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Trains in Lyon

Trains in Lyon (Metro, Tram, Funicular, Bus)

Tram

▲ Tram

Metro

▲ Metro

Table of Contents

  1. Overview (route map, related hyperlinks)
    2.
  2. Types of tickets and fares
    3.
  3. How to purchase tickets
    4.
  4. How to ride train
    5.
  5. Airport access
    6.
  6. Long-distance train's station
    7.

Overview (route map, related hyperlinks)

● Transportation Types
Metro
Tram
Bus
Funicular
Rhone Express
Tram Train

● Operators
TCL

● Features
The fare system is flat-rate, not zone-based. Fares are standardized across the network, except for the airport tram and tram-train services. Most tourist attractions can be reached using the metro and trams.

● Hyperlink
Routemap : Metro, Tram, Bus
TCL rhone express
rhone express

▲ rhone express

Tram train

▲ Tram train

Types of tickets and fares

※ As of July 2025
The following tickets are valid for the metro, trams, funiculars, and buses operated by TCL. For fares on the airport tram (Rhônexpress), please refer to the dedicated airport access page. The tram-train operates on a distance-based fare system, and tickets can be purchased at each tram-train station.

● 1 trip by credit card / EUR 2.10
Valid for 1 hour from the time of boarding. Automatically charged when you tap your card on the validator aboard the metro, tram, or bus. If you ride 4 or more times in a single day, the total charge will be capped at EUR 6.90.

● 1 trip / EUR 2.10
Valid for 1 hour from the time of validation.

● 1 trip on the bus / EUR 2.60
Fare when buying a ticket directly from the bus driver.

● 2H ticket / EUR 3.60
Valid for unlimited rides within 2 hours after first validation.

● Evening ticket / EUR 3.60
Unlimited travel from 7:00 p.m. until the last service of the day.

● 24H ticket / EUR 6.90
Unlimited travel for 24 hours from first validation.

● 48H ticket / EUR 13.00
Unlimited travel for 48 hours from first validation.

● 72H ticket / EUR 18.00
Unlimited travel for 72 hours from first validation.

● Carnet of 10 tickets / EUR 20.00
A set of 10 single-use tickets.

How to purchase tickets and ride

1. Find the ticket vending machine

The photos may show tickets that are no longer sold or display outdated prices, but the ticket machine operation remains the same.
Ticket machines are installed at all metro and tram stations in Lyon. Most types of tickets can be purchased from these machines. Some major stations also have staffed ticket counters, but they are often crowded. Learning to use the ticket machines can save you time. Use the Cancel button (bottom left), the scroll wheel (at the bottom), and the OK button (bottom right) to operate the machine.

Find the ticket vending machine

2. Select the language

Press the Cancel button (red) to access the language selection screen.

Select the language

3. Select "English"

Rotate the scroll wheel to select English, then press the OK button (green).

Select English

4. Push OK button

Press the OK button to proceed to the ticket purchase screen.

チケットを購入する

5. Select the ticket

Use the scroll wheel to select your desired ticket and press the OK button.

Select the ticket

6. Select the number of tickets

Select the number of tickets. (This example shows the screen for purchasing a 24-hour pass.)

Select the number of tickets

7. Pay the fare by coins or credit card

The total fare will be displayed. Pay using bills, coins, or a credit card.

Pay the fare by coins or credit card

How to ride train

① Purchasing a ticket

Ticket machines are available at metro, tram, and funicular stations. You can check how to use them by clicking the link below.

Vending machine

② Validate your ticket

When using the metro or funicular, there are ticket gates on the platform—insert your ticket at the gate to enter. In contrast, trams do not have ticket gates. Instead, there are validation machines on board, where you must insert your ticket to have the time stamped. If you fail to validate your ticket, you may be fined. Note that validation machines are often out of order—make sure the time is clearly printed on your ticket.

Ticket gate

▲ Ticket gate

Ticket validator

▲ Ticket validator

③ Check the train before boarding

On tram platforms, trains with different lines and destinations frequently arrive and depart from the same platform, which can be confusing. Be sure to check carefully before boarding.

Train information

▲ Train information

Train display

▲ Train display

④ Board the train and get off at your destination

The doors do not open automatically—press the button above the door to open it. Most trams have onboard display panels, so checking your destination and stops in advance will help you travel smoothly.

Door

▲ Door

Door

▲ Door

Inside display

▲ Inside display

Station board

▲ Station board

Airport access

● Airport Tram (Rhônexpress) / TGV (High-Speed Train)
Lyon Airport is a medium-sized airport in France. While there are no direct flights from Japan, the airport is connected to major European cities such as Frankfurt and Paris. The airport has platforms for both the Rhônexpress tram and TGV high-speed trains. The Rhônexpress connects the airport to central Lyon, while the TGV provides direct connections to cities such as Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Lille. Both train stations are located next to each other on the west side of the airport terminal.
Station

▲ Station

TGV

▲ TGV

rhone express

Easy for everyone!
Access city - Airport
Stress-free access♪

Long-distance train's station

Domestic trains from Lyon International trains from Lyon

Left: Domestic trains from Lyon
Right: International trains from Lyon

Station

▲ Station

TGV

▲ TGV

Lyon’s main station for long-distance trains is Lyon Part-Dieu. It has 11 platforms and offers direct TGV services to major French cities including Paris, Marseille, Nice, and Rennes. In addition to domestic routes, direct trains also run to international destinations such as Turin and Milan (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), Frankfurt (Germany), and Brussels (Belgium).

AVE

▲ AVE

TER

▲ TER

● Train Types (Domestic Trains)
High-speed train : TGV (can run on both high-speed and conventional lines)
Express train : IC (runs only on conventional lines)
Regional/local trains : TER (runs only on conventional lines)

● Train Types (International Trains)
AVE (can run on both high-speed and conventional lines)

● Travel Time
On sections where high-speed lines are incomplete, there is no time difference between TGV and IC trains. For trips around 50 km, travel time differences by train type are minimal.

● Fares
The fares listed below are standard refundable and changeable fares for the fastest travel options, but they vary significantly depending on the season and seat availability, so use them as a guideline. Fares tend to be cheapest for TER, followed by IC, then TGV. Discounted fares less than half the regular price are available for TGV and IC trains but come with restrictions such as no refunds or changes.

Domestic train

Destionation Train type Travel Time Fare
Dijon TGV 1h20min EUR 30
Avignon TGV 1h40min EUR 60
Marseille TGV 1h50min EUR 60
Montpellier TGV 1h50min EUR 60
Clermont-Ferrand TER 2h20min EUR 40
Lille TGV 3h10min EUR 125
Strasbourg TGV 3h10min EUR 80
Toulouse TGV 4h EUR 80
Nice TGV 4h30min EUR 90
SNCF train

Guide to
French railways
Ticket, route, schedule

International train

Destionation Train type Travel Time Fare
Geneva TER 2h EUR 30
Brussels TGV 3h50min EUR 140
Turin AVE 3h50min EUR 70
Milan TGV 5h20min EUR 90
Frankfurt am Main TGV 6h EUR 130
Barcelona TGV 6h30min EUR 200
French high speed TGV

International Trains
to other countries!
Routes, travel times, fares