbound service at the mouth of Tunnel de Coletta. [4]

The southern portal of Tunnel de Coletta, seen from the end of the platform at Peille Railway Station (Grave de Peille), © Eugenio Merzagora and carried on the Structure website. [24]

Le Gare de Peille is situated on the East bank of the River Paillon on a pan artificial plateau which was created as part of the construction of the line from Nice to breil-sur-Roya. [26]

Peille Railway Station is located 6 km from the village of the same name, and serves the La Grave district, where the Vicat company operated a quarry and cement factory from 1924. A branch of the TNL tramway network reached this point from Pont-de-Peille. [1: p92]

The view from the carriage door of a Nice-bound train of Peille Railway Station (La Gare de Peille), © Eugenio Merzagora (2019) and shared on the Structurae Website. [28]

The island platform shelter, La Gare de Peille, seen from the Northwest, © Eugenio Merzagora (2019) and shared on the Structurae Website. [28]

The station building at Peille, seen from the South through the window of a Breil-sur-Roya train, © G CHP, and licenced for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY 2.5). [34]
A roadside view of the Station building at Peille. [Google Streetview, April 2023]
A Briel-sur-Roya-bound service sits at Peille Railway Station. The train is an “XGC” railcar X 76583/76584, © R. Gibiat (2011) and shared on Le Rail Ussellois (Modern Postcards with Railway and Urban Transport Themes) Website. [36]
1925: Earthworks underway for the PLM Railway Station at La Grave de Peille © Public Domain. This image was shared on the L’Histoire de Menton et ses Alentours Facebook Page by Pierre Richert on 22nd November 2017. [14]
1925: Earthworks underway for the PLM Railway Station at La Grave de Peille © Public Domain. This image was shared on the L’Histoire de Menton et ses Alentours Facebook Page by Pierre Richert on 22nd November 2017. [7]
An early postcard showing the railway station at Peille with the cement works visible in the distance on the right side of the image, © Public Domain. [7]
La Gare de Peille as seen on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, September 2025]
A narrow underpass under the station site, seen from the West on Chemin de Nogairet at a point adjacent to the lilac flag on the satellite image above. [Google Streetview, April 2023]

At the South end of the Station site the line becomes single track once again adjacent to a house built originally for railway staff. [4]

South of Peille Railway Station the line passes this railway-built home, usually these houses were built for railway employees, either at a nearby station or working on track maintenance. [Google Streetview, April 2013]
The line continues South towards Tunnel de Nogairet. [Google Streetview, April 2013]

Further South the line passes through Tunnel de Nogairet (32 metres in length). [Google Maps, September 2025]

The North portal of Nogairet Tunnel, seen from the cab of a Nice-bound service. [4]

The view South from the cab of the Nice-bound train at the South portal of Nogairet Tunnel.

Turning through 180°, this is the South portal of the Tunnel de Nogairet as seen from the cab a Breil-sur-Roya-bound train in 1995. [37]

And then a short distance further South trains pass through Tunnel de Bouisses.

Tunnel de Bouisses as it appears on Google’s satellite imagery, (107 metres in length). [Google Maps, September 2025]

The North portal of Tunnel de Bouisses, seen from the cab of a Nice-bound train. [4]

Low sun shines on the cab of the same Nice-bound service as it leaves Tunnel de Bouisses and is about to cross the first of two viaducts with the name ‘Bouisses’ (Viaduc de Bouisses No. 2). [4]

Turning through 180°, this low definition view shows the South portal of Tunnel de Bouisses as seen from the cab of a Breil-sur-Roya-bound train in 1995 which is just about to cross Viaduc de Bouisses No. 2. [37]

Viaduc de Bouisses No. 2 (three 6-metre arches), as it appears on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, September 2025]

A very short distance South-southwest the line crosses Viaduc de Bouisses No. 1. …

Viaduc de Bouisses No. 1 (six 6-metre arches).[Google Maps, September 2025]

