Travel News

[Hedley Malloch]

Two bits of good news for those who go the battlefields on public transport.

First, as is well known, there are no low cost air lines serving the battlefields. This could be about to change. Lille Airport, the best placed airport for Ypres, Flanders and the Somme has consistently refused access to low-cost carriers; it's been a monopoly for Air France for years and Air France do not do low-cost. This strategy has suited both SNCF and Eurostar, both of whom also have an interest in keeping Lille a low-cost free zone. The high cost of an airline ticket out of Lille has led to declining passenger numbers and mounting losses. The present owner of the airport is Lille Chamber of Commerce. The rumour in Lille is that they are no longer willing to support the losses and want to sell it. A new owner will have to adopt a more commercial approach and that could open the door to low-cost carriers flying into Lille.

Second, the TGV-Est line between Strasbourg and Paris is nearing completion. A little-known part of this project will be a spur line from the Reims area to Lille, thus enabling direct high-speed rail access from Lille to the battlefields of Verdun, Alsace, Champagne and Lorraine. This should help anyone wishing to plan comprehensive trips to the Western Front.

[healdav]

Yes, BUT the TGV will not stop at either Metz or Nancy, but at a new station between the two and in the middle of nowhere.

Metz has the only station in France (built by the germans post 1871) that could take it without modification, Nancy howled as they are the capital.

True political compromise. New station.

What facilities will be there are unknown for the moment - buses, hire cars, etc.

[SiegeGunner]

Opening Lille to low-cost carriers could be very good news - depending on which UK airports they operate out of. For me, Stansted and Dover are about equidistant, but a service from Gatwick would be useful. If any Southend pals happen to be listening, I'd be interested to hear about services (if any) from there to Ostend.

Mick

[ackimzey]

Yes, BUT the TGV will not stop at either Metz or Nancy, but at a new station between the two and in the middle of nowhere.

Metz has the only station in France (built by the germans post 1871) that could take it without modification, Nancy howled as they are the capital.

True political compromise. New station.

What facilities will be there are unknown for the moment - buses, hire cars, etc.

This sounds exacty like the Ft. Worth-Dallas (Texas) fight a number years ago. The result was the Dallas - Ft. Worth Airport half way in between the two cities. Of course over the years the cities have grown toward the airport so it's now "solid sprawl".

Ann