Rhonexpress: Another new tramway for Lyon

A new tramway providing access to Lyon Airport at St Exupery is described. It is marketed as a premium light rail service and is let under a 30-year public private partnership (PPP). It uses an old railway right of way to the airport where there is also a TGV station. Lack of a rail link obliged previous travellers to use taxi, private car or an airport shuttle bus. Although linked to the airport by escalators and a travelator, the tram leaves passengers much further from the air terminal than shuttle buses. The six 27-m Stadler Tango light rail vehicles are more comfortable than their city counterparts with air suspension and 2+2 seating but the fare is higher. There is a 15-minute service from 0500 to 2400h and the running time is guaranteed to be less than 30 minutes. It is hoped to extend the service eastwards in the future. The PPP consortium will need to carry a million passengers per year to break even.