European Railroad Discussion > Train connection, Lyon airport

I'm flying into Lyon and will switch to the train, eventually to Bourg Ste. Maurice. That's a TGV station at the airport. TGVs need advance reservations, right? But what if my flight is late? Will they allow me to change my TGV res in that case? Advice from experienced folks would be appreciated. 

There's a TGV station at St Exupery airport, but I'm not sure whether Bourg bound TGVs stop there. My European Timetable suggests TGVs to Bourg are "only for journeys too and from Paris". And in any case service from Lyon to Bourg St Maurice is on conventional tracks, not the LGV. Until 27th April there are conventional TER trains every two hours from Lyon Part Dieu. After 27th April (the end of the ski season) you have to change at Chambéry.

Thank you. Yes, I know I'll need to change trains from a TGV to a standard train somewhere down the line. It's possible, but I worry about my TGV ticket if my flight is late. I'm trying to avoid taking the tram from the airport downtown to Part Deux.

I went train all the way from London to Bourg in January: Eurostar to Lille, TGV to Lyon Part Deux, local trains to Chambrey and then Bourg. Going through Lille instead of Paris avoided the change of station in Paris.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/25 11:16 by symph1.

Disclaimer:  All the following is from the Internet, not experience.

1.  According to the airport, there is no railway ticket counter.  But Today's Traveller doesn't use them anyway, right ?

2.  Through April 18, the Rhone Express tram does not go all the way to Part Dieu due to "maintenance", and a transfer to a bus is required.

What day of the week are you travelling ?

SZ

My flight arrives 2:05 pm on Sunday, March 16.

1.  Both the SNCF [ expected ] and TER [ unexpected ] websites bump me immediately to the 17th.
2.  I would suggest printing out a copy of the TER Table 52 Sat/Sun/Holiday timings
3.  I would look at intermodal options.  On Sundays you've missed the only 'airport shuttle' to Bourg.  There are some bus options to Chambery, but it's a 7 min walk to the station.  Splurge on a cab to Part Dieu ?
4.  What is your plan if the plane is on time ?

I think you should go a day earlier, stay in Lyon, and spend the time photoing the trains and trams so you can submit a full report to TOer's while resting from a hard day on the slopes....

SZ

An intreaguing idea! Unfortunately, I already have my airplane ticket. :-)

Well, SNCF came up with a fine itinerary, 3 hours after my flight arrives Lyon:5:08 PM, Departure station: Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV - Airport (LYS) 10:45 PM, Arrival station: Bourg-Saint-Maurice (funicular to 'Les Arcs' ski resort)
 I change trains in Grenoble and Montmelien, both with plenty of time for an easy conection. And I bought the insurance, so if my flight is very late, I should be covered financially.

I had no success at all as I mentioned above; did you just put in Grenoble as the destination instead of Bourg ?  Maybe Socrates, or however the SNCF seat reservation yield system is named now, held off on shorter distances, but I would have thought there would be plenty of capacity on outbound TGV's heading south for the post-ski-weekend flow.
Or perhaps you are just more familiar with the website than I am -- which is probably the case.

Have a good trip !  SZ

I just followed the instructions, it didn't seem I had to do anything special. I put in Lyon airport to Bourg Sainte Maurice and this popped right up, both on the Rail Europe website and the SNCF one.