The Chemins de fer du Nord, often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company founded in September 1845 in Paris. It was owned by, among others, de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, Charles Laffitte and Edward Blount, and Baron Jean–Henri Hottinguer. Baron James de Rothschild served as the company's president from its inception until his death in 1868.

The Paris–Lille railway is a 251-kilometre-long (156 mi) railway line, that connects the French capital, Paris, to the northern city of Lille. Branch lines offer connections to Belgium and Great Britain. Opened on 20 June 1846, it was one of the first railway lines in France. The opening of the parallel LGV Nord high speed line in 1993 has decreased its importance for long-distance passenger traffic.