The Tramway du Mont Blanc has always been one of Europe’s most romantic mountain railways a slow, rhythmic ascent from the valley floor at Saint‑Gervais‑les‑Bains into the high Alpine world beneath Mont Blanc’s immense white crown.

With the newly extended and modernised line now officially open to Nid d’Aigle, the tramway enters a new era, one that honours its century‑old heritage while making the high mountains more accessible than ever.

The journey begins at Le Fayet, where the tramway first departed in 1909. From here, the line rises through Saint‑Gervais and continues towards the high pastures of Col de Voza, offering views of the Arve valley and the jagged Aiguilles. The final stretch and historically the most dramatic now feels smoother, quieter and more assured thanks to upgraded track, improved infrastructure and the arrival of a new generation of rolling stock.

The terminus at Nid d’Aigle, perched at 2,372 metres, remains one of the most extraordinary arrival points in the Alps. Step off the tram and you’re immediately confronted with the vast, creaking sweep of the Bionnassay Glacier, its fractured blue ice spilling down from the Dôme du Goûter.

One of the most charming aspects of the tramway’s revival is the continuation of its naming tradition. The new Stadler EMUs, Jeanne, Anne, Marie and Marguerite – are named after the daughters of the founder of the original operating company, preserving a heritage that dates back to the mid‑20th century. Earlier generations of engines also carried female names, chosen to reflect both the gentleness and resilience required to operate a mountain railway.

By christening the modern fleet after the founder’s daughters, the tramway reinforces its identity as not just a mode of transport, but a living story, one carried forward by family, memory and place.

The extension to Nid d’Aigle is more than an engineering upgrade. It’s a restoration of purpose. For decades, the terminus has served as the gateway to the Refuge de Nid d’Aigle, a rustic mountain hut sitting just above the station at roughly 2,410 metres. From here, climbers begin the classic Goûter route to Mont Blanc, while hikers set off towards the glacier’s edge or the sweeping ridge paths of the Bionnassay. The improved tramway makes these experiences more reachable without diminishing their wildness.

What’s striking on this newly reopened line is how seamlessly the tramway blends heritage with modernity. The wooden‑trimmed interiors nod to the original 1909 carriages, yet the ride is whisper‑quiet, electrically efficient and impressively stable. The panoramic windows feel almost cinematic, framing the glacier, the serrated ridges and the improbable little refuge clinging to its perch above the ice.

In an age of fast travel, the Tramway du Mont Blanc remains defiantly slow and that’s precisely its magic. The extended line to Nid d’Aigle is not just a reopening; it’s a revival of one of Europe’s great mountain journeys, now more beautiful, more accessible and more meaningful than ever.

SERVICE INFO

Tramway du Mont Blanc – 2026 Fares

  • Adult return (Le Fayet/Saint‑Gervais → Nid d’Aigle): €40
  • Family Pack: €124 (2 adults + 1 young person + 1 young person at –75% + up to 3 additional young people free)
  • Intermediate return (Col de Voza/Bellevue → Nid d’Aigle): €26.40

Operating Notes

  • Weather‑dependent service; some trains run express without intermediate stops.
  • Journey time: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes.
  • Best views: right‑hand side when ascending.