Major engineering works will see Gare de Lyon temporarily closed to high-speed trains over the long May Day weekend in 2026, significantly affecting services in and out of the French capital.
The disruption will take place from the evening of April 30 until midday on May 3 while SNCF carries out modernisation work on two signal boxes used by the busy RER D network. During this period no high-speed trains will operate from the station, including both domestic services and international trains.
Operators have announced contingency plans to keep services running where possible. SNCF says around 55% of its usual high-speed services will still operate, though many will depart from or arrive at alternative stations across the Paris region.
Passengers travelling on SNCF’s TGV InOui and TGV Lyria trains may find their journeys diverted to stations such as Gare de l'Est, Gare Montparnasse, Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station, Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle TGV station, Pont de Rungis station or Versailles-Chantiers station.
Italian operator Trenitalia will also adjust its services. The company plans to run eight trains (four return trips) on May 1 and 2, all using Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station as the Paris-area departure or arrival point. Two further departures are scheduled from the same station on the morning of May 3.
While Paris’s Paris Métro Line 1 will not be affected by the works, some regional and suburban rail services may see knock-on disruption.
Passengers are advised to check their train times and departure stations carefully before travelling.
