Planning to travel during the May Day holiday? It's wise to plan ahead. Gare de Lyon, located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, will be completely closed from Thursday, April 30th at 8:30 p.m. until Sunday, May 3rd at 2 p.m. This closure affects all rail services and is part of a major modernization project undertaken by SNCF Réseau. The goal is to upgrade two critical switch stations with state-of-the-art computerized systems. This large-scale operation will involve over 500 technicians working non-stop for 72 hours.
During this long weekend, no trains will operate to or from this station, which typically sees nearly 300 million passengers annually. The TGV Ouigo, Lyria, and Inoui services heading to the provinces, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy will be rerouted to other Parisian departure and arrival points. SNCF Voyageurs plans to redirect these trains to Paris Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est, Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, Pont de Rungis, and Versailles Chantiers. Approximately 60% of the usual TGVs will be in service this weekend, with adjusted schedules and potentially longer travel times.
The RER D, operated by SNCF Transilien, will face significant disruptions this weekend, with a complete interruption from Friday, May 1st, to Sunday, May 3rd, at noon. The disruption will affect travel between Paris Nord and Combs-la-Ville – Quincy, as well as between Paris Nord and Juvisy in both directions. The Transilien Line R, which normally connects Gare de Lyon to various towns in Île-de-France, will also be shut down for the duration of the work. All train services will be diverted to Juvisy station, located in Val-de-Marne. Transport providers will set up replacement shuttle services to minimize inconvenience to travelers commuting daily along these lines for work.
Travelers departing from or heading to destinations such as the Belfort-Montbéliard TGV station are advised to carefully check the latest train service updates. Some routes may be canceled, others diverted, or terminus may be moved to a different Parisian station. SNCF Réseau strongly recommends consulting the real-time information on the official SNCF website before planning any trips for this long weekend. The SNCF Connect mobile app also allows you to track your journey in real time.
This maintenance operation involves replacing the railway switching station at the underground station as well as the one at the former station, which controls all train movements between Paris and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. These aging systems will be replaced with computerized stations, allowing for more efficient and reliable traffic management. This project is part of a modernization program initiated in 2017, aimed at sustainably improving the operations of this key railway hub, as explained by SNCF Réseau on its official website.
The preparation for this project has been far from straightforward. Nearly two years of preparatory work were required, mostly carried out overnight during weekdays to minimize disruptions. Scheduling the work for the weekend of May 1st was a deliberate choice to avoid inconveniencing daily commuters, especially those on lines R and RER D, which see heavy traffic. The scale of this operation is explained by the complexity of the equipment involved: during the initial stages, 400 kilometers of cables were laid, enabling the creation and testing of no fewer than 15,000 connections between control systems.
Alongside the replacement of switching stations, SNCF Réseau will carry out two other major projects. The first involves activating new access tracks to the upcoming Villeneuve Demain technical center, which will eventually oversee maintenance for the RER D trains and the R line. The second focuses on preparatory technical work for a large-scale project scheduled for next summer, involving the replacement of switches and tracks in the underground Paris Gare de Lyon station.
However, please note that shops at Gare de Lyon will remain open and accessible to the public throughout the renovation period. You can still visit your favorite stores and restaurants, even if train services are temporarily suspended.
It's highly advisable to plan your travel in advance if you’re planning to get around during this May holiday weekend. Check out the Île-de-France Mobilités website for the latest updates on station closures and alternative transportation options. Mobile apps can also help by providing real-time alerts on how your journey is progressing.
Dates and Opening Time
From April 30, 2026 to May 3, 2026
