Transport in Monaco

Monaco Monte Carlo station

Transport in Monaco

Rail transport

Railways:
Total length: 1.7 km
Operator: (SNCF operates the service through Monaco-Monte Carlo station)
Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)

The railway is now totally underground within Monegasqe territory, and no trains can be seen at ground level within the nation. The line is operated by the SNCF. It links Nice to Ventimiglia (Italy) through the principality, and was opened in 1868. Two stations were originally provided, named 'Monaco' and 'Monte-Carlo', but neither remain in current use. The railway line was re-laid, in a new permanent way in underground tunnels, constructed in two stages. The first, in 1964, was a 3,500 metre tunnel (mostly in French territory) which rendered the original Monte-Carlo station redundant. The second stage, opened in 1999, was a 3 km-long tunnel linked to the first one, allowing the new "underground railway station of Monaco-Monte Carlo" to open. Where the above ground railway was is now available for development, schools, hotels and commercial facilities, can locate here totaling some four hectares. This station is also served by international trains (including the French TGV) and regional trains ("TER").

Urban Transport

Elevators / travelators

There are seven main inclined lifts (including Elevators and/or travelators) which provide public transport :

• between the Place des Moulins and the beaches
• between the Princess Grace Hospital Centre and the Exotic Garden
• between the Port Hercules harbor and the Avenue de la Costa
• between the Place Str Dévôte and the area of Moneghetti
• between the Terraces of the Casino and the Boulevard Louis II
• between the Avenue des Citronniers and the Avenue Grande-Bretagne
• between the highway and the Boulevard Larvotto

There are also many smaller public elevators, travelators and wheelchair ramps located all across Monaco.

Bus

There are six bus routes in Monaco (as of 2008), all operated by Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM). There are 143 bus stops through the Principality.

• Line 1: Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo, Saint Roman and return
• Line 2: Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo, Exotic Garden and return
• Line 4: Place d'Armes, Railway station, Monte-Carlo, Saint Roman and return
• Line 5: Railway station, Fontvieille, Hospital and return
• Line 6: Larvotto Beach, Fontvieille and return

There is a ferry service "Bateaubus" which operates between both sides of Monaco port. The boat is powered by electricity and operates under the urban bus system tariff.

Subway

A narrow gauge subway line is a perennial project in Monaco, which has not been built thus far.

Road Transport

Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Sea Transport

Ports and harbours: 2 : Hercule (old) and Fontvieille (new)

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Air Transport

Airports

There is no airport in the Principality of Monaco. The closest airport is Cote d'Azur Airport in Nice, France.

Helicopters

Linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service. As of May 2005, all Royal Helicopter Service is provided by the James Drabble Aviation Services Committee. This deal sparked a great deal of controversy in the National Council of Monaco, as there was no precedent yet set.

Helicopter charter services to French ski resorts are also available.

Heliports: 1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monte Carlo International Heliport)

External links

• The Daily Yomiuri (about Monte Carlo station)
• Getting Around in Monaco