Lille Metro

The Lille Metro, an integral part of Transpole, operates two lines in the city of Lille, France. With a network of 60 stations, it provides a shuttle bus service to the airport. Passengers can pay for their journeys with tickets or monthly passes. An extension of the rail system was planned for 2020. The metro relies on driverless cars to operate from around 5am to midnight every day. Notably, the Lille Metro is one of the largest automated train networks in Europe.

The Lille Metro in France carries approximately 262,465 passengers per day. The fares for this metro are not specified.

The Lille Metro does not operate 24 hours a day, but its operating hours are from 5:12 am to 12:30 am every day. This metro is a fully automated (driverless) system using VAL (Véhicule Automatique Léger) technology, which has been in use since 1983. Passengers can walk between platforms. However, the trains do not have air conditioning.

The VAL system also ensures that all stations are equipped with screen doors. The average speed of the trains on the Lille metro is 34 km/h, with a maximum speed of 80 km/h. The system is operated by the company Transpole.

Lille Metro Map

Map of Lille Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Lille Metro map in PDF format.

Metros in France: Spotlight on the Lille Metro

Lille, the fourth largest city in France, is located in a region called French Flanders, close to Belgium. It had a population of around 230,000 in 2012. The city is known for hosting the Braderie, a well-attended street fair where food, crafts and other goods are sold at discounted prices. One of the most important events in France, the Braderie is the stage for the Lille Metro, a system owned by Transpole.

The Lille Metro has a total length of approximately 46 km and operates on two main lines. With an average daily ridership of 260,000, the metro uses an honour system for ticket validation. This system allows passengers to board without a ticket, subject to random checks by inspectors and fines for offenders. The Metro’s cars, powered by 750 volts from a third rail, run on rubber tyres. Each station has doors separating the platforms from the tracks, with both sets of doors opening simultaneously. Despite the lack of air conditioning, the Metro provides a safe ride with cars running on the right side of the tracks. The gauge is about 2 metres.

Key Features

• Known as: Metro
• System Length: 33 mi
• Dimensions: 6 ft wide and 15 ft long (two linked cars).
• Number of lines: 2
• Number of stations: 59
• Top Speed: over 155 MPH
• Operator: Transpole Lille Métropole
• Average ridership: carries 135,000 passengers per day on line 1 alone.
• Start of operation: Operational since April 25, 1983, connecting Quatre Cantons (Villeneuve d’Ascq) and République (Lille) station.

A Glimpse into the History

Lille faced transport challenges as some areas had little access to public transport, while others suffered from traffic congestion and overcrowded buses. The solution was to build a new railway – the Lille Metro. The Metro was conceived as an electromagnetic train, designed to operate fully automatically. This new train system, known as the VAL system, was presented to the public on 25 April 1983.

The Lille metro system in France is the world’s first application of VAL metro technology, a fully automatic closed system using wheeled vehicles. It represents the new generation of metro systems, with a low-profile light railway that operates automatically without the need for an operator. The acronym VAL stands for “Véhicule Automatique Léger” (Light Automatic Vehicle) and initially symbolised “Villeneuve d’Ascq – Lille”.

Lines and Stations

The Lille metro has 60 stations, divided into two main lines: Line 1 and Line 2. Two additional tram lines complete the service. These lines are owned by Clear Channel Communications.

Line 1

Opened to the public in 1983 and extended in 1984, Line 1 uses the VAL 206 and VAL 208 models. It is approximately 14 km long, 9 km of which is underground, and serves almost 49 million users per year. The stations on this line are about 800 metres apart. From Villeneuve d’Ascq, the line runs through the stations of Lucerne, Pierre Mauroy and CHR B – Calmette. Initially equipped with VAL 206 carriages, it now operates 50 VAL 208 carriages and 3 VAL 206 carriages. The journey time on this line is about 20 minutes and it covers two communes.

The stations of line 1 are: CHR Oscar Lambrett, Wazemmes, Rihour, Gare Lille-Flandres, Gambetta, République – Beaux-Art, Fives, Marbrerie, Lezennes, Pont de Bois, Triolo, Porte des Postes, Villeneuve d’Ascq – Hotel de Ville, Quatre Cantons – Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Hellemmes, Cité Scientifique – Professor Gabillard, Caulier, CHR B – Calmette.

