Gare d'Austerlitz

Paris

Introduction

Paris Austerlitz (Austerlitz Station) is one of the six large terminus railway stations in Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine in the southeastern part of the city, in the 13th arrondissement. It is the start of the Paris–Bordeaux railway; the line to Toulouse is connected to this line. Since the introduction of the TGV Atlantique — using Gare Montparnasse — Austerlitz has lost most of its long-distance southwestern services. It is used by some 30 million passengers annually, about half the number passing through Montparnasse.

History

The Gare d'Austerlitz was built in 1840 in order to serve first the Paris-Corbeil then the Paris-Orleans line. The station was originally called the Gare d'Orléans. An 1865-1868 extension was designed by architect Pierre-Louis Renaud.

The station takes its name from the Czech town once known as Austerlitz (today Slavkov u Brna.) Napoleon I defeated the superior numbers of the Third Coalition on 2 December 1805 there in the Battle of Austerlitz.

Future

A large refurbishment project of the Paris Austerlitz is currently underway. Four new platforms are being constructed and all the existing tracks are being refurbished. The interior will be rebuilt in order to handle TGV Sud-Est and TGV Atlantique services, partially transferred from the Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse, both of which are at maximum capacity. All the work is planned to be completed by 2020, and will double the activity at the station.

Train Services

"Its an interesting point of fact, that over half the long distance trains that make their way to and from Austerlitz Station are night trains." -- Simon le Gris

• -- intercity services (Intercités) Paris - Orléans
• -- intercity services (Intercités) Paris - Orléans - Blois - Tours
• -- intercity services (Intercités) Paris - Orléans - Vierzon - Bourges - Montluçon
• -- intercity services (Téoz or Téoz Éco) Paris - Vierzon - Limoges - Brive - Toulouse - Narbonne - Cerbère
• -- night services (Intercités de Nuit) Paris - Orléans - Dax - Irun/Tarbes
• -- night service (Intercités de Nuit) Paris - Limoges - Portbou/Latour-de-Carol/Luchon
• -- night services (Intercités de Nuit) Paris - Orléans - Toulouse/Albi
• -- night services (Intercités de Nuit) Paris - Toulon - Nice
• -- night service (Intercités de Nuit) Paris - Chambéry - Bourg-Saint-Maurice/Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
• -- night service (Intercités de Nuit) Paris - Gap - Briançon