The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-24 00:00:00

STATE AND PROSPECTS OF FRENCH

RAILWAYS.

One of the greatest advances that has yet taken
place in the progress of European civilisation is slowly but
surely approaching in the comprehensive system of railways
in course of construction in France. The object of the fol-
lowing review is rather to glance rapdly at the present posi-
tion of French railways than to dwell at any length on the
reflections that naturally present themselves on entering into
the con‘ideration of such a subject,
The first hoe that comes under our notice is that from
Paris to Rouen, which was opened for traffic on the Ist May,
1843, being the first of the French railways, in chrsoulogical
order, which was completed to the north of Paris. It is
eighty-four English miles in length, and was constructed
from the plans of Mr. Locke, the engineer of the
South Western Railway. The present net returns are
about 8 per cent. on the capital, and the receipts
which were 8,8321. from passenger traffic, and 3,7221. from
goods traffic in January, 1844, were respectively 10,0381., and
14,6931. in the 61=8 month of the present year. The exten-
sion of this railway, 57 miles is length, from Rouen m
Havre, is completed, and will probably be opened within a
month of the present time : it has occupied a long time it
construction, from the numerous works of art necessitated by
the uneven character ot the country through which it rune:
among others, six important viaducts, one ot which—that
Barentin—fell 'down shortly after it was completed, about
fourteen months ago, and has since been rebuilt. Thews is
also abridge over the Seine, at Rouen, about 1,200 feet lons.
This line will complete the railway communication between
Para and Havre, which is the port of the capital, as far as
its maritime trade with countries out of Europe is concerned,
and where it will communicate directly with extensive docks
now building. The terminus of the Rouen railway, at Paris,
is common with that of the short lines from Paris to fit
Germaine, and to Versailles, by the right bank of the Seine,
opened in 1837 and 1839 respectively. In 1840 another
railway was completed to Versailles by the left bank (Atha
Seine. Neither has proved very profitable ; but it has been
proposed for the two companies to amalgamate, and, from a
=rim at Versailles, to extend their lines to Charing,
, and Britanny.
Going westward, the next line we meet is that from'
Paris to Orleans, completed at the same time u that from
Paris to Rouen, in the early part of 1843. The length of
this line, including a branch to Corbeil, is 93 miles; the
share capital 1,600,0001., and the net return,' about 10 per
cent. It not only unites Paris with the flourishing city of
Orleans,Thut also is extended thence in several directions ;
lit, by the Orleans, Tours and Bordeaux Railway, 300 miles
long, now in progress throughout, and already opened from '
Orleans to Tour', a distance of 69 =lea; 2nd, by the Tours
and Nantes Railway, a branch from this to the principal
wain of eassuaaree on the west coast of France, 120 nodes
in length, the works of which are in a very forward state
hr about 65 miles, from Tours to Angers; 3rd, by the cen-
tral railway from Orleans to V ierion, Reneges and Chi-
teauroux. From Orleans to Bargee by Vierzou, a distance
al 70 miles is completed, and may be opened for traffic as
soon as a bridge over the Loire at Orleans is finished. As
the construction of such a bridge will require a considerable
time, a temporary bridge is about to be thrown over to con-
nect the two railways in the interim.
The next grand trunk line leaving Paris is that to the
Mediterranean, the first section of which, from Paris to
Lyons, will be about 300 miles in length. It is in progress
throughout, but will not be completed until 1849 at
the moiler. About 45 miles from Dijon to Chalons, situated
half-way between the two extremities of the line, are nearly
completed, and might be opened in the course of the present
year. Front Lyons there are railways already open to St.
Etienne, Andredieux, and Roanne, remarkable as being the
tint lines of any length completed in France. The total
length is about 90 miles, and these lines afford communica-
tion between the valliee of the Rhone and Loire' and pas
through the Loire coal fields. The great line to the Medi-
ternmean is continued from Lyons through Avignon to
Marseilles; that part from Lyons to Avignon, 195 miles in
length, including a branch to Grenoble, is not yet began,
although in the hands of a company from Avignon to
Marseilles, 65 miles is length, is nearly finished, and will
probably be opened in the present year. A railway, which
will branch from this at Terascon, and runs to Nimes, Mont-
pellier, and Cette, a rising port on the Mediterranean, with
a branch to the mineral district about Alain, is finished, as
also a small line in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux. A
junction railway from Bordeaux to Cette through Toulouse
bas been proposed, and a company has been formed to con-
struct it.
A company has also taken the railway from Paris to
Strasburg, the length of which, including branches
to Rheims and to Metz and the Prussian frontier,
is nearly three hundred and sixty miles. The works
are in rapid progress, and a tunnel under the Vosges, 2,800
yards in length, completed. The greater part of the lice
will be finished in 1848, and the rest in 1849, with the ex-
ception of the section from St. Dicier to Nancy, which can-
