System SNCF Locale France (Rhône-Alpes) Line length 115 km (71 mi) Operator SNCF | Status Operational Opened 1992-1994 Owner SNCF | |
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Termini near Sathonay-Camp
Gare de Valence TGV | ||
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.
Contents
- Trains tgv lyria carmillon grande vitesse sur la lgv rh ne alpes
- Route
- Line specifics
- Stations
- History
- References
The line was constructed in two sections, north and south. The first section was opened in time for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.
Trains tgv lyria carmillon grande vitesse sur la lgv rh ne alpes
Route
The line crosses four départements, from north to south:
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.
Line specifics
The line has a surface area of 12.18 km² (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, with a minimum curve radius 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. This station, with its striking architecture, is the work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It serves the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.