A TGV Lyria train from  Paris to Switzerland, at Paris Gare de Lyon

TGV-Lyria train to Paris at Zurich HB.

Tickets from €29 at
 www.sncf-connect.com
www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com

Print your own ticket or show it on your phone.  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead.  More info on how to book.

Buy train tickets from Paris to Switzerland

What is TGV-Lyria?

TGV-Lyria is the company formed to run the high-speed trains between Paris & Switzerland, 76% owned by SNCF (French Railways) and 24% by SBB (Swiss Railways). TGV stands for Train à Grande Vitesse or High Speed Train, running at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).  From city centre to city centre it's faster than flying.

small bullet point  TGV-Lyria routes

small bullet point  The 3 classes explained

small bullet point  What are TGV-Lyria trains like?

small bullet point  Travel tips

small bullet point  Route map

small bullet point  How to find times, fares & tickets

TGV-Lyria routes

Paris Gare de Lyon - Basel - Zurich in 4h03

Paris Gare de Lyon - Geneva in 3h09

Paris Gare de Lyon - Lausanne in 3h40

See the route map below

TGV-Lyria has 3 classes

TGV-Lyria switched from two classes (1st & 2nd) to three in 2017:  Standard, Standard Premiere & Business Premiere.  The trains physically have two types of seating, 2nd (standard) class & 1st class, but some 1st class cars are designated Standard Premiere and others Business Premiere.  Trains are double-deck with upper & lower deck seats in all classes.

What are the trains like?

TGV-Lyria's fleet now consists entirely of double-deck TGV Duplex high-speed trains, capable of up to 300 km/h on the Sud-Est high-speed line and up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the Rhine-Rhone high-speed line between Dijon & Mulhouse.  In Paris, all TGV-Lyria trains leave from the Gare de Lyon.

Each carriage has one wide entrance door into a downstairs hallway with toilet. There are 9 easy steps to the upper deck and there are luggage racks and a toilet upstairs as well as downstairs.  You walk through the train at the upper level.  Another reason for choosing the upper deck on a TGV Duplex is that the refreshment trolley comes along the upper deck from the cafe-bar, it cannot go downstairs.  See TGV-Lyria seat map.

TGV-Lyria train from Paris to Switzerland, at Paris Gare de Lyon

TGV-Lyria euroduplex train at Paris Gare de Lyon. These 320 km/h double-deck trains now operate all TGV-Lyria services.  Click the images below for larger photos.

TGV Lyria first class, upper deck   TGV Duplex 2nd class seats, upper deck

1st class, upper deck.

 

2nd class, upper deck 360º photo.

TGV Lyria first class seats, lower deck   TGV Lyria 2nd class seats, lower deck

1st class, lower deck.

 

2nd class, lower deck.

TGV Duplex cafe-bar   A TGV-Lyria train from Paris to Switzerland

Cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.

 

TGV-Lyria for Geneva, boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon.  You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

TGV Lyria luggage racks   TGV Duplex:  Stairs to upper deck   TGV Lyria luggage rack

Luggage racks inside the entrance to the lower deck 2nd class seating area.

 

Power sockets at all seats, 2-pin 230v.

 

Luggage racks.  You put your bags on the racks, both upstairs & downstairs, at car ends & between the seats.

TGV Duplex entrance hall   Upper deck landing on a TGV Duplex

Entrance: Door to lower deck seats on left, toilet on right, stairs to upper deck far side on right.

 

Upper deck landing.  Toilet on the left, door to upper deck seating ahead, door to adjacent car behind camera.

Video guide:  TGV Duplex

The video shows a TGV Duplex in its original blue colour scheme with the original blue & purple 1st class seats, but the train & seats themselves haven't changed.

Travel tips

Business premiere meal   Business premier menu

Business Premier meal.

Courtesy of Roberto Rinaldi

 

Business Premier menu.

Courtesy of Roberto Rinaldi

Route map

Paris to Switzerland TGV Lyria train route map

 

Click for larger map

Highlighted = Paris to Geneva, Paris to Lausanne, Paris to Basel & Zurich by TGV-Lyria

Green = scenic sections.  Red = high-speed line

Some Paris-Lausanne TGVs operate via Geneva not Dijon.

Reproduced from the excellent European Rail Map with kind permission of the European Rail Timetable people.  I recommend buying a copy of the European Rail Map for your travels, www.europeanrailtimetable.eu with shipping worldwide.

European Rail Timetable and map

TGV-Lyria times, fares & tickets


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