Chemin de fer du Vivarais

The Chemin de fer du Vivarais (CFV) - often called Le Mastrou or Train de l'Ardèche - is a tourist railway in the Ardèche region of the South of France. The metre gauge line is 33 kilometres (21 mi) long. The railway is renowned for its historical steam locomotives in Mallet articulated locomotive style, as well as a collection of historic rolling stock and diesel railcars.

The line runs between Tournon, in the Rhône Valley, and Lamastre in the Doux valley. From Lamastre, the original line ran a further 19 kilometres (12 mi) to Le Cheylard. Originally opened on 12 July 1891, the line closed on 31 October 1968, and reopened as a heritage line the following year. In 2008, heritage services were suspended due to lack of funds to repair steam locomotives, among other issues. In 2013, steam returned to the Vivarais and services were resumed.

A network of lines was constructed around Vivarais between 1898 and 1903. The network comprised:

When the Vivarais network closed in 1968, a group of enthusiasts decided to save part of the network and rolling stock. On 14 June 1969 a tourist operation started between Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and Lamastre. The Meyzieu Tourist Railway Company (CFTM) was created to operate the line, supported by the Association de soutien au Cheman de fer du Vivarais (SGVA), a group of volunteers who restore and maintain the rolling stock. It was not until February 1970 that access was restored to the railway station at Tournon, and the new Tournon - Lamastre line, 33 kilometres (21 mi) long, was officially opened on 18 April 1970.

In 1973 the company was forced to buy the rolling stock, track and stations, which made the CFTM one of the few French operators of tourist railways to own the infrastructure and rolling stock.

After operating without assistance for 35 years, the CFV searched for a partner. The department of Ardèche became majority shareholder of the CFV in 2004, when the realisation of the Joint Economic Society (SEM) to be substitutes resulted CFTM with the department's commitment to make a contribution of funds corresponding to the proportion of assets of CFTM. These flows of funds would be materialised in the form of investments on track and rolling stock.

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