Former Aubigny rail-bike: the story of a discontinued attraction

What the cyclo-draisine was

A cyclo-draisine, usually described in English as a rail-bike or pedal-rail vehicle, is a lightweight pedal machine used on a disused railway that has been prepared and managed for the activity. At Aubigny-sur-Nère, such an attraction once used part of the former railway in the direction of Argent-sur-Sauldre. It offered an unusual, slow view of the countryside and left references in directories, transport discussions and old tourist pages.

The former Sauldre and Sologne tourism website carried a dedicated record. Historical links therefore still point to a dynamic address ending in activite.php. Restoring the subject does not mean reviving an old timetable or price. Those details would mislead visitors and might direct them towards infrastructure that no longer operates.

Current status: no verified operation

As of 3 September 2026, the Aubigny rail-bike does not appear in the tourist office’s current cycling-activity directory or as a bookable attraction on the official pages reviewed. We therefore treat it as historical activity, not an open visitor attraction.

Do not travel to a former station based on an archived listing, undated map or old review. An unused line remains regulated railway land or may become a worksite. Do not walk on rails, place a private vehicle on the track or cross fences and signs.

How does this relate to the Méridienne?

The intermunicipal authority is now working on the Méridienne, a cycling scheme that reuses sections of the former rail corridor between Bourges and Sully-sur-Loire. Its official project update describes phases and works around Aubigny and Argent.

This is a different use: a developed route for ordinary bicycles, not an announced return of pedal vehicles running on rails. Construction also does not prove a complete section is open. Find a recent authority notice and comply with every closure.

What visitors can do now

To recover the idea of a slow journey between towns and countryside, choose a route that is genuinely published. The tourist office lists circuits from Aubigny towards Étang du Puits, Sainte-Montaine, Oizon and Vailly-sur-Sauldre, plus a route from Argent to the lake. Our cycling guide explains how to match surface and self-sufficiency to your day.

In Aubigny, pair a shorter circuit with the historic centre, timber-framed houses and Château des Stuarts. In Argent, combine a current route with Musée des Métiers d’Antan, the canal or Étang du Puits. This retains the exploratory spirit of the former rail-bike without inventing its return.

Why this page remains useful

Visitor activities form part of a place’s memory even when they cease. A clear page prevents old links becoming a dead end and, more importantly, stops historical information being mistaken for a current commercial offer. If an official operation were ever to return, confirmation should come from the commune, intermunicipal authority, tourist office or an identified operator before this guide changes its status.