The Occitanie region in partnership with the SNCF has decided to reopen the railway line on the right bank of the Rhône in its southern part. The first trains will run this Monday, August 29 between Pont-Saint-Esprit and Avignon at the rate of 4 round trips per day. This line (Lyon/Nîmes) had been closed to passenger train traffic in 1973 and devoted to freight trains.
The return of passenger trains to Ardèche
The consequence of this reopening should be the return of passenger trains to Ardèche. The Ardèche which is the only department in mainland France without a passenger train since 1973. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region should continue the connection to Teil from February 2024. There should therefore be a direct connection by express train regional (TER) from Teil to Avignon or Nîmes.
In any case from this Monday, the TER Occitanie should come without a traveler to Teil 40 kilometers north of their terminus of Pont-Saint-Esprit to be able to turn around.
A Romans-sur-Isère/Nîmes link project
A more complete reopening of the right bank of the Rhône is currently under study. It would be a question of creating a TER link from Romans-sur-Isère to Avignon and Nîmes via the stations of Valence TGV, Valence Ville, Pouzin, Cruas, Teil, Viviers and Bourg-Saint-Andéol. This link could come into service in 2026.