Night trains between Nice and Ventimiglia will once again grind to a halt this autumn as SNCF resumes maintenance work on the line. From Monday, September 15 to Friday, December 12, no trains will operate between 22:00 and 06:00 from Monday to Thursday, with services disrupted in both directions. The closure is linked to ongoing rock-face stabilisation works between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Ventimiglia.
The announcement, made quietly on the SNCF Voyageurs website, echoes last year’s controversy when similar works caused widespread frustration. In 2024, the French railway operator faced a backlash from the Monegasque government after initially planning an earlier curfew. Following tense negotiations led by Minister of State Didier Guillaume, the start of works was pushed back to 22:00, with exceptions made during major events in the Principality. Replacement buses were also introduced to soften the blow for commuters.
This year’s disruption follows a nearly identical pattern, though officials in Monaco appear to have been given more notice. The Department of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning confirmed it is preparing a response. “The Prince’s government has these elements in mind and has been working on the transport plan. Dedicated communication actions will soon be carried out for this purpose,” a brief statement said.
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As before, SNCF is expected to lift restrictions on evenings when Monaco hosts key events. Meanwhile, a road replacement service will operate, with coaches departing from the Monaco-Monte-Carlo train station drop-off area.
For regular night-time travellers on the Riviera, it’s another season of inconvenience with the faint reassurance that, eventually, the line’s safety will improve – assuming the works really do end on schedule this time.
