We fly into Lyon–Saint Exupéry from Vancouver July 24th arriving just after noon.
I was planning on taking the tram to Lyon Part-Dieu and on to St. Etienne and Le Puy and now see that will be, at best, problematic.
We are booked into a hotel for the 24th in Le Puy and planned on beginning our Camino the following day.
Is this realistic or should we revise?
Peter
Last bus arrival at Le Puy on Thursdays: 2258. It leaves Firminy daily at 2101.
The last bus or train that arrives at Firminy prior to 2101 arrives at 2050. It leaves Lyon Perrache station daily at 1931.
If you don't want to figure out how to get from the tram at Part Dieu to Perrache station, you can catch a train from Lyon Part Dieu for St Etienne daily 1924. You transfer to the train Perrache - Firminy at 2028.
My understanding is the tram runs from St Exupery Airport to Lyon Part Dieu every 15 minutes and takes a half hour. So if your plane arrives on time and allowing for an hour to clear customs and get bags you will likely get to Part Dieu by 1330. That gives you six hours to catch the last train/bus combo ... no problem.
If you examine the schedule for SNCF TER 10 you will find several options that may get you to Le Puy-en-Velay earlier.
For example a TER train (tous les jours) leaves Part Dieu 1524 arrives St Etienne 1612. TER (lundi a vendredi) leaves St Etienne 1615 arrives Firminy 1637. Bus (lundi a vendredi) leaves Firminy 1647 arrives Le Puy1844. I'm not sure how the timing works for transfer at St Etienne ... so ask ... its most likely the same train continuing or you cross a platform.
So what do you do between 1330 (earliest arrival at Part Dieu) and 1524? Call it slush ... planes never arrive on time ... you might miss a tram because of orientation ... etc. If you actually do have an hour or so to pass ... count yourself lucky.
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Lyon
Lyon Airport (LYS) Saint Exupéry
http://www.lyonaeroports.com/eng
Rhone Express
http://www.rhonexpress.fr/
Lyon transit
http://www.tcl.fr/
Lyon has seven train stations including the TGV station at the airport. The principal station in Lyon is Gare Part Dieu. The other station of interest is Gare Perrache.
The best way to get from the Airport Saint Exupéry to Lyon Gare Part Dieu Villette is the Rhone Express Tram. Be prepared for the price shock.
To go from Gare Part Dieu to Gare Perrache, depending on TCL schedule:
a. Bus #9 from Gare Part Dieu Vivier Merle to Metro station Bellacour. Transfer to Metro line A and go to Metro station Perrache.
b. Tram # 1 from Gare Part Dieu Vivier Merle to Gare Perrache.
c. Metro line B from Gare Part Dieu to Jean Mace. From Jean Mace take Tram #2 to Gare Perrache.
Allow 30 minutes.
Lyon Gare de Part Dieu
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frlpd/accueil/
Lyon Gare Perrache
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frlpe/accueil/
Lyon Gare Saint Exupéry TGV (airport)
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frjdq/accueil/
4100
Lyon to Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay is best reached by SNCF provided trains and autocars (bus). Most of the trains to Le Puy leave from Lyon Gare de Part Dieu, however some schedules have trains leaving from Lyon Gare Perrache.
It is possible to buy SNCF tickets to Le Puy from the TGV station at Lyon's Airport, however, trains travel via Paris, an eight-hour detour.
Trains from Lyon to Saint Etienne Chateaucreux may be via SNCF TGV or SNCF TER services.
Trains from Saint Etienne Chateaucreux will involve SNCF TER services either by train or bus.
The trip from Lyon may involve one or more transfers from one train to another at Saint Etienne Chateaucreux and Firminy.
At time of writing tracks (June 2014) from Firminy to Le Puy are under long-term maintenance. Typically service on the final leg, either from Saint Etienne Chateaucreux or Firminy, is provided by SNCF operated train, however, service is currently provided by bus.
See schedule: TER 10 (Lyon - Le Puy)
SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/
SNCF TER Rhone-Alpes
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/rhone_alpes/fr/Default.aspx
