A 200mph TGV-Lyria train about to leave Paris for Switzerland. www.raileurope.co.uk (UK residents) www.raileurope.com (US residents) www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Canada, Australia, NZ, Asia, Africa, South America) www.voyages-sncf.com (anyone) www.loco2.com (anyone) www.sbb.ch (anyone) |
What is TGV-Lyria?
TGV-Lyria is a consortium of French & Swiss national railways formed to run the high-speed trains between Paris & Switzerland. Paris-Geneva in 3 hours 05 min, Paris-Basel in 3 hours 30 min, Paris-Zurich in 4 hours 03 min, faster than flying! TGV stands for Train à Grande Vitesse or High Speed Train. TGV-Lyrias run on these routes:
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Paris Gare de Lyon - Basel - Zurich
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Paris Gare de Lyon - Geneva
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Paris Gare de Lyon - Lausanne
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Paris Gare de Lyon - Bern & Interlaken (1 daily)
Tips for travelling by TGV-Lyria...
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All TGV-Lyria trains have 1st & 2nd class seats and a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.
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Like Eurostar, reservation is compulsory for TGV-Lyria so all tickets include a reservation on a specific train. Lyria fares work like air fares, cheaper in advance, more expensive as departure date approaches. Railpass holders must pay a special fare of around €10 if your pass covers all the countries you will pass through.
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As with most European trains, there's no check-in, you just walk into the station, find your train and get on, any time before it leaves. You take your bags with you and put them on any suitable luggage rack near your seat. If you can carry it you can take it, as within reason there are no baggage limits.
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1st class fares on all Lyria routes include complimentary food & drink. Allegedly, a cold tray meal is served at your seat with wine on designated lunch and dinner trains, but unfortunately in my experience most trains are designated as 'too early for lunch' or 'too late for lunch' or 'too early for dinner', and if they don't serve lunch or dinner they won't serve wine either, so in practice expect only a sandwich or other snack and a coffee or soft drink.
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There are power sockets for laptops & mobiles (2-pin, 220v) at all seats in both classes.
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Baby changing facilities are available, as are wheelchair spaces & wheelchair-accessible toilets. More information at www.tgv-lyria.com.
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All luggage must be labelled with your name. Folding bicycles and bikes in zip-up bike bags no bigger than 120cm x 90cm are carried free of charge, undismantled bikes are also carried on most Lyria services for a small fee. There's more detailed information at www.tgv-lyria.com. For information on taking bikes by train in Europe, see the bike by train page.
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Small dogs & pets in carriers no bigger than 55 x 30 x 30cm travel free, but larger dogs require a special ticket (not bookable online), see www.tgv-lyria.com for more details. UK travellers should remember that Eurostar doesn't take dogs, see the Taking your dog by train page for alternatives. Guide dogs go free on both Eurostar & TGV-Lyria.
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Seat numbering plan for TGV-Lyria: Click here.
Paris to Basel & Zurich: Double-deck TGV Duplex...
The Paris-Basel-Zurich route is now operated by impressive 200 mph (320 km/h) double-deck TGV Duplex. You can check if your TGV will be a Duplex by running an enquiry on www.voyages-sncf.com - find your train, select a price, click 'choose my place' and if you get a choice of decks, it's a Duplex. I strongly recommend a top deck seat for the best views of the scenery. The stairs to the top deck are short, wide and easy, and there are luggage racks and toilets both upstairs and downstairs. You walk through the train to the cafe-bar at the upper deck level.
TGV-Lyria trains leave from Paris Gare de Lyon. Why not dine at the amazing Train Bleu Restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon itself, before or after your journey?
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Boarding a double-deck TGV Duplex at Paris Gare de Lyon. You can now easily travel from London to Zurich by Eurostar & TGV-Lyria just an afternoon & evening, relaxing with a book and bottle of wine. And it isn't even expensive! Watch the TGV Duplex video |
The upstairs landing on a TGV Duplex showing the stairs down to the entrance door... |
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2nd class seats on TGV Duplex upper deck. There's a mix of unidirectional seating and some tables for 4 like this. |
The cafe-bar in a TGV Duplex upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks and microwave-style hot meal dishes.... |
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1st class seats on TGV Duplex upper deck, with some tables for 2 & some tables for 4. |
A TGV Duplex. The red near the door indicates 1st class, pale green 2nd class. |
Paris to Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Interlaken: Single-deck TGVs...
The routes from Paris to Geneva, Lausanne, Bern & Interlaken are operated by single-deck TGVs, although you'll find double-deck TGV Duplex on a few Paris-Geneva departures. TGV-Lyria's single-deck trains feature interiors styled by designer Christian Lacroix, with 1st & 2nd class seats plus a cafe-bar car selling drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes. First class fares include a complimentary cold breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack according to time of day, served at your seat. There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats. Incidentally, SNCF's in-house designer has never forgiven Christian Lacroix for breaking the unwritten 'rule' and using warm funky oranges and purples in 2nd class, cooler greys and lime green in 1st class, but see what you think...
TGV-Lyria trains leave from Paris Gare de Lyon. Why not dine at the amazing Train Bleu Restaurant, inside the Gare de Lyon itself, before or after your journey?
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A TGV in new Lyria colours at the Gare de Lyon. |
2nd class seats... See panorama photo. |
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Cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes... |
1st class seats... See panorama photo. |
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Complimentary food in first class... |
A TGV-Lyria about to leave Geneva for Paris... |
Lyria timetables, fares & how to buy tickets...
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You can check Lyria train times & fares and buy online at the official Lyria website, www.tgv-lyria.com.
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Anyone can book TGV-Lyria tickets www.voyages-sncf.com (but see advice on using it here) if their journey starts in Paris, or www.sbb.ch if it starts in Switzerland.
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UK travellers can book Lyria as part of a through journey from London to Switzerland at either www.eurostar.com or www.raileurope.co.uk. You can book any Lyria train at www.raileurope.co.uk.
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Travellers from overseas can book Lyria at www.raileurope.com (US residents) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Canada, Australia, NZ, Asia, Africa, South America).
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