First French passenger railway opens

On May 17, 1831, the Saint-Étienne to Andrézieux line inaugurated regular passenger service using horse-drawn cars on the existing coal-hauling route. This marked France's entry into the railway age, following earlier British examples. Engineer Marc Seguin played a key role in adapting locomotive technology for the hilly terrain. The line's success encouraged further expansion, leading to the national network that transformed French industry and travel. It demonstrated how railways could efficiently move both freight and passengers over challenging landscapes.