A week after the start of the 2022 season of the Petit Train de La Mure, tourists are waiting for you! The route is accessible for the second year since its reopening. In October 2010, an entire section of the cliff collapsed near the Monteynard dam. The track had been covered by tons of rock for several tens of meters. The Little Train of La Mure had resumed service on July 20, 2021. It had then welcomed, that year, 22,000 passengers, 52% of whom were from Isérois.
Delighted passengers
This Saturday, April 23, despite the rain, many of them are on the platform waiting for the train. It’s the first time they’re going to take it for the most part, even though they’ve heard of it before. This is the case of Martine and André. They came as a group, with an association based in Annemasse in Haute-Savoie. “We came to discover the train, it is famous, it is famous“, explains Martine. André, he had heard of its closure between 2010 and 2021. “We were very happy to finally be able to visit this attraction!“, he says.
It is Stéphanie, the conductor of the train, who checks the tickets. She will then accompany the travelers throughout the journey. “It’s super nice as a job, people are always nice, she enthuses. And then with such beautiful landscapes, it’s a great working environment!“. Claire, she stays at the dock, she runs the Little Train souvenir shop and she is very proud of it. “Even me as an adult when I get on the train I feel like I’m eightshe says. I’m doing my little trick, and it’s very pleasant!“.
– Dimitri Morgado
A few minutes after the departure of the train, another is on the way back. At the exit, the smiles can be read on the faces. “We enjoyed the calm, describes Annick, originally from Ain. And we found it very pleasant to have an activity that accepts animals.“Indeed, his dog, Elven, was on the trip. Annick’s husband, Henri, remained speechless in front of the landscapes.
The Little Train, an asset for La Mure
The Little Train crosses five towns in 45 minutes. “We will pass through the vestiges of the mining heritage of the territory, in particular a mine shaftsays Louise de Guyon, the head of the tourist information office in La Mure. We will also go through the structures that were built for this train, in particular the Loulla double viaduct, which is very impressive. And finally, the highlight of the show, we will get off the train to be able to move forward on the balconies of the Drac to discover the view of Lake Monteynard and the Vercors chain.”
If this train allows you to discover many places and works, it also allows tourists to stop at La Mure. “We noticed that we had a lot of visitors who regularly passed through La Mure to go on vacation, especially in the South, explains Louis de Guyon. In fact, they say they were stopping for the first time because the train being there, _it made them want to stop and discover this tourist revival_.“
– Dimitri Morgado
Useful information
The Petit Train de La Mure welcomes visitors on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, public holidays and bridges during the low season. Between June and August, in high season, the train is open from Tuesday to Sunday. The last departure of the year 2022 will be on Sunday November 6th.
You find more information on the website of the Little Train of La Mure.