Some history

Over 40 years of high-speed rail links between France and Switzerland is no mean feat. Here’s a selection of key dates.
Now you’ll have all the answers if anyone asks! .

Tell me about TGV Lyria

tgv lyria history timeline

27 September 1981

TGV (train à grande vitesse – high-speed train) arrives on the Paris <> Geneva route. Journey time decreases from 5 hrs 49 mins to 4 hrs 15 mins.


22 January 1984

Paris <> Lausanne line opens to connect the two cities in 3 hrs 45 mins.


23 April 2002

TGV Lyria is established. Joint venture between SNCF and SBB: Lyria SAS takes over operations from the TGV France Suisse group of shared economic interest.


2005

TGV Lyria takes over management of the Paris <> Geneva line.


2007

TGV Est line opens connecting Paris <> Basel/Zurich.


12 December 2010

Thanks to the Haut-Bugey line, the journey time between Paris and Geneva decreases to 3 hrs 11 mins.


December 2019

The Lyria+ service launches and is still in operation today, featuring:

  • Three travel classes
  • Upgraded coaches, increasing capacity by 30%
  • More frequent trains and new timetables