Sud Express
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{{Infobox rail service
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| name = Sud Express
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| type = Inter-city rail
| status = Suspended
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| first = 21 October 1887
| last = 16 March 2020
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| formeroperator =Comboios de Portugal{{cite web|url=https://www.publico.pt/2012/09/28/economia/noticia/sud-expresso-e-lusitania-expresso-passam-a-comboio-unico-a-partir-de-4-de-outubro-1564987|date=28 September 2012|title=Sud Expresso e Lusitânia Expresso passam a comboio único a partir de 3 de Outubro|accessdate=2020-05-26|work= Público|language=Portuguese|author=Carlos Cipriano}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/outras/regresso-do-comboio-hotel-cada-vez-mais-longe-cp-devolve-material/|date=10 September 2020|work=Dinheiro Vivo|title=Regresso do comboio-hotel cada vez mais longe: CP devolve material|language=Portuguese|accessdate=2020-09-12|author=Diogo Ferreira Nunes}}
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| distance = 1,066 km
| journeytime = 12 hours, 11 minutes
| frequency = Daily
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| catering = Cafe-bar
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| gauge = {{Track gauge|1668 mm}}
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| owners = Adif
Infraestruturas de Portugal
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| map = {{Sud Express}}
| map_name = Route diagram (1994–)
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The Sud Express (also called Surexpreso{{cite web |url=http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/viajes_internacionales/compra_surexpreso.html|title=Trenhotel Surexpreso|date= |website=Renfe|access-date=12 September 2019 |quote=}} {{IPA|es|suɾeɣsˈpɾeso|lang}} and Sud Expresso{{cite web |url=https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt/como-viajar/sud-expresso |title=Sud Expresso - Lisboa >> Hendaye|date= |website=CP - Comboios de Portugal |access-date=12 September 2019 |quote=}} {{IPA|pt|suðɨʃˈpɾesu|lang}}) was an overnight passenger train connecting Paris with Lisbon and Madrid, and which originally was operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits and ran north of Paris to Calais. After 1994, the Sud Express connected Lisboa with Hendaye, a French commune on the Franco-Spanish border. In 1957, Reuters called it "one of Europe's fastest and most famous trains".{{cite news |title=The Sud Express Marks 70th Year: Famed European Train Has Carried a Host of Notables Southward From Paris |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/06/09/archives/the-sud-express-marks-70th-year-famed-european-train-has-carried-a.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 April 2024 |agency=Reuters |newspaper=The New York Times |date=9 June 1957 |page=S13}}
For most of the train's history, it was operated in two sections, with passengers needing to change between trainsets at the French–Spanish border because a break of gauge there prevented through operation, but from June 1973 to May 1994 the Sud Express carried through couchette cars between Paris and Lisbon (the Madrid section having been dropped in 1973), thanks to the introduction of cars with bogies (wheelsets) that could be adjusted at the border for the change of gauge. Passengers in sitting cars still had to change trains at the border.
The Sud Express carried Pullman (luxury class) cars exclusively until 1933, when first-class cars were added. It ran without any stops on its Paris–Bordeaux section, which in 1964 was the world's longest non-stop train journey, covering {{convert|359.8|mi|km|disp=flip|abbr=on}}.{{cite magazine|last=Steffee|first=Donald M.|title=Japan Takes the Blue Ribbon at 86.7 mph!|date=June 1965|magazine=Trains|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|pages=20–31}}
The service was suspended in March 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is set to return in the first half of 2025.
History
File:Carruagem restaurante do Sul Express em 1887 - Via Libre 177 1978.jpg
The inaugural trip of the Sud Express took place on 21 October 1887 connecting Lisbon via Madrid to Paris in 45 hours{{cite news |author= |title=London Gossip |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/18871110/004/0002 |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |location=England |date=10 November 1887 |access-date=8 September 2018 |url-access=subscription }} and services were extended on 4 November 1887 to Calais. By 1900, the cars to and from Lisbon were uncoupled from the Paris–Madrid cars at Medina del Campo, no longer going via Madrid and thereby shortening the journey time between Paris and Lisbon.
For most of the train's history (until 1973), all passengers had to change trains at the French–Spanish border because the two countries used different track gauges, and the break of gauge made it impossible for trains to run through between the two countries.
Initially, the service was weekly, but in 1888 was run twice weekly and from London Charing Cross. Also in 1888, the British Royal Mail launched connecting package services from Lisbon to Rio de la Plata and Brazil.{{cite news |author= |title=The International Sleeper Car Company |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000098/18880326/018/0010 |newspaper=Pall Mall Gazette |location=England |date=26 March 1888 |access-date=8 September 2018|url-access=subscription }} The service frequency increased further and on 1 January 1907 started to run daily.
