Chemin de fer des 3 Vallées

CF3V (Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des 3 Vallées asbl)
Belgium
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The Journey

Navigate from Mariembourg Station to Treignes Station across a span of 14km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Ardennes Forests of the Viroin-Hermeton Natural Park
  • Viroin River gorge alongside the line
  • Stone-arch bridges over the Viroin
  • Treignes Heritage Terminus and Railway Museum
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    0.7 hours

  • Distance

    14 km

  • Est. Price

    Voyage en train €19 adulte / €13 enfant (6-11); tarif réduit et groupe (min. 20 pers.) €17 / €12; combiné train + musée €25 / €17; visite musée seule €7 / €5. Meilleurs tarifs en ligne.

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Restored historic steam locomotives — currently in regular service: Elna 158 (back in service 2025 after full refurbishment with new boiler), AD09, NE 61 (SACM). Backup diesel locomotives include BB 63149, CFL 914 (BB 63000), SA 99, 7304 'Cubitus', 9011 VL02-1, 9008, Y5130 IDEFIX; historic SNCB autorails 551.34 (ES301), 554.11 (4611), 4407 (604.07), 554.10 (4610), ES 403 (603.28); heritage Schienenbus VT 95 (551.662).

Locomotive Weight

Varies by locomotive — steam locomotives typically 40–60 tonnes; heritage diesel railcars ~30 tonnes

Track Gauge

1,435 mm (standard gauge) — CF3V operates a 14 km section of public SNCB Ligne 132 (Charleroi–Couvin) between Mariembourg and Treignes

Braking Technology

Steam locomotives: Westinghouse air brake and heritage vacuum brake fitted on older rolling stock. Diesel railcars and modernised heritage cars: standard air brake.

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Operating vintage steam locomotives on active standard-gauge mainline shared with SNCB infrastructure

  • Single-track section with limited passing loops between Mariembourg and Treignes

  • Tight curves through dense Ardennes forest (Viroin-Hermeton Natural Park) requiring careful speed management

  • Preservation of original 1880s stone-arch bridges over the Viroin river without major modernisation

  • Coordinating seasonal timetables between heritage operations and the active Charleroi–Couvin SNCB service

Route

Mariembourg – Treignes, 14 km, single-track section of SNCB Ligne 132

In-service steam locomotives

Elna 158 (returned to service 2025), AD09, NE 61 (SACM)

In-service diesel railcars (autorails)

SNCB 551.34 (ES301), 554.11 (4611), 4407 (604.07), 554.10 (4610), ES 403 (603.28); Schienenbus VT 95 (551.662)

In-service diesel locomotives

BB 63149, CFL 914 (BB 63000), 5120, 8319, 6086, SA 99, 5538, 7304 'Cubitus', 9011 VL02-1, 9008, Y5130 IDEFIX

Gauge

1,435 mm (standard gauge, SNCB mainline)

Operator

CF3V asbl (volunteer-run heritage society, founded 1970s)

Base address

Chaussée de Givet 49-51, 5660 Mariembourg, Belgium

Peak season timetable

Mariembourg departures 11:30, 14:20, 17:30 daily during July–August and Belgian school holidays

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    0.7 hours

  • Distance

    14 km

  • Est. Price

    Voyage en train €19 adulte / €13 enfant (6-11); tarif réduit et groupe (min. 20 pers.) €17 / €12; combiné train + musée €25 / €17; visite musée seule €7 / €5. Meilleurs tarifs en ligne.

Official Booking Provider