The TTA revisited in 2004
In 2004 I revisited the Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne for the first time in over 10 years. It was a cold and cloudy weekday in early May and the line was closed. There was no one present even at the Blier depot: the gates and fences were tightly shut. Still there was plenty to see and I had a chance to walk over the line near Dochamps, where I found nothing but decay in 1993. Although there were clear signs of recent work on the line at and above Dochamps it became apparent that a great deal of work is required before we will see through services again to the upper terminus of Lamormenil. The line below Dochamps has seen much improvement work, but the overall condition of the track still isn't up to standard. Other sources on the Internet claim that regular services run to Forge à l'Aplez only and the Dochamps section only sees an occasional diesel tram. The station layout at Dochamps is only partly completed with two points laid in the main line, but no run-round loop yet. The state of the track doesn't seem to be up to regular working yet.
At the other end of the line at Pont d'Erezée a new station building is being constructed by a contractor which probably is intended to give the line better passenger facilities. Regrettably only a short distance away at Blier a fair proportion of the historic rolling stock is out in all weathers because the covered storage area in the depot is far too small. In one or two places along the line the wrecks can be seen of vehicles so far gone that the viability of restoration is doubtful. There must be some reason why a substantial station building at Pont d'Erezée has precedence over storage space and over restoring the beautiful extension to Lamormenil, but I fail to see it. Despite which the atmosphere of the little tramway is well worth a visit, so if you are in the vicinity, take a tram ride through the woods…
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