DESCRIPTION
Lyon is the second most populated French town; its urban transit system consists in a metro network (Line A, Line B, Line C, Line D), in a modern tram network (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, Rhonexpress) and in an important regional/suburban railway network.
The original Lyon tram network opened in 1879 (initial horse tram); electrification was completed in 1893. After the second world war tram was finally closed (1957).
The first lines (T1: Perrache-IUT Feysinne) of the modern LRT/tram network opened in 2001; it was extended in 2005 (Perrache-Montrochet) and 2011 (Montrochet-Hotel de Region-Debourg, also serving Musee des Confluences). T1 follows a radial route, with many interchanges point with metro system; it connects the city centre to the La Doua universitary district (north side), serving also SNFC railway station (at Perrache and Gare Part Dieu) and Gare Part Dieu business center.
Tram T2 opened in 2001 (Perrache-Porte des Alpes), connecting the city centre to the suburb of Bron, Port des Alpes commercial area and Part Dieu business center; it was extended in 2003 (Porte des Alpes-Bel Air).
The periurban tram T3 (also known as LEA, acronimous of Ligne de l'Est de l'Agglomeration) opened on December 2006 (Part Dieu-Meyzieu Z.I.); it was extended in 2014 (Meyzieu Z.I.-Meyzieu Les Panettes). T3 runs along the eastern side of Grand Lyon metropolitan area, connecting Lyon Part Dieu to Meyzieu and passing through the municipalities of Lyon, Villeurbanne, Vaulx-en-Velin, Decines and Meyzieu. The track is characterized by many intermodal connections: with railways and tram T1 and T4 tram lines (at Part Dieu stop), with metro Line A (at Vaulx en Velin/La Soie stop) and with ordinary bus lines.
LRT/tram line RONHEXPRESS (also known as LESLYS/Liaison Express Lyon Saint-Exupery) opened on August 2010 running partly along the same alignment of T3. T4 connects Part Dieu railway station to St. Exupery airport, with 2 intermediate stops (La Soie, Meyzieu).
The first phase of T4 opened on April 2009, running from Hopital Feyzin to Jet Eau Mendes France; it was extended in 2013 (Jet d'Eau-Thiers Lafayette-La Doua). T4 interchanges with T2 (at Jet Eau Mendes France), with metro Line A and Line B (at Charpennes/Charles Hernu) and with metro Line D (at Gare de Venisseaux and at Manifacture). It shares part of the track with T1 (Thiers Lafayette-IUT Feyssine).
T5 opened in 2011 running from Grange Blanche to Parc du Chene; during the exposition events it's extended from Parc du Chene to Eurexpo; T5 shares part of the track with T1 (Les Alizes-Grange Blanche).