Key points

• A high-speed rail link that has been in operation since 1984 ;
• The establishment of an EEIG in 1993 ;
• The launch of the Lyria brand in 2002

On this page

• 2002 – Birth of the branding ;

Summary

TGV services between France and Switzerland were reorganised in 1993 with the creation of the France–Switzerland GIE to manage Paris–Lausanne and Paris–Bern routes. Seasonal extensions to Brig began in 1995. In 1997, the service was rebranded ‘Ligne de Cœur‘, before adopting the name Lyria in 2002, later expanded to Paris–Geneva (2005). Lyria added Paris–Zurich via the new LGV Est in 2007, including a short‑lived winter extension to Chur. With the 2011 opening of LGV Rhin‑Rhône, Paris–Zurich trains were rerouted via Dijon and Belfort, and all Lyria services began departing Paris‑Gare‑de‑Lyon.

Despite earlier commitments, Lyria discontinued Paris–Bern in December 2013 due to low demand, while the seasonal TGV des Neiges was paused in 2017. Under the Lyria 2020 project, Marseille–Geneva became seasonal and direct Paris–Bern ended. Lyria also reorganised its Lausanne services by adjusting frequencies and simplifying operations through Paris‑Gare‑de‑Lyon. Three of the six connections to Lausanne now go via Geneva, rather than Dijon and Vallorbe, which has raised some concerns.