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Trolleybuses in Lyon

Coordinates: 45°45′38″N 04°51′34″E / 45.76056°N 4.85944°E / 45.76056; 4.85944
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lyon trolleybus system
An Irisbus Cristalis in Lyon, 2009.
Operation
LocaleLyon, France
Open15 October 1935 (1935-10-15)
StatusOpen
Routes8 (+ 1)
Owner(s)SYTRAL
Operator(s)Keolis Lyon
Infrastructure
Stock131
Websitehttp://www.tcl.fr TCL (in French and English)

The Lyon trolleybus system (French: Réseau de trolleybus de Lyon) is part of the public transport network of the city and commune of Lyon, France. Opened in 1935, it combines with the Lyon Metro, the Lyon tramway network and Lyon's urban motorbus network to form an integrated system.

Lyon was one of the first cities in France to utilize trolleybuses. It is the capitale du trolleybus français ("capital of the French trolleybus"). In 1961, the Lyon trolleybus system had the largest number of trolleybuses ever to operate simultaneously in France (370 vehicles). In the 21st century, it has been a leader in the development of new trolley buses.

The system is owned by SYTRAL, and, like most of the rest of the four managed transportation systems, is operated by Keolis Lyon on behalf of Transports en commun lyonnais (TCL). Since 2006, it has been expanded by the electrification of two major new lines (C1 and C2). As of 2015, the system consisted of nine lines.

Lines

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The Lyon trolleybus system is presently made up of the following lines:

Line Route Depot Sat Sun/Hols
C1 Disabled access Gare Part Dieu-Vivier Merle <> Cuire UTN yes    yes
C2 Disabled access Gare Part Dieu-Vivier Merle <> Rillieux-Semailles UTN yes    yes
C3 Disabled access Gare St Paul <> Vaulx en Velin-La Grappinière UTS yes    yes
C4 Disabled access Jean Macé <> Cité Internationale-Centre de Congrès UTS yes    yes
C11 Disabled access Saxe-Gambetta <> Laurent Bonnevay-Astroballe UTS yes    yes
C13 Disabled access Grange Blanche <> Montessuy-Gutenberg UTC yes    yes
C14 Disabled access Jean Macé <> Les Sources UTV yes    yes
C18 Disabled access Hôtel de Ville-Louis Pradel <> Croix Rousse-Nord UTC yes    yes
S6 Disabled access Hôtel de Ville-Louis Pradel <> Croix-Rousse UTC no    no

 

All of these lines, except line S6, offer a high level of service, and operate 7 days a week from 5 am to midnight, with frequent services on weekdays from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm (usually every 8 to 10 minutes, at most every 12 minutes). They provide an attractive and permanent service throughout the year, including during school holiday periods.

Lines C1 to C3 are equipped with a signal priority system, dedicated lanes for almost their entire routes, and high-capacity bus shelters fitted with ticket distributors.

The principle of these three lines dates back to 2006, and the creation of lignes fortes Cristalis ("Cristalis strong lines"), designated by the letter C. Cristalis was a model of trolleybus built by Irisbus. The principle was extended on 29 August 2011 to 23 other lines, some operated by trolleybuses, and the rest by motorbuses. The letter "C" has been retained a designator of these lines, but no longer has any other meaning.

Fleet

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As of 2024, the Lyon trolleybus fleet stood at 154 vehicles, of which 66 were rigid buses and 88 articulated buses:

Fleet nos. Qty Manufacturer Electrics Model Type Built Line(s)
1711 to 1717 06 MAN/Hess Kiepe NMT 222 Rigid 1999 --
1803 to 1869 60 Irisbus Alstom Cristalis 12 Rigid 2000–2004 C4, C11, C14, and C18
1901 to 1927
2901 to 2917
43 Irisbus Alstom Cristalis 18 Articulated 2001–2006 C1, C2 and C3
2918 to 2928 11 Irisbus Alstom Cristalis 18 Articulated 2010 C1, C2 and C4
2001 to 2034 34 Hess Articulated 2021 C13


See also

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References

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  • Chappelet, Robert; Perenon, Jacques; Clavaud, René (2002). Le trolleybus à Lyon [The Trolleybus in Lyon]. Breil-sur-Roya: Éditions du Cabri. ISBN 2-914603-01-0.
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45°45′38″N 04°51′34″E / 45.76056°N 4.85944°E / 45.76056; 4.85944