In the light of the low sun this is the view South-southwest across Viaduc de Bouisses No. 1 from the cab of the Nice-bound service. [4]

The two Bouisses viaducts seen from across the valley to the West. No. 1 is on the right, No. 2 is on the left, with the portal of Tunnel de Bouisses visible top-left. [Google Streetview, March 2023]

A little further to the South, after running along a trackbed supported by retaining walls trains travelling towards Nice cross the Viaduct de Adrecia, seen here from the cab of the Nice-bound service. [4]

Viaduc de Adrecia (three 6-metre arches). [Google Maps, September 2025]

Viaduc de Adrecia, seen from the D21. [Google Streetview, April 2023]

The line has curved round to the Southeast before it enters Tunnel de Launa, shown here by the red, blue and green dots. Viaduc de Launa sits immediately to the Southeast of the tunnel. [38]

The Northwest portal of Tunnel de Launa (309 metres in length). [4]

This slightly overexposed image shows the view from the cab of the Nice-bound service as it leaves the Tunnel de Launa. The Viaduc de Launa is just beyond the railway house on the left of the image. [4]

The Southeast portal of Tunnel de Launa with a railway house on the right of the image. The viaduct is immediately behind the camera. Note also the level crossing close to the tunnel mouth. [38]

The view East across the railway on Rte du Vieux Village (D121). [Google Streetview, March 2023]
This photograph, taken at the apex of a hairpin bend on Rte du Vieux Village (D121) has the tunnel mouth top-left, the railway house just to the right of centre at the top of the image with the railway in front of it spanning a bridge which carries the road under the railway. [Google Streetview, March 2023]

The bridge carrying the railway over Rte du Vieux Village (D121). [Google Streetview, March 2023]

Viaduc de Launa (100 metres in length – six 12-metre arches over the Galimbert stream) seen from the cab of the Nice-bound train running through the level-crossing. The viaduct was rebuilt during 1992 and 1993 as the first viaduct suffered settlement due to ground movement. [4]

Viaduc de Launa towards the end of the construction contact circa 1928, © Public Domain. [39]
A similar view of the viaduct in the 1970s, © Unknown. [39]
Looking North along the viaduct in the 1970s, © Unknown. [39]
The replacement reinforced concrete viaduct was opened in 1993. This view looks from the West on the D121 which passes under the viaduct.

Both this and the next image of the pedestrian crossing at Chemin de Laghet – a couple of hundred metres further along the line toward Nice – are of poor quality because of bright and low sunlight. [4]

An unmetalled lane (Chemin de Laghet) used to cross the line at this location, now only pedestrian access across the line is permitted. The crossing-keeper’s cottage remains. {Google Streetview, January 2011]
A short distance further Southwest the Chemin du Canton Soubran passes under the line. The structure is only suitable for a cattle creep and pedestrian access. This view looks East toward the structure. the line heads toward Peille Railway Station on the left and to Drap-Cantaron to the right. [Google Streetview, March 2023]
Peillon-Sainte-Thècle Railway Station building forecourt, seen from the South West, © August III Sas (July 2023. [Google Maps, September 2025]

Looking directly into the sun, this is the view from the cab of a Nice-bound service coming to a halt at Peillon-Sainte-Thècle Railway Station. [4]

A better view of Peillon-Sainte-Thècle Railway Station as seen from the East along the platform, © Yann Cochois (September 2023). [Google Maps, September 2025]

Immediately to the West of Peillon-Sainte-Thècle Railway Station, the line crosses Pont de Brauschet (five 9 metre arches), seen here from the South on Avenue de la Gare. [Google Streetview, March 2023]

Pont du Brauschet sits just to the West of Peillon-Sainte-Thècle Railway Station and is marked on this map with a red arrow. It is 70 metres long and is a 5-arch viaduct.

