About this journey

The journey departs from Toulouse-Matabiau, the city's principal station and the hub of a six-branch star network carrying both regional TER and national TGV services. The current station building was constructed between 1903 and 1905, designed by Marius Toudoire — who also designed Bordeaux station — and faced with stone from the Roman city of Saintes. Its facade carries 26 coats of arms representing the 26 destinations the Midi railway once served, a company founded by Émile and Jacob Pereire in 1853.

The train takes the Ligne de Portet-Saint-Simon à Puigcerdà, an international line classified as reaching Spain via Pamiers and Foix. Heading south-east, the route follows the Ariège river valley deeper into the Pyrénées, the river tracing its course from south to north before joining the Garonne at Portet-sur-Garonne. The line passes through Foix before continuing into progressively more rugged mountain terrain toward the final stop.

Ax-les-Thermes station sits just northwest of the town, where the Oriège, Ariège and Lauze rivers converge close to the Andorran border. The town takes its name from the Latin Aquae and has been known since Roman times for its sulphurous hot springs, which range from 25 to 78 °C. The station is served by TER Occitanie regional services and an Intercités de Nuit running to Paris, making this remote Pyrenean terminus a point where a high-altitude spa town meets a surprisingly long-distance rail connection.