Lyon wants a river shuttle to expand the public transportation network

The shuttle project on the Saône could become a reality in 2025. Estimates suggest it would cost 26 million euros.

In Lyon, SYTRAL (the public transport authority) is considering integrating river shuttles into the public transport network. The project would involve creating a 3.4 km connection on the Saône. It would link the Industrial and Presqu’île districts in the 2nd arrondissement. According to studies conducted in 2022, the shuttles could attract 560,000 passengers annually.

The use of the conditional tense in the city’s statement shows that there is still some way to go. The project is estimated at 26 million euros, which has not been fully approved at this stage. If Lyon and SYTRAL pursue their idea, the shuttles will gradually be put into service starting in 2025.

“The goal is to offer residents an attractive and environmentally friendly mobility solution, fully integrated into the TCL network, combining quality of service and pleasure of navigation”, explains Bruno Bernard, president of Lyon Metropolis and SYTRAL Mobilités. “The 52 km of rivers crossing Lyon’s territory present a real opportunity to complement the public transport network while supporting riverbank redevelopment projects”.

A shuttle every 15 minutes

The boats, which the metropolis hopes will operate “with decarbonized energy”, would run between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. They would make four stops, could accommodate 70 to 90 passengers, and would have facilities for storing bikes. Regarding frequency, the goal is to have an average of one boat every 15 minutes during peak hours.

If it actually comes to fruition, this new river line should be managed by a private operator. “This choice allows us to meet SYTRAL Mobilités’ performance and user service quality objectives”, argues Lyon Metropolis.

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