Pont de Brauschet, seen from the cab of a train heading for Nice. [4]

The next structure along the line is Tunnel de Châteauvieux (219 metres in length). This in the East portal of the tunnel. [4]

Tunnel de Châteauvieux is the first of three tunnels which Nice-bound trains now pass through. It is marked by the red, blue and green dots on this image. Immediately to the West of this tunnel are the two side-by-side Viaducs des Mortes. [40]

This is the West portal of Tunnel de Châteauvieux, seen from alongside the line between the tunnel and Viaduc des Mortes. [40]

Just to the West of the Tunnel de Châteauvieux there are 2 viaducts next to each other (Viaducs des Mortes) of which only one is in service; the southern one which gives access to the Tuhet tunnel. The viaduct to the north (which has seven arches) leads to an unfinished tunnel. An accident occurred during the drilling of the original tunnel in 1925. The accident, which caused the death of 3 workers, resulted in the need to drill a new tunnel and, as a result, the construction of another viaduct in 1927 (with five 11 metre arches).  The viaducts are named, Viaducs des Mortes, not because of the accident but because the viaducts bridge a footpath which was used to take deceased inhabitants of Borghéas to the cemetery of the neighbouring village of Drap.

The two viaducts mentioned above. [Google Maps, September 2025]

The two viaducts, seen from the North. The green arrow indicates the operational viaduct, the red arrow, the redundant viaduct. [48]

A view of both of the two viaducts and the Tunnel de Tuhet beyond. [46]

The East portal of Tunnel de Tuhet, seen from the cab of a Nice-bound service on the Viaduc des Mortes. [4]

The Tunnel de Tuhet (346 metres long). [46]

The West portal of the Tunnel de Tuhet. [46]

The East portal of Tunnel de la Ribosse. [47]

Tunnel de la Ribosse. [47]

The West portal of Tunnel de la Ribosse. [47]

A short distance further West, the line passes through Fontanil-Drap High School Halt.

Fontanil-Drap High School Halt seen from the Southeast on Route des Croves. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

At the West end of the station/halt, the Route des Croves passes under the line. The low arch bridge seen from the South. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The same structure seen from the North side of the line. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The next bridge carries the line over Chemin de de l’Ubac. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

The South side of the same structure. [Google Streetview, March 2025]

A short distance further West the line crosses the D2204, the River Paillon and the D2204B. …

The steel girder bridge, Pont des Vernes, which now carries the line over the the D2204, the River Paillon and the D2204B, seen from the Northeast on the D2204. The bridge is made of two spans of 28.64 m and two of 26.09 m, the easternmost span of which crosses the Contes road and what was the Nice-Bendejun tramway line of the TNL. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The same bridge seen from the South on the D2204B. [Google Streetview, March 2025]
The same bridge seen from above. The mouth of Tunnel de Moulin-de-Cantaron is in the top-left of the image. This postcard image was shared on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group by Jean-Paul Bascoul on 19th April 2025, © Public Domain. [50]
Pont des Vernes seen from the middle of the Paillon of its four spans the outer two were 26.1 metres in length and the middle two were each 28.5 metres long, (c) Unknown but probably Public Domain. [52]

Once across the river and adjacent roads the line enters Tunnel de Moulin-de-Cantaron.

The East portal of Tunnel de Moulin-de-Cantaron. [Google Streetview,

Tunnel de Moulin-de-Cantaron. [26]

The Southwest portal of the Tunnel de Moulin-de-Cantaron, seen from the end of the platform at Drap-Cantaron Railway Station, © Eugenio Merzagora and shared on the Structure website. [51]

The railway station at Drap also served the village of Cantaron which was on the opposite bank of the River Paillon. This old postcard image was shared by Roland Coccoli on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group on 22nd January 2016. [5]
A closer view of the Station at Drap. This postcard image was shared on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group by Charles Louis Fevrier on 5th January 2021. [6]

This length of our journey finishes here at Drap-Cantaron Railway Station.

References

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