Victims of a raid suffered here. The Gare de Villeurbanne stands as a testament to Lyon’s complex past. Today, we explore its transformation from a bustling railway station to a tramway stop.
The Gare de Villeurbanne was once part of the Chemin de Fer de l’Est de Lyon. This railway connected Lyon to Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers. It stretched 72 kilometers. Inaugurated on October 23, 1881, the line played a crucial role in regional transport.
Initially, the vision was grander. The Chamber of Commerce in Lyon wanted a railway to Chambéry. However, the final section was never completed. The Gare de Villeurbanne became a vital station on this developing line.
Interestingly, the railway primarily transported goods. By 1931, it reached a peak of one million tons annually. During the Second World War, the line aided local people. It also supplied the resistance fighters in Savoie and Bas Dauphiné because it was considered secondary.
Tragedy struck the Gare de Villeurbanne on March 1, 1943. Around 180 men were deported from here. They were victims of a raid in the Grandclément neighborhood. These men were sent to Buchenwald and Mauthausen concentration camps. Only 63 returned. Sadly, 15 of them died soon after. A stèle reminds people of the deportations.
Passenger transport ended in 1947. But, freight transport thrived due to reconstruction. The Gare de Villeurbanne saw a resurgence. By 1964, traffic again hit one million tons. The line transported cement, cables, wood, and coal.
In the 1970s, many businesses surrounded the Gare de Villeurbanne. Some even had their own railway links. The site included a depot for maintaining equipment. There was also storage for combustible materials.
The Chemin de Fer de l’Est de Lyon ceased operations in 1976. In 1977, the Rhône and Isère departments became joint owners of the line. The SNCF took over operations in 1986. But, traffic declined.
However, the Gare de Villeurbanne found new life. Studies in the 1990s led to its conversion. In the 2000s, two tram lines were created. The old railway tracks were reused. Since December 5, 2006, the Gare de Villeurbanne has been a tram stop. It serves line T3.
The Gare de Villeurbanne connects Part-Dieu to eastern Lyon. It links Vaulx-en-Velin, Décines-Charpieu, and Meyzieu. Rhônexpress trains also pass through but do not stop here.
Furthermore, a 6,500 square meter park was created in front of the Gare de Villeurbanne. It’s called the Promenade de la Gare. Landscape architects used plants to decontaminate the soil. The park opened in November 2013.
The Gare de Villeurbanne once housed an SNCF shop. It occupied the old station until 2014. The building’s design is typical of the Chemin de Fer de l’Est de Lyon. It has a central section with two floors. Two smaller wings flank it. Red tiles cover the roofs.
Interestingly, the Gare de Villeurbanne also appeared in a film. It served as a backdrop for Claude Berri’s “Lucie Aubrac”. Today, the Gare de Villeurbanne stands as a symbol of transformation. It embodies Lyon’s ability to adapt and remember.