IAN LANGSDON / AFP
SNCF users will have to be patient this weekend, as major modernization work is planned on the Paris-Lyon TGV line.
TRANSPORT – This is one of the busiest lines in Europe. Major disruptions are expected throughout France, as the Paris-Lyon high-speed line will be closed from this Friday, November 8 at 11 p.m., and until Tuesday, November 12 at 4 a.m.
SNCF has clarified that trains will not run on this line due to modernization work. The interruption of such an important high-speed line for four full days is a world first, according to the group.
Only 30% of TGVs will run compared to a normal weekend on the entire south-east axis, and using the classic line – and not TGV – between Paris and Lyon, indicated SNCF Voyageurs. Consequence: “a significant increase in travel time”. The latter will be multiplied at least by two. Concretely, reaching Lyon from Paris will take 4h30 instead of 2h, Paris-Marseille will last 7h30 instead of 3h, and it will take 6h instead of 3h for Paris-Grenoble.
Several stations not served
Another thorn in the side of users, many towns will not be served. According to the railway company, this will include “the connection between the south-east and Loire" rel="tag">Pays de la Loire, Brittany, Normandy, Centre-Val-de-Loire and Hauts-de-France” which will be impacted, i.e. a large part of the country. For example, no Nantes-Lyon, Lyon-Rennes, Le Havre-Marseille or even Lille-Marseille will run from Saturday November 9 to Tuesday November 12 inclusive.
Trains from Paris to the south-east will stop in Marseille and Toulon. It will therefore not be possible to go to Nice. Same thing with the TGVs to Occitanie, which will not go further than Montpellier. There will therefore be no possible journey to Perpignan for example. The work will also prevent service to six stations on the southeast axis: Le Creusot-Montceau-Montchanin TGV, Mâcon-Loché TGV, Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV, Valence TGV, Montpellier-Sud-de-France and Nîmes-Pont -du-Gard.
Modernize the signaling system
You should also not hope to be able to travel abroad easily. The Paris-Barcelona, Brussels-Marseille and Paris-Milan lines will not be served over the weekend. The TGV Lyria offer (trains to Switzerland) is maintained, but with a reduction in the number of trains.
SNCF announced this work last February, specifying that it was preparing the implementation of a new signaling system. The Paris-Lyon TGV line, the busiest in Europe, was put into service in 1981.
The work aims to equip the line with the ERTMS signaling system, a European standard, which should make it possible to improve the regularity and reliability of trains. The capacity of the line should also be able to be increased by 25% by 2030, assures SNCF Réseau. The total amount of the operation amounts to 820 million euros, financed by both SNCF and the European Commission.
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