France - Beillant: The station at Beillant, south of Saintes, in the Charente Maritime, lies in the north fork of the triangle of lines from Saintes to Angouleme (platforms far left, served by just two trains a day in each direction) and to Bordeaux. The latter route is in the foreground, but the Bordeaux line platforms are no longer used. The third side of the triangle – i.e., connecting the Angouleme and Bordeaux lines - is still in situ, but appears to be very rarely used. The station building is closed to the public, but used by workers employed at the permanent way depot sited inside the triangle. The small building in the forefront of the view is a manned signal control point – the signalman’s car sits outside. 14 April 2006.

Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk