The Bacs

The Seine Bacs

Just until the end of the 1950's the only means of crossing the River Seine between Rouen and its estuary 60 miles downstream at Honfleur was by ferry or 'bac'. The opening of the Tancarville bridge in 1959 and the Brotonne bridge in 1977 has led to a reduction of the number bacs but for many who live alongside the Seine ferries are the only means of crossing the river without a long detour. Today there are 8: 6 bacs 'fluviaux' and 2 bacs 'maritimes' which transport around 10 million passengers annually. The bacs fluviaux can transport up to 12 cars or vans under 3 metres high whereas the bacs maritimes, being larger, can also take 3 or 4 heavy goods vehicles.

Timetables vary for each bac but generally services start at around five-thirty or six a.m. and finish around 9 p.m. with crossings (which are free) every 10 or 15 minutes.

Going down-river from Rouen the bacs are:

There are two stand-by (back-up?) bacs: the bac n° 15 stationed at Val-de-la-Haye and the bac n° 14 (maritime) stationed at Berville.

External links:

Time tables can be found on the site of the Departement of Seine-Maritime: Horaires des bacs (in French)

An interesting pictorial history can be found here: Association des usagers des bacs de Seine (in French)

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Bac 19 Le Grand-Quevilly - Dieppedalle

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Bac 22 Petit-Couronne - Val-de-la-Haye

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Bac 15 Val-de-la-Haye (Stand-by)

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Bac 20 La Bouille - Sahurs

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Bac 23 (Not yet in service)

To be continued....