Wasn’t Lyon-Saint-Clair a temporary solution? Right here stands the Ancienne Gare de Lyon-Saint-Clair a testament to a railway’s ingenuity. This isn’t just any old train station. It’s a crucial part of Lyon’s railway history a pivotal junction. Originally intended as a temporary terminus in 1856 for the Geneva line construction delays on the Rhone bridge forced its creation.
The Compagnie du chemin de fer de Lyon a Gen\u00e8ve needed a place to stop. Saint-Clair a hamlet in nearby Caluire-et-Cuire became that place. Interestingly despite its name it’s not actually in Lyon. This temporary station became a surprisingly important part of Lyon’s transport network.
Three main lines converged here. The Lyon-Perrache to Geneva line the Collonges-Fontaines to Lyon-Guillotière line and the Lyon-Saint-Clair to Bourg-en-Bresse line all met at this fan-shaped station. Its unique design was a result of the challenging terrain. The lines had different curves within the station itself. A true engineering marvel of the time.
For years Lyon-Saint-Clair bustled with activity. Trains to Bourg Ambérieu and Roanne departed from its platforms. But competition from other modes of transport began to take its toll. The arrival of the TGV in 1981 proved to be the final blow. The high-speed line connected to the existing network at Sathonay bypassing Lyon-Saint-Clair. Passenger services ceased.
The station fell silent. Yet its legacy remains. In 2014 students from Cit\u00e9Cr\u00e9ation and \u00c9cole \u00c9mile-Cohl gave the station a vibrant makeover. They painted it in bright colors. The Ancienne Gare de Lyon-Saint-Clair stands as a reminder of a bygone era a crucial chapter in Lyon’s rail history. A symbol of both ingenuity and the evolution of transport.