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Floods: Picasso will be given on the rails to Easter

A good month, it is the time which it will be necessary to give in state «the line of Bize ».
This line of 20 km, which connect Narbonne to Bize Minervois, was to be, during its construction at the beginning of the century, the embryo of a Narbonne line - Mazamet - Castrated - Albi - Rodez, but the project did not come to anything.
The Narbonne line - Bize has not only one significant economic function, since it serves the industrial park of Malvesi and sees forwarding approximately 80 000 tons of freight per annum, but also a tourist function expanding thanks to the tourist Rail-car of Minervois.
Strongly damaged during the serious floods of mid-November (ballast and railway carried on 200 meters approximately), its rebuilding was on December 18 in the center of the discussions of the ATM, association which manages and uses this tourist train.
Work which began on January 3, will last more than one month. Work of great scale which will require to make come some 20 000 m3 fill.
«The damage of the line did not act directly on our activities, even if we must already provide answers to certain voyagists. If the floods had occurred in spring, it was the catastrophe », specifies Jerome Leroyer, president of the ATM.
«As for knowing if improvements will be carried out, nothing was still decided. What is certain, it is that lengths of rail, of which some date from 1887 and the beginning of the century, will have to be replaced. »Once the line given in state, the blue rail-car and white Picasso and its two trailers will take again service as of Easter Sunday, instead of at the beginning of July, tourism of before-season.
Two new circuits will be launched in partnership with the field of Authénac (Ginestas): two circuits-a diurnal and night baptized «rail-car buissonnier »and «This evening in the vine growers ». Several voyages are envisaged during the before-season: April 23, June 11 and 12 and on May 7.
During the tourist season, the rail-car will function the 9, July 16 and 23, as well as the 13, August 20 and 27. In September, it will circulate only Sunday.
ATM will create its Internet site on which one will be able to take note of the last formulas suggested by association.

Andre DESPLAS LVDR of 26-01-00