Two road tunnels serving Monaco’s railway station will close to ordinary traffic on 10th and 11th November to accommodate replacement buses during the planned rail shutdown, according to a new municipal order published on Friday.
The Sainte-Dévote and Débarcadère tunnels will be closed to vehicles throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, until the end of the interruption to rail services. The restrictions will not apply to SNCF replacement buses, emergency vehicles or police.
The measures, confirmed in the Journal de Monaco on 6th November, provide further details of how the Principality will manage the disruption as major engineering works suspend trains between Nice, Monaco, Menton and Ventimiglia.
Where to catch replacement buses
SNCF has confirmed that replacement coaches will connect Monaco directly with Nice Grand-Arénas, Nice-Vauban, Menton and Ventimiglia.
At Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, passengers will board replacement coaches at the Sainte-Dévote Parvis exit, while arriving coaches will drop passengers at the Monte-Carlo exit, at the drop-off area.
Services are scheduled approximately every 15 minutes during peak periods, from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4.30pm to 7.30pm, and every 30 minutes outside those hours.
However, SNCF warns that seating capacity will be very limited and advises passengers to work from home or postpone non-essential journeys wherever possible.
Replacement bus operating hours
On Tuesday 10th November, direct coaches will operate from Nice Grand-Arénas, Nice-Vauban, Menton and Ventimiglia towards Monaco between 6am and 9pm. Services leaving Monaco for those destinations will run between 6am and 10pm.
On Wednesday 11th November, services from both Nice bus stations towards Monaco will operate from 6am until 4.30pm, with departures from Monaco continuing until 6.30pm.
Coaches from Menton and Ventimiglia will run towards Monaco from 6am until 6pm, with return departures from Monaco operating until 5pm.
Special arrangements for rail subscribers
ZOU! rail subscribers can use designated alternative bus services without additional charge, but must present a completed, printed Pass Travaux Abonnés ZOU! together with their valid subscription.
Passengers using a ZOU! smartcard must also carry printed proof of their subscription.
The pass is valid for the two days of engineering works.
When will trains resume?
SNCF expects services to begin resuming on Wednesday evening, with the first listed train departing Nice towards Menton and Ventimiglia at 5.23pm. The first listed return service from Ventimiglia towards Monaco and Nice is scheduled for 6.42pm.
Passengers are advised to check individual departures before travelling, as the restoration of services will be gradual.
The tunnel restrictions may also be adjusted or lifted by Monaco’s authorities according to operational requirements.
Full replacement transport arrangements, including departure locations and passenger information, are available on the official SNCF TER website.
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