The line from Paris to Lyon (called the LGV Sud-Est) was opened in 1981. If the idea of such speed doesn’t appeal, you can take the classic line to the south, using TER regional trains which leave from Paris-Bercy to reach Lyon.

The high-speed route route is usually served by double-deck TGV Duplex trains, so book a seat on the upper deck for the best views. The high-speed run from Paris to Lyon has a touch of drama. It sweeps south, defying the lie of the land, and before long the train from Paris to Lyon is dashing through the vineyards of Burgundy.

Most travellers opt for the high-speed rail service from Paris to Lyon. But, for those keen to see a little of rural France, there is a wonderful regional rail route from the French capital to Lyon. It follows the classic PLM route taken by the grand expresses of yesteryear on their journey from Paris to the south of France. PLM stands for Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée. The old PLM route was sidelined when the high-speed line from Paris to Lyon opened in 1981, but there are still some regional services (TER trains) that ply the route. To find those slower trains here on Loco2, enter Paris-Bercy as your departure station and look for direct trains to Lyon.

The slow train from Paris to Lyon slips through the forests of Fontainebleau then cuts south-east through hills which become slowly more emphatic. The railway then drops down steeply into the Saône Valley, which it follows south to Lyon, along the way passing through many of the most celebrated wine villages of Burgundy.