Lyon Metro

Trains in Lyon help many people travel.

There are four different lines. Each line has its own color on a map.

Most trains use rubber tires instead of steel wheels. This helps them move.

One line uses steel wheels on tracks. That line is very steep.

Some trains do not need a driver. They move by themselves. Line D is the longest line in the city. It even goes under two rivers.

Many people use these trains every day. It is a great way to see the city.

The Lyon Metro helps people travel in Lyon, France.

It has four lines. These are Line A, Line B, Line C, and Line D. Each line has a color on the map. The metro has 42 stations in total. In 2025, about 810,000 people rode the metro every day.

Most lines use rubber tires to move. Lines A, B, and D use these tires. Line C is different. It uses steel wheels on tracks. Line C also uses overhead wires for power. It is the only metro line in France that uses these wires. One station on Line C is very steep. It is the steepest station in Europe.

Line D is very special. It was the first line in France to run without a driver. These are called driverless trains. Line D is also the longest line. It goes deep under the Rhône and Saône rivers.

Some trains are new. The MPL 16 trains help carry more people. Line B has used these new trains since 2022.

The Lyon Metro is a fast train system in Lyon, France.

It helps many people move around the city every day. In 2025, an average of 810,000 people rode the metro daily. The system is part of a larger group called TCL. This group also includes tramways and two funiculars. The metro is a very important way to travel. It connects different parts of the Lyon Metropolis.

Different lines work in different ways. Lines A, B, and D use rubber tires to move. This is different from many other metro systems. Line C is the odd one out. It uses steel wheels and overhead wires for power.

Line C also has a very steep part. The Croix Paquet station has a 17% incline. This makes it the steepest metro station in Europe. These different methods help the trains handle various paths.

History shows how the metro grew over time. Line C was the first part to open in 1974.

Lines A and B started running on May 2, 1978. Line A runs from Perrache to Laurent Bonnevay–Astroballe. Line B runs from Charpennes to Part-Dieu. Line B has grown many times since then. It reached Stade de Gerland in 2000. It also reached Gare d'Oullins in 2013. New stations opened in 2023 at Oullins Centre and Saint-Genis-Laval.

There are many interesting facts about these lines. Line D opened on September 4, 1991. It was the first fully automatic line in France. This means it can run without a driver.

Line D is also the longest line in the system. It has 15 stations and goes under two rivers. These are the Rhône and the Saône. The trains use a system called MAGGALY to work. They use infrared sensors to check for things on the track.

New technology is making the metro even better. In 2016, the city ordered new MPL 16 trains.

These trains started running on Line B in 2022. They help carry more people during busy times. These new trains will eventually help Line A too. The metro is also unique because its trains run on the left. This happened because of an old plan to connect to existing railways. It is a special part of how Lyon moves.

The Lyon Metro is a rapid transit system serving the Lyon Metropolis in France.

It functions as a vital part of the Transports en Commun Lyonnais, also known as TCL. This larger network includes tramways and two funiculars to help people move through the city. In 2025, the system reached a high level of use with 810,000 daily riders on average. The metro is unique among French systems because its trains run on the left. This specific setup resulted from an old, unrealized project to connect the metro to suburban railway lines.

The system is composed of four distinct lines: A, B, C, and D. Each line is identified by a specific color on transit maps. Line A and Line B were the first to open on May 2, 1978. They were built using a method called cut-and-cover. Line C was integrated into the metro in 1978 after being refurbished in 1974. Line D is the newest major addition, having opened in 1991. Each line has its own specific characteristics regarding length, stations, and the type of trains used.

Technology differs significantly between the lines. Lines A, B, and D utilize rubber-wheel cars rather than traditional steel wheels. These trains draw power from a third rail. Line C is the exception to this rule. It uses steel wheels and draws power from overhead wires. Until the Paris Métro Line 15 opens, Line C remains the only metro line in France to use overhead lines. It is also the only steel-wheeled metro line in France located outside of Paris.

Line C is also famous for its unique physical path. It incorporates the Croix-Rousse-Croix-Paquet rack railway. This line uses various construction methods, including deep tunnels and surface sections. The Croix Paquet station is notable for being the steepest metro station in Europe. It features an incline of 17%. This steepness requires the specialized rack railway system to help the trains climb the slope.

Line D stands out as a leader in automation. It was the first fully automatic metro line in France. When it first opened in 1991, it still had operators on board. However, it switched to driverless operation in 1992 during an extension to Gare de Vénissieux. The line uses a system called MAGGALY, which stands for Métro Automatique à Grand Gabarit de l’Agglomération Lyonnaise. Unlike many other driverless systems, Line D does not use platform screen doors. Instead, the trains use infrared sensors to detect any obstructions on the tracks.

Line D is also the longest and deepest line in the network. It contains 15 stations and travels beneath both the Rhône and Saône rivers. Much of its construction involved the use of boring machines. To increase capacity, the city ordered new MPL 16 rolling stock from Alstom in 2016. These trains began service on Line B in 2022. They can be coupled together to form four-car units during rush hours. This new technology will eventually allow the older MPL 75 trains to move to Line A.

The history of the metro shows constant growth and change. Line B has seen many extensions over the decades. It reached Stade de Gerland in 2000 and Gare d'Oullins in 2013. More recently, the Oullins Centre and Saint-Genis-Laval–Hôpital Lyon Sud stations opened in October 2023. While there were once plans for a new Line E to connect western suburbs, these were cancelled in 2022. The city decided to focus on new express tramways instead. Currently, the system is operated by Keolis Lyon, but RATP Dev is scheduled to take over operations on January 1, 2025.