May Day Bridge: Lyon and Bercy stations closed from April 30 to May 3, here are the alternative departure stations

May 1st is fast approaching, and with it the desire to get away for a long weekend. However, if you’re planning to travel by train from Paris, extra vigilance is called for. Major works will be affecting rail traffic for several days.

Lyon and Bercy stations closed: what you need to know

No trains will be arriving or departing from Gare de Lyon and Gare de Bercy during the May 1st bridge. This exceptional closure runs from Thursday April 30 at 8.30pm to Sunday May 3 at 2pm. SNCF Réseau and the operators have confirmed this information well in advance.

The reason for this interruption is a major worksite. This involves the replacement and modernization of two signal boxes. This work had been planned for over two years, which explains why tickets were issued taking these disruptions into account.

“500 agents will be working in shifts all weekend to make and test almost 15,000 connections on the new state-of-the-art points systems.”

Parisian public transport maintained

Good news for travellers in the Paris region: the metros and RERs operated by RATP will continue to run. This means you’ll be able to reach the transfer stations without difficulty. It will therefore be possible to get around Paris despite the closure of the two stations.

This continuity of RATP service will facilitate connections to other Paris stations. What’s more, the RER A remains an invaluable ally for reaching certain alternative stations such as Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy.

• Gare de Lyon closed from April 30, 8:30 p.m. to May 3, 2 p.m.
• Closure of Bercy station over the same period
• 500 agents mobilized for the work
• Nearly 15,000 connections to test
• RATP metros and RERs in normal service

TGV: departures from other Paris stations

The number of TGVs usually running at Gare de Lyon will be reduced to 60% of the usual number. As a result, trains will be dispersed to other stations in Paris and the Paris region. SNCF Voyageurs has detailed the different alternatives according to destination.

For travelers to Barcelona, TGVs will depart from Gare Montparnasse. Those travelling to Zurich, on the other hand, will have to arrive at Gare de l’Est. These changes apply to the entire May 1st bridge.

Destinations such as Milan, Lausanne, Geneva, Annecy, Grenoble and Marseille will depart from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle or Marne-la-Vallée. For Lyon, the Pont de Rungis and Versailles Chantiers stations are also available, depending on timetables.

For Languedoc, passengers will take their train from Marne-la-Vallée or Montparnasse. For Nice, departures will be from Roissy Charles de Gaulle, Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy or Montparnasse, depending on the time of day. So check your ticket carefully.

Trenitalia adapts its offer for this weekend

Trenitalia has announced changes to its services to Milan, Lyon and Marseille. Passengers will have to travel to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy, accessible via the RER A. The Italian company has reduced its offer during this period.

Trenitalia has specified that passengers are invited to select Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy when booking on these dates. Despite this, ticket sales at Gare de Lyon will be maintained for future journeys that weekend.

Gare de Bercy: transfers to Paris-Austerlitz

As Paris-Bercy station will be closed during the May 1st bank holiday, arrivals and departures will be transferred to other stations. As a result, the Paris-Clermont-Ferrand Intercités service will be greatly reduced, and diverted to Paris-Austerlitz.

Remi Express regional trains serving the Centre-Val-de-Loire region suffer the same fate. Similarly, Mobigo Paris-Dijon-Lyon trains have been transferred to Austerlitz. These adjustments are designed to maintain a minimum level of service despite the construction work.

The Mobigo Paris-Morvan train service will be adapted and will require a connection at Laroche-Migennes. For passengers concerned, it is therefore advisable to allow extra travel time. The May 1st holiday requires advance planning.

To make the most of this long weekend, remember to check your departure station on your ticket. The information is already there, as tickets have been issued to take account of this long-planned work.

• May 1st bridge