A company established under French law, Lyria is a subsidiary of the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF – French National Railway Company) which owns 74% and the Chemins de Fer Fédéraux Suisses (CFF – Swiss Federal Railways) which owns 26%.
1993
Creation of an economic interest group (GIE TGV France Suisse) responsible for the commercial management of TGV routes between Paris-Lausanne and Paris-Bern.
1995
Inauguration of the first TGV Lyria des Neiges upon introduction of a service to Brig (calling at Montreux, Aigle, Martigny, Sion, Siders and Visp) during winter 1995/1996.
1997
- Introduction of a daily service to Zurich.
- Inauguration of the first refurbished train to sport the new Ligne de cœur livery.
1999
- Introduction of a second service to Zurich (winter 1999/2000).
- Inauguration of the second TGV Lyria des Neiges upon introduction of a service to Bex (calling at Montreux and Aigle).
- Creation of Rail France Suisse SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée – simplified joint stock company) which took over the activities of GIE TGV France Suisse.
2001
- Introduction of a fourth Paris-Lausanne return service.
- TGV Lyria des Neiges now offers three services:
one Paris-Brig return service,
one Paris-Aigle return service,
two Paris-Siders return services.
(winter 2001/2002)
2002
- Creation of SAS Lyria to replace Rail France Suisse SAS.
- Inauguration of TGV Lyria d’été (summer service) with services to Siders and Brig (operating between 14 June and 30 September: two Paris-Brig return services and one Paris-Siders return service).
2003
Introduction of a year-round Paris-Brig service (two return services leaving Paris on Fridays and Sundays and leaving Brig on Saturdays and Mondays).
2005
Integration of TGV Paris-Geneva services into Lyria’s scope of activity (up to 7 return services per day).
2006
Creation of the TGV Lyria brand and development of a TGV Lyria graphic identity.
2007
- Opening of the TGV East European line whereby Lyria assumes management of the Paris-Basel-Zurich services (via Strasbourg) on 10 June.
- Launch of TGV Lyria service to the Graubünden region – a weekly service between Paris and Chur (via Basel and Zurich) operating every Saturday during the winter season.
2009
13 December:
- Reduced service on the Paris <> Neuchâtel <> Bern line with the withdrawal of one of the two Paris <> Neuchâtel <> Bern services. The TGV Lyria services departing from Bern at 17:23 and from Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:58 will be withdrawn.
- Non-renewal of the TGV Lyria des Grisons seasonal service to Chur in the Graubünden region.
- Increased service on the Paris <> Basel/Zurich line. The number of daily services from Paris via Basel will increase from three to five.
- Co-funded by the Swiss Confederation (50%), the French State (28%) and the Franche-Comté region (22%), engineering work improved the tracks and power supply on the Paris <> Lausanne line. Journey times were reduced :
- the Lausanne-Paris journey is 3h 39mins instead of the previous 3h 48mins, and
- the Bern-Paris journey time is 4h 34mins instead of the previous 4h 48mins.
