Starting at the old SNCF railway station of Dunieres, the Velorail du Velay runs for 4 km on the old line that connected Firminy to St Rambert d‘ Albon in the department of Drome. This mountain line was built during the XIX th century for the civil traffic but also to transport military equipment from the St Etienne’s weapons factory.
SNCF closed the line to passenger traffic in 1991 and the last freight train ran in 2003.
The route includes two viaducts, Viaduc de Dunieres (200m) and Viaduc de la Vernelle (140m) as well as a curved tunnel, Tunnel du Champ (240m). The route also offers beautiful views of the valleys and mountains of Velay with nordic forests and mountain flowers. There is a rich abundance of wild life including roe deer and foxes.
Great care has been taken to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone using the velo-rail.
Text quoted from Velorail du Velay website. Image copyright Velorail du Velay.
