Grimshaw appointed to design new underground tram station in Lyon

Grimshaw has been appointed to design one of two new underground stations for a tramway expansion in Lyon, as part of a consortium led by infrastructure engineering firm Egis.

Commissioned by local transport authority SYTRAL, the Tramway Express de l’Ouest Lyonnais (TEOL) project aims to extend Lyon’s T2 tramline westwards to improve connectivity across the city’s public transport network.

The project, which is scheduled to complete in 2032, includes approximately three kilometres of new tramway. It will add five new stations, and is designed to accommodate over 55,000 passenger journeys per day. Services are expected to run every five minutes during peak periods.

Grimshaw is responsible for the design of Charcot–Provinces, while Atelier Schall is working on Point du Jour station. Landscape architects Gautier+Conquet have been appointed to lead on landscaping across the line.

Lyon’s tramway network has undergone significant expansion since its modern revival in 2001, evolving into one of France’s most extensive light rail systems. The tram network now comprises eight lines (T1–T7 and the Rhônexpress airport link), covering almost 90 km and serving more than 100 stations. 

Following the decline of tram systems in the mid-20th century, France has re-embraced this mode of transport, with 28 operational tram networks across the country as of 2024 and several more planned. The expansion of tram networks in France is frequently tied to broader urban renewal strategies, with tram projects used as catalysts for improving public spaces and encouraging sustainable transport habits.

Funding for these developments typically comes from a combination of sources. Local authorities often rely on the versement mobilité, a payroll tax levied on employers, which directly supports investment in public transport infrastructure.

Alice Barrois, principal at Grimshaw, said: “Working with Sytral and the Egis consortium on TEOL, we will contribute to this enhancement of Lyon’s transport network – integrating an essential high performance infrastructure system but also providing journey and destination points that inherently connect to the city and create passenger journeys that are humanised, safe, sustainable and intuitive.”

Egis is overseeing all phases of the project’s design and construction, coordinating architectural input from Grimshaw and other design partners.