This train is both a practical way of reaching parts of the south of the island that are otherwise hard to reach and a pleasure in itself. Many people use the train to reach the two beaches, especially Plage de Maumusson which is difficult to access by car.
The P’tit Train combines railway history, tourism and environmental awareness all in one little railway track on the Ile d’Oléron. Created in 1963, when it was known as the Tramway Touristique de Saint-Trojan, the ‘petit’ train and railway have gone on to become in recent years one of the most popular tourist attractions on the French Atlantic coast.
The 6 km of 600 mm narrow gauge railway track starts in the centre of Saint-Trojan-les-Bains on the south of Ile d’Oléron. The first half of the journey is through the scrub that’s a mix of towering pine trees and other maritime plants, sometimes running alongside the road. From the stop at the Plage (beach) de Gatseau, the landscape changes and you get superb views of the sea. The terminus is at the Pertuis de Maumusson on the Côte Sauvage, where the Plage de Maumusson, known for its shipwrecks, is eleven km long and feels almost empty even in high season.
Contact information
Tel: +33 5 46 76 01 26
Mobile: +33 6 79 79 45 23
E-mail: ecrire@le-ptit-train.com
Website: www.le-ptit-train.com