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This iconic blue train with a retro look ran along the Saône quays in Lyon until 1957

undefined undefined 22 juillet 2025 undefined 17h00

The Editor

It marked an entire era, tore through landscapes, and left memories in its wake: the legendary "blue train," an electric tramway connecting Lyon to Neuville-sur-Saône, traversed the banks of the Saône for 25 years before taking its final bow in 1957.

Long before traffic jams on the ring road or endlessly extended metro line B, the people of northern Lyon were in awe of a sleek blue and cream tram that looked almost aristocratic. The "blue train," as it was affectionately called, might not have much in common with the glamorous Paris-Nice route of the same name, but in the hearts of the residents of Neuville-sur-Saône, it was a symbol of modernity, freedom, and sometimes even adventure.

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Its story begins with a bang at the end of the 19th century, as carriages and boats gradually make way for steam. Starting in 1891, a railway line connects the Quai de la Pêcherie, right in the heart of Lyon, to Neuville. Soon, the first steam trams arrive, ominously nicknamed “The Guillotine.” It’s true that they shook the cobblestones just as much as the passengers.

The glorious ancestor of bus line 40

But it’s in 1932 that the “blue train” makes its debut, spiffy and electric. Measuring 90 meters long, it gobbles up the 16 kilometers to Neuville in 47 minutes, with its well-timed 14 stops and reassuring frequency. With its cream and blue design, it evokes a certain railway chic – a touch of retro elegance that sparks dreams. On weekends, it adds some muscle with more...

red trams to carry the crowds. The ancestor of the RER, made in Lyon.

But the modern era has its whims: in the 1940s, the car takes center stage, trams become "cumbersome" and "accident-prone," and the tracks vanish one by one. On June 30, 1957, the "blue train" rolls for the last time under the discreet tears of its loyal fans. Today, a vintage carriage rests at the Rochetaillée museum. As for its route, it survives timidly via the TCL line 40, like a ghost rolling from that glorious forgotten past.

Article inspired by Actu Lyon and Le Progrès