Lyon to Geneva train

Trains from Lyon to Geneva

With at least 13 trains moving people from Lyon to Geneva every day, rail travel is convenient for passengers using the route. The cities are approximately 70 miles apart. Journeys are between two and three hours.

Lyon to Geneva Train Time: Daily Departures

The daily departure times for trains from Lyon to Geneva are flexible, with the earliest train leaving at around 6:30 a.m. Passengers who prefer evening journeys should prepare to depart not later than 8:30 p.m.

For every hour from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., there's at least a train leaving Lyon. Trains depart after about two hours for the rest of the daytime.

How long is the journey by train From Lyon to Geneva?

The fastest trains travel directly to Geneva in just under two hours. Slower trains involve one change, extending the travel time by about 50 minutes.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Lyon to Geneva?

Departure Train Station: The point of departure for trains from Lyon to Geneva is Lyon Part Dieu. Strategically positioned in the city centre, it’s the preferred train station for people leaving Lyon.

The city has direct access to Lyon Part Dieu via Lyon Metro and tramways T1, T3, and T4, enabling passengers from the old town to reach the train station in 20 minutes. If you’re coming from the Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport, use the dedicated Rhônexpress tram service.

Among the available facilities include waiting rooms, baggage storage, toilets, shops, car parks, WiFi, facilities for people with reduced mobility, a police station, and more.

Arrival train station: Trains from Lyon drop Geneva passengers at the Geneve Train Station, popular as Cornavin. It's only five minutes walking distance or one tram to the heart of Geneva. If you are heading to the airport, you'll get there in 8 minutes by rail. The station is open 24/7, offering travellers facilities like cafes, restaurants, fast foods, luggage lockers, parking parks, shopping malls, and so forth.

Which Train Companies Travel From Lyon to Geneva?

Two train companies ply the Lyon-Geneva route every day. Most of the trains under SCNF TER offer direct journeys. All TGV Lyria travels have one change, making the trips considerably longer.

SCNF TER Lyon to Geneva

SCNF TER has 11 trains, ten of which are direct. The only journey with a connection breaks at Aix-les-Bains for passengers to change trains. Express trips take about two hours while the connection journey lasts just over 2 hours 50 minutes. Departure times spread between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

TGV Lyria Lyon to Geneva

Two trains operated by TGV Lyria ferry passengers from Lyon to Geneva every evening. The first one departs around 4:40 p.m. while the second one leaves two hours later. Both the journeys have a change at Bourg-en-Bresse, stretching the travel time to at least 2 hours 45 minutes.

Lyon to Geneva Trains: Services on Board

TER trains have toilets, air conditioning, just enough legroom, and space for your luggage and bike, but there's no restaurant. You can travel with at most two pets weighing not more than 6kg each for free. TER has accessibility features, special assistance, and priority policies for disabled individuals. The trains are exclusively second class.

For budget travel with TGV Lyria, book a second class ticket. First-class tickets offer extra comfort, convenience, space, and hot meals. The trains come with baby-changing facilities, accessible toilets, wheelchair spaces, a luggage compartment and additional storage space between and above the seats. Animal fare is not applicable for two pets maximum, weighing at most 6kg each.

How to find cheap train tickets from Lyon to Geneva

For the best bargains in train tickets, book in advance and avoid rush hour, holidays, and weekends. You may also want to explore connection trains. The journeys are typically slower but cheaper.