Petite Ceinture

Here is a link that works: www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine/24655733

Parts of it are still in use I travelled from Gare de Lyon via Gare d'Est to Gare du Nord in a through sleeper coach from Monte-Carlo to Calaisin 1976

IIRC parts of the line were used until the 80's when new construction made them redundant. In some places the track is still in situ.

There is little point in doing so. Much of it is paralleled by the T3 tram line which runs along the southern, eastern and north eastern sections. A look on Google map satellite view shows how close the PC alignment and tram route is. Tracking the old alignment is a tad hard in places because of the tunnels but it's not impossible. The rest is covered by the remaining PC bus route. The T3 tram is planned for a further extension across the northern section and into the north western quadrant near where the PC ran. This will leave one section covering the western part to convert to tram operation but it's not clear to me if that is RATP's plan. Further out there is, of course, a western orbital tram line, T2, which runs over the old Puteaux line and into La Defense. This was recently extended north west of La Defense. RATP and STIF (the regional funding body for transport) have delivered a huge tram expansion with several more lines or extensions under construction. It's all very impressive.

There are details about all of the tram and Metro extensions on the RATP website (in French).

There used to be several connections with the métro system:
* Connection at "Balard" ceinture station with the line 12 workshop itself connected with the line at "porte de Versailles"; the link still exists, but is no longer in service. There used to be a level crossing where the track has been covered with concrete!
* Former connection North of "porte de Vincennes" with line 2 (and formerly line 1) workshop (connected to these lines at "Nation"). The connection had a very steep gradient and coaches were hauled along it with a crane and cables.

Two connections between the métro and the "external networks" remain in service, but no more with the "Petite Ceinture":
* One between the line 1 workshop (at the Vincennes end of it) with the RER line A;
* One between the track workshop (located at porte de la Villette and connected with line 7) and a goods railway line in Aubervilliers.

Excuse the bump, but doing a Chris W here and referring a Guardian article about the Petite Ceinture that may be of interest to members.

Is that how you refer to me now

I did a 'ChrisW' myself.... HERE a little under an hour ago too 

Should the two topics be merged? I find it rather petite not to do so