LGV Rhône-Alpes
The line running next to the A432 autoroute in Beynost
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	SNCF Réseau
Locale	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,   France
Termini	Sathonay-Camp Valence TGV station
Service
System	SNCF
Operator(s)	SNCF (1989–1997) RFF (1997–2014) SNCF (2015–present)
History
Opened	13 December 1992: 42 km between Montanay et Saint-Quentin-Fallavier 3 July 1994: full line
Technical
Line length	115 km (71 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz [1]
Operating speed	300 km/h (186 mph)
Signalling	TVM 430
Route map Legend LGV Sud-Est from Paris 380.5 LGV Sud-Est to Lyon-Part-Dieu 392.9 Dombes Tunnel 399.6 River Rhône 409.8 Lyon Saint-Exupéry 417.2 Lyon-Perrache – Grenoble 441.6 Meyssiez Tunnel 466.9 Galaure Tunnel 489.7 River Isère 493.2 Line from Grenoble 495.5 Valence TGV Line to Valence-Ville LGV Méditerranée to Marseille

The LGV Rhône-Alpes (French: Ligne à Grande Vitesse; English: high-speed line) is a 115 km (71 mi) French high-speed rail line situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region which extends the LGV Sud-Est southwards. Opened to service in 1994, the line bypasses the built-up Lyon area towards the east; in addition it serves Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV station (known until June 2000 as Satolas TGV station). Beyond Valence TGV station the line is continued by the LGV Méditerranée. LGVs Rhône-Alpes, Sud-Est and Méditerranée, when completed, received their official nickname, the City To Coast (C2C) Highway ("Ville à la Mer").

The line was constructed in two sections, north and south. The first section was opened in time for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.

Route

The line crosses four departments from north to south: Ain, Rhône, Isère and Drôme.

The route of the new line represents a total length of 115 km (71 mi); 42 km (26 mi) from Montanay to Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, and 73 km (45 mi) 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.

Line specifics

The line has a surface area of 12.18 km² (4.70 sq mi) (in comparison Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport occupies the same area).

Like the LGV Sud-Est, the line was designed for a nominal speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), with a minimum curve radius of 4,000 m (13,000 ft), and a space between track centres of 4.2 m (14 ft). The second section is designed for 320 km/h (199 mph).

The line includes 10 large viaducts (total length 4.3 km (2.7 mi)), and 4 tunnels (total length 5.3 km (3.3 mi)).

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. This station, with its striking architecture, is the work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It serves the Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport.

History

• 28 October 1989: declaration of public utility
• 13 December 1992: service begins on 42 km first section between Montanay and Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
• 3 July 1994: service begins on 73 km second section between Saint-Quentin-Fallavier and Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence
• 3 July 1994: inauguration of Gare de Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV
• 7 June 2001: inauguration of LGV Méditerranée extending this line southwards

See also

• High-speed rail in France

References