Réseau des Bains de Mer

Réseau des Bains de Mer
A train at Crécy-Estrées station
Overview
StatusPart closed, part in operation as the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme heritage railway
LocaleSomme, France
Stations26
Service
Services4
History
Opened1 June 1887 (1887-06-01)
10 March 1947Closed to passengers between Noyelles and Crécy Estrées. Closed Abbeville to Forest l'Abbay and Crécy Estrées to Dompierre-sur-Authie.
1 February 1951Closed between Noyelles and Crécy Estrées.
Technical
Line length~68 kilometres (42.25 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Map of the Réseau des Bains de Mer

The Réseau des Bains de Mer (French pronunciation: [ʁezo de bɛ̃ mɛʁ], RBM) was a group of five metre gauge railways centred on Noyelles-sur-Mer, with a total route length of some 68 kilometres (42 mi). It was a part of the Chemins de fer départementaux de la Somme. Three of the lines are still open as the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme heritage line, and are dealt with under that article. This article covers the other two lines, now closed. All the lines were in the Somme department.

The five lines were:-

  • Noyelles - Le Crotoy (opened 1 June 1887).
  • Noyelles - St. Valery sur Somme (opened 5 June 1858 [Standard gauge], 6 September 1887 [Dual gauge] ).
  • St. Valery sur Somme - Cayeux sur Mer (opened 6 September 1887).
  • Noyelles - Forest-l'Abbaye (opened 24 August 1892, closed 10 March 1947 [passengers] / 1 February 1951 [freight] ).
  • Abbeville - Dompierre-sur-Authie (opened 19 June 1892, closed 10 March 1947 [Abbeville - Forest-l'Abbaye and Crécy Estrées - Dompierre sur Authie, also to passengers between Crécy Estrées and Forest l'Abbaye] / 1 February 1951 [Crécy Estrées - Forest-l'Abbaye] ).