Latour-de-Carol

Latour-de-Carol is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.GeographyLocalizationLatour-de-Carol is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades.TransportThe village's main claim to fame is as the site of the international railway station, Gare de Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg. This station is the terminus of three lines, each with different gauges: the Spanish state operator RENFE's gauge line running north from Barcelona via Ripoll the French state operator SNCF's gauge line running south from Toulouse via Foix SNCF's gauge line (known as the Yellow Train) running west from Villefranche-de-Conflent As the French and Spanish tracks are different gauges, no trains run the whole way from Toulouse to Barcelona. Passengers have to change trains, which are however no longer scheduled to offer direct connections. Occasional freight-trains cross the border and are worked to Puigcerda, where freight is transferred. The double-track line to Puigcerda consists of two separate tracks with different gauges and electrified at different currents. September 2011 - the French (standard) gauge line across the border is out of use. Spanish passenger trains run across into France to meet up with the French line. No freight services currently operate. Judging from the Google maps satellite photos, the French line into Puigcerda has been severed and the alignment of the Spanish line changed. The sidings served by the French lines are being left to nature, although the Spanish lines seem very well maintained.