Route ( Sncf ) Ligne Lyon - Grenoble / 1982-83 Classic French Turbotrain Route

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by Caravatt, Jul 3, 2026.

  1. Caravatt

    Caravatt Well-Known Member

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    Bonjour à tous! Good morning everyone and welcome to my last(maybe) introduction before summer break!
    Today I'll finally return to my beloved France, wanting to introduce you a proper, full(ish) unelectrified run! It would be the famous Lyon-Marseille Line (via Grenoble). Particularly, its Lyon-Grenoble northern section. Set in 1982-83, the last classic golden age of French railways, before the 1986 regionalization. We're in the "Sud-Est" of France, the Rhône-Alpes Region back then; crossing two departments: Rhône and Isère.
    From metropolis' urban heart to its eastern industrial districts, out through the large "Est Lyonnais" Plain. Continuing through that hilly central stretch, the "Bas-Dauphiné" and Bourbre Plain, it reaches the edge of the "Terres Froides"; the most rugged tract of the route. Finally crossing the Bièvre Plateau and the Isère River Valley to destination.
    The TT was quite dense and complete back then: express/rapid trains, regional/local services and a wide freight range to complete the experience! An iconic and historically relevant route, nice pre-Alpine landscapes, moderate operational challenge, but first of all, them: those iconic units, that defined the last classic French rail era! Are you ready to turn back the clock to those magical early 80s?

    FEATURES

    - 130.5km(81mi) Perrache<>Grenoble length.
    - 4km(2.5mi) Perrache<>Brotteaux length.
    - Double track(most of), standard gauge, electrified 1.5kV DC/unelectrified(most of).

    - 16‰(1:63) max gradient.
    - 80-150kph(50-93mph) speed range.

    - BMU/BAL as signaling regime(mechanical/luminous).
    - Crocodile(RS) as safety system.
    - Sol-train(RST) as comm.

    Infra, stock and operations were managed/carried out by SNCF SEM (1938-83). French government public company.

    LAYOUT

    upload_2026-7-3_7-53-11.jpeg
    Up: general route view; all stations/stops are indicated. Cyan: 1.5kV DC; Red: unelectrified.
    Down: Lyon node focus; all major structures/facilities are indicated.

    STATIONS

    This route featured 27 active stations/stops/terminals, plus one under completion (Part-Dieu).

    The calls were, as follows:

    ----Lyon-Genève-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    - Lyon-Brotteaux old terminus [ B ]
    - Lyon-Part-Dieu new terminus (final setup)
    ----Paris-Lyon-Marseille--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    - Lyon-Perrache main terminus [ A ]
    ----Lyon-Grenoble-Marseille--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    - Vénissieux (old location)
    - St-Priest
    - Chandieu-Toussieu
    - Heyrieux
    - St-Quentin-Fallavier
    - La Verpillière
    [ C ]
    - Vaulx-Milieu
    - St-Alban-la Grive
    - Bourgoin-Jallieu
    [ D ]
    - Sérézin-de-la-Tour
    - Cessieu
    - La Tour-du-Pin
    - St-André-le-Gaz
    node station
    - Virieu-sur-Bourbre
    - Châbons
    - Le Grand-Lemps
    - Beaucroissant
    - Rives
    - Réaumont
    (then Réaumont - St-Cassien)
    - Voiron
    - St-Jean-de-Moirans
    - Moirans
    node station
    - Voreppe
    - St-Égrève-St-Robert
    - Grenoble
    terminus [ E ]

    upload_2026-7-3_7-56-43.jpeg
    Up: [ A ]
    Down: [ B ]

    upload_2026-7-3_7-56-57.png
    Up left: [ C ]
    Up right: [ D ]
    Down: [ E ]

    PASSENGER

    According to the original Sep 1982-May 1983 TT
    Link: https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=824cdb34-4b71-41fa-945a-505356e11ca8

    Table 545: Lyon<->St-André-le-Gaz<->Grenoble/Chambéry

    < Rapide de nuit
    a) Paris G-d-L<>Grenoble, 4Tpd (2+2)[semi-direct]

    < Express de jour
    a) Lyon<>Grenoble, 1/2Tph[direct/semi-direct]
    b) Lyon<>Grenoble, 4Tpd (2+2)[direct]

    < Desserte locale
    a) Lyon<>St-Priest/Bourgoin-Jallieu, 1Tph/1Tp2h[omnibus]
    b) Grenoble<>St-André-le-Gaz/Bourgoin-Jallieu, 1Tph/1Tp2h[omnibus]
    c) Lyon<>Grenoble, some dailies[régional]
    d) Lyon<>Chambéry/Bourg-St-Maurice some dailies[régional]

    Table 545>533A: Lyon<->Chambéry<->Annecy

    < Express de jour
    a) Lyon<>Chambéry/Annecy, some dailies[semi-direct]

    Table 545>536: Genève<->Chambéry<->Grenoble<->Valence

    <
    Express de nuit
    a) Genève<>Hendaye, 2Tpd (1+1)[semi-direct]
    b) Genève<>Vintimille, 2Tpd (1+1)[direct]

    < Express de jour
    a) Annecy/Bourg-St-Maurice<>Valence, 1Tp2/3h[direct]
    b) Genève/Chambéry<>Valence, 4Tpd (2+2)[semi-direct]

    < Desserte locale
    a) Grenoble<>Valence, 1Tph[omnibus]
    b) St-Gervais-les-Bains<>Valence, 1Tp2h[régional]

    FREIGHT

    Lively and diversified, being the route one of the most important axes of the region!
    Many daily runs across the line: between major regional freight hubs and Lyon, transfer services between the two main yards of the route or urban yards, collection service from local customers and dedicated "messagerie" trips!

