Geography of C.F.C.      

in blue : railway
 in red : main roads
in violet : border between the 2 départements

             Today, in 2001, this network contains 2 lines:
- a principal line which connects Bastia in Ajaccio, by  way of Corte (158 km),
- an antenna which gets loose from the principal line at Ponte Leccia, and leaves towards Balagne's region, to reach l'Ile Rousse then Calvi. (Ponte Leccia to Calvi: 74 km)

            The big difficulty to build this railway was the relief. But this has a remarkable counterpart: the beauty of the route.

            Into Bastia, the station is installed on a big ground, with several buildings either administrative, or dedicated to the maintenance and to the car park of the rolling stock. From the exit of the station, trains cross the long Torreta tunnel, then roll the full south by a flat and rectilinear plan, in an suburban environment until Casamozza, where are installed from some time the company workshops.
            It was there that trains left the central line towards Port Vecchio. It was before the destruction of the oriental coast line Germans in 1943.

            To Casamozza, line raises the Golo valley, in a southwest direction, by a picturesque plan, with 4 viaducts over the river. Then it reaches Ponte Leccia, station of fork.

            Then, again by a south and rectilinear full plan, it runs towards Francardo. After this station, the plan becomes much more sinuous and mountain. The train serves Corte, central city of Corsica, and especially university town. Beyond, route becomes even more steep, tortuous, and especially of an exceptional beauty. With much small tunnels, tight curves, viaducts vertiginous as that over Vecchio, and looking down saw to the valleys bottom.

            We crosse, Venaco, Vivario, Tattone, until Vizzavona, in the heart of the forest of the same name. At Vizzavona, the station is in the entrance (or exit) of the CFC longest tunnel. This tunnel is long almost 4 km, it is situated in more than 900 m of height. It is the highlight of the line.

            Then the line comes down strongly towards Ajaccio, at first by a route still openly mountain, then more and more plain, then more and more urban.

            The antenna towards Calvi leaves Ponte Leccia northward, bends towards the Northwest, and follows a very restless plan, which rises to the Novella tunnel then comes down again until the coast reached at l'Ile Rousse.

            During this route, are crossed very little inhabited zones. From l'Ile Rousse, the aspect changes completely. The line follows the coast. It serves all the beaches, in closer, better than the road. Until Calvi.


            There was a track connecting since Bastia's station, until the port. It is today abolished. It is damage to oblige the tourist, or the student, who manages with a heavy rucksack on foot to go to the station, although that it is feasible.

            The connecting with the Ajaccio port does not exist any more either. But in this city the station is very near the port. On foot easy access since the boat.

            To Calvi and l'Ile Rousse, the port is near the station also. It is so easy to go to take the train by arriving by boat.


            For Bastia and Calvi's airports, nothing of foreseen. To Bastia, the nearest stations are those of  Casamozza and Lucciana, little far to go on foot, but it exists taxis.
            To Calvi, idem, the most simple is the taxi.
            In Ajaccio exists a station Campo dell Oro, rather close to the airport.
            In Figari : no trains.

For the tourist:

Two portions are the most picturesque:
1 - the central route in mountains, at least from Corte to Vizzavona, in best from Francardo to Bocognano.
2 - the coastal route: from Calvi to l'Ile Rousse.

back to the French page

retour à la page d'accueil - back to the main page