Better than Disneyland, the little yellow train of the Pyrenees

Since 1910 le petit train jaune climbs the spectacular Tet valley

Starting from Villefranche de Confluent, a village 45km west of Perpignan, this engineering marvel from another age still runs with 100 year old rolling stock.

The line clings to the valley sides and occasionally crosses it over a series of spectacular bridges like the Pont Séjourné, named after Paul Séjourné the railway engineer who designed it.

This different and exciting day out will take you from near sea level to the very centre of the eastern Pyrenees, the Cerdagne, where France meets Andorra and Spain.

Whilst it's popular with visitors, this is very much a living train, used by local people for work and school. In winter it's joined by a snow plough.

In autumn even the trees join in the yellow festival of colours.

There is a connecting service to Villefranche from Perpignan. At the Pyrenean terminus, Latour de Carol, lines from Barcelona and Toulouse join the "Canari Catalan" as it's sometimes called.

There's a link below to the official SNCF website which holds a downloadable timetable. Their information number for services in Languedoc Roussillon is 0800 88 60 91. Visitrs can also call the station at Villefranche de Confluent on 04 68 96 63 62 (+33 468 966362 from outside France)

Related links :

• http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Languedoc_Roussillon/fr/Loisirs_Tourisme/Default.aspx