Trains and other things

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Valenciennes, Lille, Arras, Lens

I'm continuing my journy through northern France

I'm in Valenciennes

Valenciennes station is the oldest in the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord network. The Valenciennes to Blanc-Misseron and Quiévrain line was one of the first built in France, and the second of international significance (Wikipedia)

Class Z 23500 from the 90s

In Lille, I have time for a walk

Here is a real piece of Art Nouveau

Monument to General Faidherbe Lille

Lille Flandres

A glas of champagne

Dinner is served

The next day I visit Arras

TGV to Paris is stopping at Arras

The last stop for today is Lens

The terrils (slag heaps or coal spoil tips) near Lens, France—most notably the Terrils Jumeaux de Loos-en-Gohelle (Twin Terrils 74 and 74A) at the historic Fosse no 11 - 19 site—are among the most prominent landmarks in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin. Standing at approximately 186 to 190 meters tall, they are recognized as the highest twin slag heaps in Europe. (Wikipedia)

View of the station from the hotel room

TGV train to Paris

The old railway is now a walk path

La Base 11/19 is a major former coal-mining site in Loos-en-Gohelle, near Lens. It centers around the historic Fosse n° 11–19, which operated from 1894 (shaft 11) and 1960 (shaft 19) until closing on January 31, 1986 (Google)