LGV_Rhône-Alpes
LGV Rhône-Alpes
French high-speed railway
The LGV Rhône-Alpes (French: Ligne à Grande Vitesse; English: high-speed line) is a 115 km (71 mi) French high-speed rail line situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region which extends the LGV Sud-Est southwards. Opened to service in 1994, the line bypasses the built-up Lyon area towards the east; in addition it serves Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV station (known until June 2000 as Satolas TGV station). Beyond Valence TGV station the line is continued by the LGV Méditerranée. LGVs Rhône-Alpes, Sud-Est and Méditerranée, when completed, received their official nickname, the City To Coast (C2C) Highway ("Ville à la Mer").
The line was constructed in two sections, north and south. The first section was opened in time for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.