In the 1930s, the Spanish Civil War caused the service to be suspended more than once, including from the war's outbreak (in 1936) until 5 November 1937{{cite news |title=Sud Express Runs Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/11/06/archives/sud-express-runs-again-crack-train-linking-paris-with-spain-and.html?searchResultPosition=1 |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 April 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=6 November 1937 |page=2}} and again from 11 December 1937{{cite news |author= |title=Spain Frontier Closed |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19371211/161/0014 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=England |date=11 December 1937 |access-date=8 September 2018 |url-access=subscription }} to 1 August 1939. It was again suspended on 1 November 1940 due to World War II. It restarted between Paris and Lisbon in March 1945{{cite news|title=Lisbon-Paris Train Again |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000650/19450321/015/0001 |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |location=England |date=21 March 1945 |access-date=8 September 2018 |url-access=subscription }} and soon also again to Madrid.
The train carried only Pullman cars (luxury-class lounge cars and sleeping cars) until 1933, when first-class cars{{snd}}a lower class than Pullman{{snd}}were added. By at least 1949, the French portion of the train was also carrying some cars with second-class and third-class compartments, along with first-class and Pullman-class cars."Table 32 – Sud Express". Thomas Cook European Timetable, 3 April – 14 May 1949 issue, p. 95. Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd. And by 1954, third class had been discontinued but the Sud Express was carrying some cars with second-class compartments on the Spanish and Portuguese portion also, with Pullman-class cars still in use only on the French portion."Table 32 – Sud Express". Thomas Cook European Timetable, 23 May – 17 June 1954 issue, p. 66. Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd. In 1957, Reuters called it "one of Europe's fastest and most famous trains". By that time, its average speed between Paris and Hendaye had been increased to {{convert|65|mph|kph|disp=flip|abbr=on}}.
Starting in 1953,{{cite book |last1=Vockrodt |first1=Stefan |title=Eisenbahnen in Paris: Eisenbahngeschichte Spezial 2 |date=2015 |isbn=978-3-937189-94-9 |pages=60–67 |language=de |chapter=Mistral, Capitol und andere Legenden. Berühmte Züge von, nach und über Paris |publisher=Deutsche Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte e.V.}}{{rp|62}} the Sud Express operated non-stop between Paris and Bordeaux, which in 1964 (at least) was the longest non-stop train journey in the world, covering a distance of {{convert|359.8|mi|km|disp=flip|abbr=on}}. Its scheduled average speed in 1964 was {{convert|75.2|mph|kph|disp=flip}}, which at the time was only {{convert|15.6|kph|mph|abbr=on}} slower than the fastest train in all of Europe. The train's typical consist was long, with up to 17 cars.{{cite book|last=Nock|first=O.S.|author-link=O. S. Nock|title=World Atlas of Railways|chapter=The Aquitaine: Pioneer of electric power|year=1978|page=121|location=New York|publisher=Mayflower Books (original publisher: Artists House, London, UK)|isbn=0-8317-9500-X}}
By 1973, the Sud Express{{'s}} Madrid section had been discontinued,"Table 24 (Summer) – Sud Express". Cooks Continental Timetable (September 30–October 31, 1973 edition), p. 75. London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd. following the June 1969 introduction of a new train, Puerta del Sol, providing through overnight sleeping-car service between Paris and Madrid."Stop Press [news]", p. 106, and "Table 43 – Puerta del Sol", p. 72". Cooks Continental Timetable (June 1969 edition). London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd. Excerpt (from table 43): "At Hendaye, the through sleeping cars Paris–Madrid and v.v. are jacked up to change the bogies on account of the difference in track gauge between France and Spain."
However, in 1973, the Sud Express became able to carry through cars over its entire route, now only Paris–Lisbon, thanks to the introduction of couchette cars fitted with variable-gauge wheelsets. Cooks Continental Timetable explained that, "At Hendaye, the through couchettes Paris–Lisbon and v.v. are jacked up to change the bogies on account of the difference in track gauge between France and Spain." Sitting cars and full sleeping cars continued to run in two separate sections, with passengers having to change at Hendaye or Irun. Through couchette cars running between Paris and Porto were added in summer 1974,"Summer services, 1974", p. 465, and "Table 28 (Summer) – Sud Express", p. 473. Cooks Continental Timetable (March 29–April 25, 1974 edition). London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd. followed in June 1975 by Paris–Ourense,"Editorial [service changes or other news]", p. 6, and "Table 28 – Sud Express", p. 76. Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (June 1975 edition). Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing. the latter being extended to Vigo in 1977."Editorial [service changes or other news]", p. 6, and "Table 28 – Sud Express", p. 78. Thomas Cook International Timetable (May 22–June 30, 1977 edition). Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing. {{issn|0141-2701}}.
