Subway of Lyon

Even if the history retains 1978 like the year of the beginning of the exploitation of the subway of Lyon , 1974 saw being born the first line (C) from the network.

Currently, it includes/understands four of them named by letters (has, B, C and D).

History

If one refers about it to the definition of the " term; métropolitain" data by disagreements dictionaries of the French language - " railroad to electric traction, partially or completely underground, which serves a great agglomeration urbaine" - Lyon can be prided to have had the first railway line metropolitan of the world since the line of funicular of the street Terme, which answers these characteristics, was open in 1862,6 months before the first line of the subway of London.

The first project

It is necessary however to wait the year 1885 to see appearing the first project of a subway such as we conceive it. At that time, Joseph Jaubert, engineer of civil engineering, trace the plans of an underground railway network of surface very original which wants to be complementary to existing horse-drawn tram lines. Three routes are considered around the peninsula without however penetrating there:

Oullins in Neuville, with junction towards Perrache
Oullins in Miribel by Saint-Clearly
Perrache in Saint-Clearly by Guillotière, Montplaisir, Villeurbanne, Charpennes and Vaulx-in-Vellum

These lines, established in standard way Decauville with the spacing 0.60 m, would borrow the low-ports or the quays of the Rhone and the Saone on a weak influence (2.50 m of width). Each steam train would be composed of 5 or 6 cars being able to transport to 300 people at the maximum speed of 60 km/h, speed seems it utopian to reach for a way of the Decauville type.

This project, although at the time published in a serious review (Popular Science), will never know continuation.

An underground line

In 1897, the Municipal council of Lyon puts in public invitation to tender a line of Cross-Russet-red at Perrache by imposing to the tenderers an underground way of the street of Algeria in the Bellecour place. Eight valid proposals are received, of which one emanates from the OTL (Company of the Slow trains and Tramways of Lyon) and another of the CLT (Company of the string of the street Terme). A new battle will start between these two companies, the OLT ending up carrying it while repurchasing purely and simply the CLT and its string. The line of Cross-Rouse with Perrache will be later open on the surface, the project of tunnel being definitively abandoned.

An underground grid

It is into 1900 that the first project of an underground railway network worthy of this name makes its appearance in the capital of Gaules. Jean Berlier, engineer-manufacturer Parisian of Lyons origin (it carried out the first line of the Parisian subway), request the concession of an underground underground railway network with metric gauge track whose first line to realize in the immediate future would follow the Perrache route - Composts - Cross-Russet-red, so much at the time discussed. Later, the two Terreaux layouts - Station of Brotteaux and Terreaux - Vaise will supplement it.

The first line would be 3800 m long and would comprise 14 stations. It would be built very close to surface because of the infiltrations present in the grounds of the peninsula. The trains would be composed of 2 to 6 cars, given rhythm all the 2 to 6 minutes for an operation of 5:30 to 0:15. The rise towards theRusset-red one would be done using a toothed rack.

Like these predecessors, this project will never be born.

The current network

With the success of the meeting organized on May 30th, 1963 by the Union of the Committees of Local Interests (UCIL) and the Young Economic room (JCE) makes continuation the first discussion relating to the project of subway at the municipal council of Lyon on July 22nd.

It is thus this same year that the first studies begin, mainly realized by Rene Waldmann then engineer with the Ordinary Service of the Bridges and Chaussées (SOPC) of the Rhone.

It is only in 1968 that is created the Survey firm of the Subway of the Lyons agglomeration (SEMALY), directed by Rene Waldmann. Work of the lines has and B start in 1973. One year later, the line C (“Subway Cross-Russet-red”) is opened with the exploitation.

Lines

The underground railway network comprises four lines, has - B - C - D, identified in the fields of the network by different colors:

Lines has and B

See also: List of the stations of the subway of Lyon

The line has (Perrache - SNCF railway station with Vaulx-in-Vellum Silk) is brought into service the May 2nd 1978. The terminus of the line has, is since October 2nd, 2007 prolonged at the new station Vaulx-in-Vellum Silk.

It is a line of tyred subway. Entirely in underground, not very deep, it was built in distinct glazes. One distinguishes three particular points for line a: with Perrache - SNCF railway station, it is on the level of the ground; the crossing of the the Rhone is made in the thickness (box) new Morand bridge built for the occasion after the destruction of old out of iron and pink marble, and the crossing of the Ring road is also done in the box of a bridge.

Since the October 2nd 2007, the line of the subway has includes/understands the station of Vaulx-in-Vellum Silk, thus making it possible this zone to be served well better, the line has thus joining tram line T3 and several lines of bus which it did not cross hitherto. It acts, according to the billboards, of the " Event Subway of Année".

The Line B has the same characteristics of depth only on two stations of the first phase of construction (Charpennes - Jean Macé). The station Charpennes terminus is common to the descent and rise of the travellers (even quay); built on the same level that the line has, the current configuration does not allow any prolongation towards north. Brotteaux, Share-God - SNCF railway station and Saxony-Gambetta are located at the 2ère basement. Two prolongations intervened since its opening: Share-God - SNCF railway station in Jean Macé (1981) and Jean Macé at Stade of Gerland (2000).

A project under development since 1989 (initiate by Michel Noir) envisages to prolong the subway to the Station of Oullins. The startup is announced for September 2013.

Material: 32 oars Alsthom MPL 75 (Subway Tire Lyon year 1975),
Composition of the trains: M + R + M (3 cars: motor coach + trailer + driving),
Putting up: workshops of the Fine powder, with Vaulx-in-Vellum,
Time of exploitation: Line has 4:37 with 0:20, Ligne B of 4:55 to 0:18,
minimal Fréquence: Line has 2 ' 43, Ligne B 3 ' 00.

Line C

See also: List of the stations of the subway of Lyon

The Funicular Cross-Russet-red - Cross-Package, renovated and converted into Cog railway in 1974 becomes this year the first line of the underground railway network of Lyon (already named Ligne C); it is integrated into the remainder of the network at the time of the opening of the lines has and B in 1978 (prolongation to Town hall to be in correspondence with a). The line is prolonged to the old Station To cook (Railroad of the Rhone (CFR) unused, which connected Lyon-Cross-Russet-red to Trévoux) the December 8th 1984; two new stations open for the occasion: Hénon and To cook (the latter, like Charpennes for the line B, has only one quay common to the descent and rise of the travellers).

The inclined part (17%) is a deep tunnel (emerging néanmois at the station Cross-Package), whereas the part on the plate of Cross-Russet-red is a trench covered and with the free air beyond the station Hénon.

Material: 5 oars Alsthom Vevey (MCL 80 Subway Toothed rack Lyon year 1980), delivered in 1984,
Composition of the trains: M + M (motor coach + driving),
Putting up: workshops of Hénon, in the 4th District,
Time of exploitation: 4:55 with 0:25,
minimal Frequency: 5 ' 30.

Line D

Exploitation

The subway, as well as the Bus, Trolley buses, funicular and trams of Lyon is exploited by Keolis Lyon, ex- Lyons Société of public transport (SLTC), subsidiary of the group Keolis, under mark TCL (Public transport Lyons), on behalf of the Trade union of transport for the Rhone and Lyons agglomeration (SYTRAL).

The Lyons subway circulates on the left, like the Train S French, the other subways circulating generally on the right. This characteristic is the result of the project, ever carried out, to make circulate the subway in suburbs on the ways of the SNCF.

The gauge of the subway of Lyon, 2,90 m, is more generous (heavy subway) that the average of the European subways; therefore the line D was the first automatic line with heavy material, whereas Lille was the first French metropolis to obtain a light automatic subway (VALLEY).

Appendices

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