The Belgium & France Circulator Tour 2025

Today will be a day spent travelling to Cheriton and crossing the channel. Whist this does not sound much it will give use the chance of passing the Channel Tunnel depot at Frethun in daylight and hopefully spotting the elusive Channel Tunnel locomotive 0010 in its distinctive blue and white livery. Accommodation will be at the Hotel Ibis Styles, Calais Centre.

We begin by making our way to Lille. Here we can view the EMU depot and the TGV sidings. Regrettably the old Fives depot is a shadow of its former self with only a couple of rescue locomotives and the odd unit stabled there, but usually easily identifiable from the road bridge. After Lille comes a visit to the Charleroi Sud Quai Depot. This will be followed by a view of the major Basse yard where mainline and shunting locos can be seen. From here we will go to Arlon, firstly to check out Stockem yard, a favorite location for storage of redundant locos and units. We continue to the station and then to the depot. Continuing into Luxembourg, if we have the time in hand, we will endeavor to visit Esch Steelworks prior to going to the Hotel. If not, that will be our first visit of the morning. With the day done we go to our usual hotel, the Ibis at Esch Beval.

With the Station less than a five minute walk from the hotel you will have no doubt observed the heavy shunters operating in and out of the Steelworks. Luxembourg Depot follows where a warm welcome always awaits. From the depot it’s off to Bettembourg to the P Way depot and a view of the yards. Hopefully, clearing up most of the 18xxx shunters. Next is Thionville Depot. If we cannot arrange a visit then we shall view it from the station. Woippy yard follows where we will view from the bridge overlooking the SP. Metz Station and depot follow. The last location of the day will be Chalons en Champagne for a view of the yards. The hotel for tonight is the Ibis Hotel, at Epernay.

Today we start with a view of Epernay EMU SP. Then off to Paris. First, a visit to the Ajecta Museum, at Longueville. Here there are a fine collection of restored steam locos. From here we go to Noisy le Sec for a view of the extensive EMU Depot. This is quickly followed by Pantin Station and the Yards, Bobigny yards and Drancy. Our hotel for the time spent in Paris is the Ibis Berthier Porte De Clichy, closely situated 300 metres from RER Line C and Metro Line 13. It is also a 15 minute walk to Gare Pont Cardinet, for rush hours into, and out, of St. Lazare.

This is a free day. Remember that, in addition to Pont Cardinet, Gare Clichy Levallois is only 1k from the hotel where the rush hour will no doubt produce a multitude of sightings.

There is still more to see in Paris. Valenton Yard SP will be viewed, quickly followed by the yards at Villeneuve St Georges. We hope to repeat the success of our last visit when we were granted a full guided tour of VSG Depot. We also include a view of the TGV Depot. From here we cross to the west of Paris for Trappes yards and Acheres Depot.

Homeward bound today but not before we look in at Longueau Depot. We also aim to visit, or view, Amiens Depot and view the new Works from the bridge. We then return to Calais and home.