Events
A 1939 crash near Tolosa, Spain on 29 March killed, amongst others, the artist Romilly Fedden and his novelist wife Katharine Waldo Douglas.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/04/08/91562063.pdf NYT obit, April 8, 1939]
On 11 September 1985, a Sud Express train collided head-on with another train near Moimenta-Alcafache station. The locomotives exploded and the train, carrying about 400 passengers, immediately caught fire. Forty-nine deaths were officially confirmed, most caused by the fire, although unofficial estimates put the number of deaths between 100 and 150. A memorial was erected on site.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}
Late 20th century to 2020
Image:Sud Express at Valladolid Great Country.JPG
With the 1994 introduction of LGV Atlantique service from Paris to Irún and from Hendaye (the twin border towns on opposite sides of the French/Spanish border), the through Sud Express service was discontinued in favour of a (faster) combination of two different trains. The original connection from and to Paris was then made with one TGV to Irun and from Hendaye.
The continuing Sud Express ran as a night train from Irun at the French/Spanish border to Lisbon and from Lisbon to Hendaye. Until April 2010, facilities existed for second-class seated accommodation, second-class couchette cars (6-bunk compartments), and first-class private sleeping compartments for 1, 2 or 3 passengers.
Previously, first-class passengers found a bar of chocolate and a small bottle of port in their compartments upon boarding the train, with dinner served in a well-appointed dining and bar car, and a continental breakfast the following morning.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} However, by 2019 the full restaurant car and catering had been replaced by a cafe-bar car.{{cite web |url=https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/sud-express-from-irun-and-san-sebastian-to-lisbon.htm |title=Lisbon by Sud Express |last=Smith |first=Mark |date=2019 |website=The Man in Seat Sixty-One |access-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213064157/https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/sud-express-from-irun-and-san-sebastian-to-lisbon.htm|archive-date=13 February 2019|url-status=dead}}
The train consisted of a Talgo IV set hired from Renfe hauled by a RENFE Class 252 between the Irún/Hendaye and Medina del Campo, a RENFE Class 334 between Medina del Campo and Vilar Formoso and a CP Class 5600 between Vilar Formoso and Lisbon.
The Portuguese government's strategic plan for transport, published in October 2011, envisaged the withdrawal of the Sud Express. In October 2012, CP started an Intercity (later downgraded to InterRegional) service between Porto and Coimbra in order to improve the connection between the Sud Express and northern Portugal.[http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=1bae6e29d6b74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD CP website - Sud Express] Also from October 2012, this train was operated by CP-Comboios de Portugal.
After 25 April 2018, the southbound Sud Express started at Hendaye (instead of Irún), due to the lack of proper certification from the new fleet of TGV 2N2 operating on the LGV SEA.
Suspension due to COVID-19 pandemic
The service was suspended on 17 March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has not resumed."What's new this month". European Rail Timetable (Summer 2020 edition), pp. 5, 562. UK: European Rail Timetable Ltd. {{isbn|978-0-9957998-7-5}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/dinheiro/cp-retoma-comboio-para-espanha-e-franca-assim-que-fronteira-reabrir-12273333.html|title=CP retoma comboio para Espanha e França assim que fronteira reabrir|date=3 June 2020|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|lang=pt|trans-title=CP resumes train to Spain and France as soon as the border reopens|access-date=20 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218225912/https://www.dn.pt/dinheiro/cp-retoma-comboio-para-espanha-e-franca-assim-que-fronteira-reabrir-12273333.html/|archive-date=18 December 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Mark |title=How to travel by train from London to Portugal |url=https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm |website=The Man in Seat Sixty-One |access-date=21 April 2024}} In March 2021, a representative of the Spanish transport ministry said that the country may stop having night trains even after the end of the coronavirus pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Ferreira Nunes|first=Diogo|url=https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/empresas/regresso-do-comboio-internacional-exige-acordo-entre-portugal-e-espanha-13587753.html|title = Regresso do comboio internacional "exige acordo" entre Portugal e Espanha|date = 19 April 2021|publisher=Dinheiro Vivo|lang=pt|trans-title=Return of the international train 'requires agreement' between Portugal and Spain}}
Return to service in 2025
In November 2024, a proposal by the LIVRE Party to resume the Sud Express service between Portugal and Spain was approved. The Portuguese and Spanish governments are currently negotiating its return to service in the first half of 2025.{{Cite web |title=Portugal-Spain night train to resume |url=https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2024-11-28/portugal-spain-night-train-to-resume/93880 |date=28 November 2024 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.theportugalnews.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=30 November 2024 |title=Portugal-Spain Night Train returns in 2025 |url=https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/11/30/portugal-and-spain-set-to-revive-night-train-services-by-2025/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=EuroWeekly News |last=Mokrani |first=Farah |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201012224/https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/11/30/portugal-and-spain-set-to-revive-night-train-services-by-2025/ |archive-date=1 December 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Wintle |first=Thomas |date=3 December 2024 |title=The return of Spain-Portugal night trains by next year? |url=https://www.railtech.com/all/2024/12/03/the-return-of-spain-portugal-night-trains-by-next-year/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=RailTech.com |language=en-GB}}
See also
References
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