Lyon Station closes for modernization; rail services severely disrupted
Lyon Station closes April 30-May 3; multiple rail services significantly disrupted.
Event / Technology
Gare de Lyon Modernization
France's Gare de Lyon railway station undergoes major modernization from April 30 to May 3, 2026, involving complete closure during the May 1 holiday weekend. The project replaces outdated switching systems with computerized infrastructure and establishes new access routes to a technical maintenance center, reducing TGV service capacity and partially suspending RER/metro lines D and R.
1 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 20 Apr, 15:36 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
TGV service reduced to 55% capacity during Lyon Station closure
During the closure period, only 55% of regular Inoui and Lyria trains (including routes to Switzerland) will operate. No TGV trains will depart from Gare de Lyon from Thursday April 30 at 8:30 PM through Sunday May 3 at 2 PM. Trains will be diverted to alternative Paris-area stations including Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est, Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy, Pont de Rungis, and Versailles Chantiers.
Trenitalia suspends most services to Lyon and Marseille during closure
Italian operator Trenitalia, which serves Lyon, Marseille, and Milan, will maintain only 8 trains (4 round trips) during the closure weekend. All other scheduled trains on these three days will be cancelled, with remaining services rerouted to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy station.
RER D and Line R partially suspended during Lyon Station closure
The RER D and Line R, which normally serve 700,000 weekday passengers, will be partially cut during the four-day closure of Gare de Lyon. This decision was made in consultation with operators to minimize disruptions during what is normally a busy weekend period.
Gare de Lyon completely closes for modernization works from April 30 to May 3
The Gare de Lyon, which serves 300 million passengers annually, will completely close its doors for three days from Thursday April 30 at 8:30 PM through Sunday May 3 at 2 PM. SNCF will replace the switching systems of the underground station and the forecourt station with new computerized systems. Additionally, new access routes to the Villeneuve Demain technical center will be put into service, and preparatory works will be conducted. Approximately 500 operators will work continuously for 72 hours.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives