Opening line Paris-Boulogne 1846-1848 (≈ 1847)
Noyelles-sur-Mer station commissioning.
1858
Connection to Saint-Valery
Connection to Saint-Valery 1858 (≈ 1858)
A dead end for the port.
1887
Opening of tourist lines
Opening of tourist lines 1887 (≈ 1887)
Noyelles-Le Crotoy and Noyelles-Cayeux inaugurated.
31 décembre 1969
Clothes line - Le Crotoy
Clothes line - Le Crotoy 31 décembre 1969 (≈ 1969)
Creation of the CFBS in 1970.
4 juillet 1971
Recovery of regular traffic
Recovery of regular traffic 4 juillet 1971 (≈ 1971)
Line Noyelles-Le Crotoy reopened.
1988
First Vapour Day
First Vapour Day 1988 (≈ 1988)
Celebration of the centenary of the network.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
MM Joubert - Chairman of the Management Board of the SE
Signatory of the 1887 Convention.
G. Girod - Representative of the SE
Co-founder of network operation.
G. Griolet - Representative of the Compagnie du Nord
Signatory of the 1887 Agreement.
Origin and history
The Baie de Somme Railway (CFBS) has been a tourist railway operated by a non-profit association since 1970. It runs between Le Crotoy and Cayeux-sur-Mer via Noyelles-sur-Mer and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, on a metric line belonging to the former network of local interest of the Somme. This network, granted to the Société générale des chemins de fer économiques (SE), had up to 329 km of lines, including 68 km for the "Bains de Mer" group, serving emblematic seaside resorts.
The history of the CFBS dates back to 1846-1848, with the opening of the Paris-Boulogne-sur-Mer line by the Compagnie du Nord, including a train station in Noyelles-sur-Mer. In 1858, a branch line to the port of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme was made, extended by a dead end. The Act of 1885 declared the Somme's network of local interest, including the lines operated today by the CFBS, to be of public utility. The Noyelles-Le Crotoy and Noyelles-Saint-Valery-Cayeux-sur-Mer lines opened in 1887, operated by the SE.
In 1937, Dion-Bouton railcars were commissioned, but the Abbeville-Dompierre line closed in 1947. On December 31, 1969, the Noyelles-Le Crotoy line was closed, leading to the creation of the CFBS in 1970. As early as 1971, the association revived regular traffic between Noyelles and Le Crotoy. In 1972, it resumed operation of the Noyelles-Cayeux-sur-Mer line, thus preserving a unique railway heritage.
The CFBS now operates three main lines: Noyelles-Le Crotoy (7,469 km), Noyelles-Saint-Valery-Port (7.6 km, double gauge), and Saint-Valery-Ville-Cayeux-sur-Mer (12 km). These lines, originally built for the transport of passengers and goods (galets, shells), are now dedicated to tourism. The association organizes annual events, such as the Fête de la Vapor, created in 1988 to celebrate the centenary of the Bains de Mer network.
The rolling stock, consisting of steam locomotives, diesel, railcars and passenger cars, is partly classified as a Historic Monument. The CFBS collaborates with European associations, such as the Kent and East Sussex Railway (UK) or the Brohltalbahn (Germany), and participates in twinning. Its workshop depot, located in Saint-Valery-Canal, provides maintenance of equipment and infrastructure, while volunteers and employees work to preserve this heritage.
With more than 187,000 travellers in 2014, the CFBS became a major player in tourism in Baie de Somme. It combines historical preservation, cultural activities (themed trains, railway holidays) and territorial development, in partnership with local authorities and the European Union. Its success depends on associative commitment and atypical management, combining volunteerism and wage-earning to ensure its sustainability.