    Sectors involved:
    - Aggregates
    - Cement
    - Steel/scraps
    - Cereals
    - Chemicals
    - Logs/wood
    - Miscellaneous

    STOCK

    - T 1000 ETG & T 2000 RTG "Turbotrain" Gas turbine/diesel MUs | X 2800 "Massif Central" Diesel-mechanical railcar & X 4630 EAD "Caravelle" Diesel-hydraulic MU.
    Photo 1.jpg

    - BB 66000 "Mouette" & BB 67000 "Mémère" Diesel-electric locos | Corail VTU B11tu & Type Y UIC B9c9x Day/night coaches.
    upload_2026-7-3_8-6-25.jpeg

    Please put your LIKE here first, thank you!

    Continue Below...
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2026
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  2. Caravatt

    Caravatt Well-Known Member

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    Page 2

    - Gs 40 Boxcar | Res 90 Flatbed | Uahs Tanker | Eaos 80 Dumper Freight wagons.
    upload_2026-7-3_8-9-58.jpeg

    LAMPOIL

    This proposal fits (almost)entirely all DTG process points, except for: length(negligible), "old doesn't sell well" (to be proven ;)) and historical research/access (original route layouts/plans etc.). A good selection of preserved stock still available today!

    PICS

    Photo 1.jpg
    Clockwise:
    - Cours de Verdun, the Perrache District
    - Lyon-Part-Dieu construction site
    - Bottom>top: Lyon-Gerland yards, Lyon-Mouche depot and Lyon-Guillotière Interport
    - Vénissieux general depot

    upload_2026-7-3_8-14-55.jpeg
    Clockwise:
    - Vénissieux-Parilly Renault Plant
    - Vénissieux freight yards & terminals
    - "Est-lyonnais" Plain
    - St-Félix Lake & "Bas-Dauphiné" Heights

    upload_2026-7-3_8-15-10.png
    Clockwise:
    - Châbons Heights & Bièvre Plateau
    - Izeaux Quarries
    - Ancient Rives Steelworks
    - The "Pont du Bœuf", 263m long

    upload_2026-7-3_8-15-27.jpeg
    Clockwise:
    - Château de Réaumont
    - Voiron & that looping passage through it
    - One of the local cement plants
    - Grenoble
    view, The Alps in the background

    TO CONCLUDE

    This idea would bring a breath of fresh air to the game: France's comeback (such an eternity... :() and at the same time, providing a clear shot of its last golden rail era! A classic route, rocking some of the most iconic units of the time! Fingers crossed, would be a nuke from the blue!! :love:

    Caravatt :).
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2026
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  3. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    SNCF diesels! My Lord’s, Hellfire etc. Bring it on.

    And my favourite early Corail stock too.

    Day One.
     
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  4. Caravatt

    Caravatt Well-Known Member

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    Was just waiting for your thoughts, Vern ;)
    Let's say, this would be the ideal playground for old-school enthusiasts like us :cool:
    Large diesel roars, high-pitched hisses and turbine whirrings, alongside some classic loco-hauled/railcar experience :love:
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2026
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  5. Caravatt

    Caravatt Well-Known Member

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    Good morning folks! Today I'd like to feed my proposal with four additional points. Let's go!

    1) Alternate stock: CC 72000 "Nez cassé" Diesel-electric loco.
    upload_2026-7-8_7-6-15.jpeg
    The only diesel member of the legendary French loco family. Powered by an 3554 hp V16 turbocharged engine and electric driven; 92 units entered service (1967-1974). It would perform some mainline trips, delighting your ears with its unique "soundtrack"; braggin off its ridiculous power!

    2) Signaling focus

    As mentioned before, this route would come with two types of vertical signals: luminous and mechanical ("semaphores"). These were be operated via remote control or signalboxes.
    Here's a link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_vogel/albums/72157614786793755/

    3) Turbotrain powerplants
    upload_2026-7-8_7-6-42.jpeg
    Both the RTGs and ETGs featured a unique, experimental propulsion system: the aereonautic turbine. Depending on wich one, they had 1-2 primary propulsion unit/s, as well as 1-2 smaller service turbine/s (starter, AC etc.). The photo shows the actual units, adapted helicopter engines basically!

    4) Mastery
    upload_2026-7-8_7-7-7.jpeg

    upload_2026-7-8_7-7-27.jpeg

    Finally, the possible reward! Two options: the Lyon trolleybus or Grenoble tramway... your choice!

    Well, hope this was helpful!

    Caravatt :)
     
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  6. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    bring it on and this will affect NEC Trenton to Boston the turbo train if one owns this one can play the T2000 RTG as the AMTK Turboliner
     
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  7. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

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    Plus it was allowed to reach 110 mph there, compared to only 160 km/h in France ! :o
     
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  8. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    that meant 180 kmh on Amtrak NEC Midwest UP state ny but 160 kmh 100 mph on SNCF Infra
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2026 at 6:53 AM
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  9. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

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    Exactly, though it was tested at higher speeds beforehand in France.

    It is worth noting that, in the 70s, the SNCF limited the TGV 001 tests so as not to break the previous speed record from 1955 (331 km/h), which had been set using electric traction... political decisions had been made, and symbols matter !
     
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