LGV Rhône-Alpes
Encyclopedia
The LGV Rhône-Alpes is a 115 km-long French
high-speed rail
line situated in the Rhône-Alpes
region which extends the LGV Sud-Est
southwards. Opening to service in 1994, this line bypasses the built-up Lyon area towards the east, and in addition serves Satolas station, now renamed Lyon-Saint-Exupéry. Beyond Valence
the line is continued by the LGV Méditerranée
.
The line was constructed in two sections, north and south. The first section was opened in time for the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville
.
The route of the new line represents a total length of 115 km; 42 km from Montanay
to Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
, and 73 km from Saint-Quentin-Fallavier to Valence.
The line is connected to the regular network by links at Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, enabling links to Savoie
, Isère
and Italy
via Chambéry
and Modane
.
Like the LGV Sud-Est
, the line was designed for a nominal speed of 300 km/h, with a minimum radius curve of 4,000 m, and a space between track centres of 4.2 m. The second section is designed for 320 km/h.
The line includes 10 large viaducts (total length 4.3 km), and 4 tunnels (total length 5.3 km).
A command post named CCT (Commande centralisée des trains - Central Train Command) enables the continual monitoring of trains running on the entire line and to remotely control security installations. It is situated in Lyon, in an SNCF building near the gare de Perrache.
Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry, situated in the commune of Colombier-Saugnieu
. This station, with its striking architecture, is the work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava
. It serves the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
high-speed rail
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
line situated in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region which extends the LGV Sud-Est
LGV Sud-Est
The LGV Sud-Est is a high-speed rail line, which links Paris' and Lyon's suburbs, in France. The inauguration of the first section between Saint-Florentin and Sathonay on 22 September 1981 marked the beginning of the re-invigoration of French passenger rail service.This line, subsequently...
southwards. Opening to service in 1994, this line bypasses the built-up Lyon area towards the east, and in addition serves Satolas station, now renamed Lyon-Saint-Exupéry. Beyond Valence
Valence, Drôme
Valence is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Drôme department, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, south of Lyon on the railway to Marseilles.Its inhabitants are called Valentinois...
the line is continued by the LGV Méditerranée
LGV Méditerranée
The LGV Méditerranée is a French high speed railway line of approximately 250 km length, which entered service in June, 2001. Running between Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence and Marseille, it connects the regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon to the LGV Rhône-Alpes, and from...
.
The line was constructed in two sections, north and south. The first section was opened in time for the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
.
Route
The line crosses four départements, from north to south:- AinAinAin is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
- RhôneRhône (département)Rhône is a French department located in the central Eastern region of Rhône-Alpes. It is named after the Rhône River.- History :The Rhône department was created on August 12, 1793 when the former département of Rhône-et-Loire was split into two departments: Rhône and Loire.Originally, the eastern...
- IsèreIsèreIsère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
- DrômeDrômeDrôme , a department in southeastern France, takes its name from the Drôme River.-History:The French National Constituent Assembly set up Drôme as one of the original 83 departments of France on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution...
The route of the new line represents a total length of 115 km; 42 km from Montanay
Montanay
Montanay is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France....
to Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
Saint-Quentin-Fallavier is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, and 73 km from Saint-Quentin-Fallavier to Valence.
The line is connected to the regular network by links at Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, enabling links to Savoie
Savoie
Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...
, Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
via Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
and Modane
Modane
Modane is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860.-Transportation:...
.
Line specifics
The line has a surface area of 12.18 km² (in comparison Saint-Exupéry airport occupies the same area).Like the LGV Sud-Est
LGV Sud-Est
The LGV Sud-Est is a high-speed rail line, which links Paris' and Lyon's suburbs, in France. The inauguration of the first section between Saint-Florentin and Sathonay on 22 September 1981 marked the beginning of the re-invigoration of French passenger rail service.This line, subsequently...
, the line was designed for a nominal speed of 300 km/h, with a minimum radius curve of 4,000 m, and a space between track centres of 4.2 m. The second section is designed for 320 km/h.
The line includes 10 large viaducts (total length 4.3 km), and 4 tunnels (total length 5.3 km).
A command post named CCT (Commande centralisée des trains - Central Train Command) enables the continual monitoring of trains running on the entire line and to remotely control security installations. It is situated in Lyon, in an SNCF building near the gare de Perrache.
Stations
The line comprises one new station:Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry, situated in the commune of Colombier-Saugnieu
Colombier-Saugnieu
Colombier-Saugnieu is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-Geography:The Bourbre forms part of the commune's eastern border.* Zone served by -References:*...
. This station, with its striking architecture, is the work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
. It serves the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.
History
- 28 October 1989: declaration of public utilityDéclaration d'utilité publiqueA Déclaration d'utilité publique, or declaration of public utility, is a formal recognition that a proposed project has public benefits. Many large construction projects in France, especially relating to infrastructure, must achieve DUP before work can begin....
- 13 December 1992: service begins on 42 km first section between MontanayMontanayMontanay is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France....
and Saint-Quentin-FallavierSaint-Quentin-FallavierSaint-Quentin-Fallavier is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-References:*... - 3 July 1994: service begins on 73 km second section between Saint-Quentin-FallavierSaint-Quentin-FallavierSaint-Quentin-Fallavier is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-References:*...
and Saint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSaint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSaint-Marcel-lès-Valence is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*... - 3 July 1994: inauguration of Gare de Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV
- 7 June 2001: inauguration of LGV MéditerranéeLGV MéditerranéeThe LGV Méditerranée is a French high speed railway line of approximately 250 km length, which entered service in June, 2001. Running between Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence and Marseille, it connects the regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon to the LGV Rhône-Alpes, and from...
extending this line southwards