No trains between Nice and Ventimiglia until Wednesday evening, here are the solutions for travelers

Since Tuesday, November 10, rail traffic has been completely interrupted between Nice, Monaco, Menton and Ventimiglia. The Nice-Breil-sur-Roya line is also affected. This closure, which is to last until Wednesday late afternoon, allows SNCF Réseau to carry out several renovation and modernization projects on the infrastructure.

Travelers accustomed to taking the train in the east of the Alpes-Maritimes must make other arrangements. Since Tuesday morning, no TER ZOU! trains are running between Nice and the Italian border. The suspension affects all stations on the line, particularly Monaco and Menton, as well as the rail link between Nice and Breil-sur-Roya.

At the origin of this interruption are several operations conducted simultaneously by SNCF Réseau. The network manager is taking advantage of this temporary closure to renew equipment and work on railway installations that require a complete cessation of traffic.

Over 200 agents are mobilized for 40 hours, day and night. The work includes particularly the overhead lines between Nice-Ville and Nice-Saint-Roch, as well as the replacement of old switches in the Nice-Saint-Roch and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin areas.

« Sometimes we need continuous time slots like this over a number of days. And that’s the case here because we’re really putting the tracks back to new on certain sections of the line », explains Renaud Thillaye, director of communications at SNCF Réseau.

A project preparing for new rail signaling

This work is also intended to prepare for the arrival of ERTMS, a European digital signaling system. This system is to improve traffic management and allow trains to be brought closer together on the same line. In the long term, this development could therefore encourage an increase in service frequency between Nice and Italy. « These are truly preparatory works for a major technological leap. A first in France, moreover, on what is known as a conventional line », emphasizes Renaud Thillaye.

On the travel side, train service is scheduled to resume gradually Wednesday, November 11, from late afternoon onwards. The first departures are scheduled for 5:23 PM from Nice toward Menton and Ventimiglia, then at 5:51 PM from Monaco. In the other direction, a first train is to leave Ventimiglia at 6:42 PM, followed by a departure from Menton at 6:51 PM. From Monaco, the first connection to Nice is announced at 7:05 PM.

In the meantime, replacement buses provide certain connections between Monaco, Nice Grand-Arénas, Nice-Vauban, Menton and Ventimiglia. Departures are scheduled every 15 minutes between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM, then between 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Outside these periods, the frequency drops to one bus every 30 minutes. Capacity remains limited, however.

ZOU! bus lines 600 and 601 Noctambus are also a solution for getting to Nice, Monaco and Menton. On the Nice-Breil-Tende line, buses run between Nice and Breil-sur-Roya, with possible connections via the Zest 25 line to Tende.

ZOU! rail pass holders can use replacement services at no extra charge, provided they present their pass and the printed and completed ZOU! Pass Works Subscribers form. SNCF also recommends favoring remote work or postponing travel when possible. Updated schedules are available on the TER South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur website.