Ever wondered how many stories a train station could tell? Sèvres Ville-d’Avray station has quite a history. It stands as a testament to progress. It also shows how transportation has evolved.
Sèvres Ville-d’Avray is a railway station. It sits on the line from Paris-Saint-Lazare to Versailles-Rive-Droite. The station is in the French commune of Sèvres. This is in the Hauts-de-Seine department. Sèvres Ville-d’Avray is served by the SNCF. This is part of the Transilien Paris Saint-Lazare network. That is line L.
The station is first in a cutting. Then it is on a slight embankment. It sits 97 meters above sea level. The location is kilometer point 16.583 on the line. The line runs from Paris-Saint-Lazare to Versailles-Rive-Droite. Sèvres Ville-d’Avray is located just after the south end of the Ville-d’Avray tunnel. Saint-Cloud station is 2,500 meters away. Chaville-Rive Droite station is 2,000 meters away.
Imagine the scene on September 12, 1839. That was when the Sèvres Ville-d’Avray station opened. Back then, only seven or eight trains served the station each day. A ticket to Paris cost sixty centimes during the week. It cost one franc on Sundays.
In 2010, the ticket window was open every day. It was open from 6:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m. Magnetic loops were available. These were for people with hearing impairments.
The station also sold tickets for long-distance routes. This was from Monday to Saturday. The hours were 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Transilien and long-distance ticket machines were available too. A Relay newsstand was in the hall. Vending machines sold drinks and snacks. A paid parking lot offered 20 to 50 spaces. In 2002, the daily number of travelers was between 2,500 and 7,500.
Trains on the Transilien Paris Saint-Lazare network serve Sèvres Ville-d’Avray. That is line L. They serve the Versailles-Rive Droite line. During off-peak hours, a train runs every 15 minutes. During peak hours, four to eight trains run per hour. In the evening, a train runs every 30 minutes.
Trains are generally semi-direct. They run from Paris-Saint-Lazare to Saint-Cloud. They stop at La Défense. Then they run omnibus to Versailles-Rive-Droite. Z 6400 railcars provide the service. Trains that do not stop at the station are on Transilien line U. They connect La Défense to La Verrière. To travel towards La Verrière, change trains at Saint-Cloud station. Or go to Sèvres-Rive-Gauche station. There, take a train on Transilien line N towards Rambouillet.
Constructing the line significantly changed the hillside. This was due to a tunnel. It was followed by a deep excavation. An aqueduct runs for 2.4 kilometers. It carries water from the Ville-d’Avray ponds to Saint-Cloud park. It is located just at the tunnel exit. A masonry structure of three arches spans the two railway tracks. This maintains its continuity. Today, it is the only visible part of the aqueduct.
A metal footbridge was installed at PK 16.620. It allowed people to cross between the two platforms. In 1962, it was replaced. A new footbridge was made of reinforced concrete and metal. In 1974, it was raised. This cleared the electrification gauge by 25 kV catenary. In 1992, an underpass replaced it.
So, the next time you pass through Sèvres Ville-d’Avray, remember its story. Think of the travelers who have passed through. Think of the changes it has seen. This station is more than just a stop. It’s a living piece of history.