not be completed before 1850. A line from Strasburg to
Bale, the total length
.of which, including the branch from
Mulhouse to Thous, is 95 miles, was opened in the rummer
of 1841 ; it has not enjoyed much traffic, and cannot until
extended from Strasburg to the more important towns oe
the lower part of the Rhine. In the district enclosed be-
tween the Paris and Lyons and Paris and Strasburg rail.
ways, one railimy is in progress, viz., a branch from the
former line to Troyes, and another is proposed front Dijon
to Mulhouse, uniting the two. One from St. Dialer to Gray,
the point where the Loins becomes navigable, has also been
spoken of.
The next line we arrive at, pursuing our course round the
French territory, is the Northern line from Paris through
Amiens and Arras to Douay, wheretherailway iscontinued
two directions, one branch proceeding through Lille to the
Belgian frontier, where it meets the Belgian. state line from
Ghent, and the other reaching the frontier eta Valenciennes,
whence it is continued by the Belgian government line to
Brussels. The total length is 204 miles, and the railway
was opened throughout on the 20th Jane last. Branches
from Criel (on the main line) to St. Quentin, and from Lille
to Dunkirk and Calais are in progress. This line is of peat
importance, as connecting Paris with Belgium, Holland, led
the North of Europe, and of still greater from the fact Oat
90 miles of it, as far as Amiens, form part of the appease-
log railway commeoication between London and PailL
The rest of the railway from Amiens to Boulogne, 75 lain
in length, is in a very advanced state, and will be completed
in less than a year. 28 miles from Amiens to Abbeville halo
been finished for some months past, sad are expected to he
opened for truffle in the course of next month. When Otisl
is accomplished the journey between London and Paris wt',
be comfortably made in 17 hours • and in 12 hours whistler'
Fens is open to Boulogne. 'To complete our =1
French railway; we have only now to notice the 1
from the Rouena,
and Havre Railway to Dieppe and F
for the construction of which a company has been
The hasty enumeration we have made el the
varbne
French railways comleted, in reeves, oaf madartaluisa,
companies who have already obtained their appear
fiesta to justify else &abortion, that when finished, they
not only furnish ready communication between Psis art
the various centres of population and industry diraughotat
the French territory, but also with the adjacent ..swim;
and likewise afford great facilities on several lines of Lack
which already enjoy eonsiderable traffic, both in
and goods, and some of which are iadeed the k renof
Europe such as three from London to Switasffiemi, the
Mediterranean, or Spain, through Paris, from the United
States to Switzerland. rid Havre (a route taken tsg a large
amount of goods-traffic), de.
Little remains to be said in addition to this almost tabular
view of the French system of railways; bait it would be in-
complete without a few remarks on the railway legislation of
Prance. All the French railways, with one or two sweep-
trans, are only conceded tothe companies who have undertaken
their construction, for a term of years, so that the companies
have to provide for the reimbursement of tie capital at the
expiration of the lease ley means of a sinking-fund, varying
according to the length to which it extends. The railways
from Paris to Rouen and to Orleans were conceded directly '
to the companies for terms of 99 years ; and that from Retina
to Havre for 97; their agreements with the government
having been afterwards submitted to the Chambers for ratifi-
eerie,. After 1842 the government began to work ea its own
account on ROverillofthe great lines of railway, the suet dime-
dons to be taken by which were settled by the Chambers
in that year; and since that period, the greater pert of he
new lines have been put up to auction, and conceded to the
company offering the greatest reduction on a maximum term
of concession fixed by the Chambers. For some, the go-
vernment has been reimbursed by the companies for any
outlay expended on the line conceded to them; for others. it
continues to pay all the expenses of the earth works, traria.
the company only to provide the rails and working-stock—
the length of lease
been ourse varying, as one or other of these
alternatives bee adopted. Among the line. in the
latter position, are those from Orleans to Bordeaux, from
Orleans to Vienon. from Tours to Neaten. from Avignon to
Maroilles, and from Paris to Stissburet sad in the former,
are the Northern Railway, those from-Boulogne to Azaleas,
from Paris to Lyons, and several other important Jahr-
taking.. The length of the leases has varied mach, accord
ing to the time at which the concession took place. The
Boulogne and Amine. Railway, conceded in October, 1844,
before the excitement of 1845. was taken for 99 yeses,
although of great value, as commanding the traffic between
London and Paris; the Northern Railway, taken during
the heat of that excitement. and the great advantages
of which had been greatly exaggerated, has only a
lease of 38 years the Paris and Lyons, taken subeequently,
has one of 41. The Lyons and Avignon is conceded for 45
years. the Bordo.ux and Cette for 66. .Imong the lines,
part of theoutlay for which is borne by the government,
that from Avignon to Marseilles has • lease of 33 years,
during which it is calculated it will 'produce 10 Per cent. per
annum to the shareholders, while the less lucrative line from
Orleans to Bordeaux has only one of 28 yean. The Paris