Crew change Intercities de Nuit Briancon/Nice

[citycat]

Thanks to work paying, I had the opportunity to travel on this night train the other week, starting with the THALYS from Rotterdam. I am just curious if anyone knows where the crew change takes place?

I had a fitful night’s sleep due to my concern I might sleep past my stop at Veynes Devoluy and I would swear that the train never stopped before it got to Valence at 03:01 where the portions split for Briancon and Nice.

With a 20:51 departure from Paris Austerlitz, that would mean a six hour ten minute driving stint for the driver which seems very excessive. Maybe I missed a technical stop in the night for a crew change?

Does anyone know where the driver and conductor change over? I think any couchette staff work right through. By the way, it was a very enjoyable journey both ways and the train was packed. Glad to see overnight trains have returned to France.

 

[dazzler]

My Google maps trace from June 2017 (when I did Paris Austerlitz - Briançon and back for an Alps cycling holiday) indicates that the train stopped for a while in Lyon Part-Dieu station in both directions. There would also be a crew change (for the Briançon portion at least) when changing locos at Valence. As you state, the on-board staff work through to the outer terminus (and presumably return the following night - or work in to Paris and back out the following night...)



(Photo is of SNCF Corail Couchette coaches with BB75000 diesel loco at Briançon Station 18/06/2017. Photo by me!)