Line 2

Line 2 opened to the public in 1989 and was extended in 2000. The line is almost 32 km long, 26 km of which is underground. The stations are about 760 metres apart. Almost 47 million people use it every year. The line operates 80 VAL 206 and 10 VAL 208 carriages. It connects Lille, Tourcoing, Roubaix, Villeneuve d’Ascq, Wasquehal and Mons Baroeul and extends close to Belgium.

Line 2 stations include Bourg, Bois Blancs, Mitterie, Saint Philibert, Maison des Enfants, Port de Lille, Montebello, Mairie de Mons, Croix – Centre, CH Dron, Tourcoing – Centre, Eurotéléport, Gare Lille Flandres, Porte des Postes, Pont Superieur, Lomme – Lambersart, Canteleu, Cormontaigne, Bois Blancs, Porte d’ Arras, Lille Grand Palais, Porte de Douai, Maire de Lille, Porte de Valenciennes, Gare Lille-Europe, Mons Sarts, Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin, Les Pres, Jean-Jaures, Wasquehal-Pave de Lille, Croix-Mairie, Epeule-Montesquieu, Roubaix-Charles-de-Gaulle, Roubaix – Grand Place, Gare – Jean-Lebas, Tourcoing-Sebastopol, Carliers, Colbert, Phalempins, Pont de Neuville, Mercure, Alsace, Wasquehal – Hotel de Ville.

Rail Connections

The metro has connections with two tram lines, the R and T lines, which are part of the Transpole network.

Line R

Line R began service on December 5, 1909, with modifications implemented on September 4, 1993. The line, approximately 12 km long, connects Tourcoing and Roubaix. Operated manually, the distance between its stations averages around 600 meters.

Stations on Line R include Croise – Laroche, Eurotéléport, Gare Lille-Flandres, Romarin, Gare Lille-Europe, Botanique, Buisson, Saint-Maur, Brossolette, Acacias, Clemenceau – Hippodrome, Pont de Wasquehal, Wasquehal – Pave de Lille, La Terrasse, Le Sart, La Marque, Planche – Epinoy, Villa Cavrois, Alfred – Mongy, Bol d’ Air, Parc Barbieux, Hopital Victor-Provo, Jean-Moulin.

Line T

Sharing several characteristics with Line R, Line T last underwent modifications on July 20, 2013. It runs along a roughly 13 km long rail system.

Stations on Line T include Tourcoing – Centre, Croise – Laroche, Gare Lille-Flandres, Romarin, Gare Lille-Europe, Botanique, Buisson, Saint-Maur, Brossolette, Clemenceau – Hippodrome, Foch, Le Quesne, Chateau Rouge, Triez, Cerisae – Centre d’ Affaires, Cartelot, Trois Suisses, Ma Campagne, Faidherbe, Grand Cottignies, Victorie, Pont Hydraulique.

The Lille Metro also connects with Lille’s Buses, V’Lille, Metropole, and Lianas of Lille networks.

Airport Connection

The nearest Metro station to the airport is located at Gare Lille-Flandres, accessible via Lines 1 and 2. To reach the airport, take a shuttle from Lille’s airport via the Lesquin exit and head to the Euralille shopping center, which is in close proximity to the Gare Lille-Flandres stations. The total travel time for this trip is around 20 minutes. The airport’s shuttle operates round the clock every day, including holidays.

Schedule, Timetables, and Operating Hours

All stations typically commence operations at around 5:00 am until midnight. However, on holidays and Sundays, the service begins around 6:30 am. The specific schedules for each line (indicating when the service begins and ends) are as follows:

Line 1

Please refer to the schedule provided in the original text for Line 1.

Line 2

Please refer to the schedule provided in the original text for Line 2.

Price, Tickets, and Cards

Tickets can be purchased from vending machines located at each station. Payments can be made via credit cards or coins. A one-way ticket costs one euro and can be used to transfer from the metro to a bus or a tramway. A bundle of 10 tickets can be bought for 10 euros. There’s also a one-day unlimited use ticket called Passe Journee available for three euros. The City Pass ticket, which costs 14 euros, offers unlimited travel on the metro and unrestricted access to museums and other points of interest in Lille. More information about this pass can be obtained at the Lille-Flandres station.

Tickets are categorized into four groups: 4 to 25 Years, All Public, 65 Years and Older, and Combined.

Please refer to the detailed pricing and ticket options provided in the original text.

Rules

• All metro cars are equipped with CCTV cameras.
• Passengers must stamp their tickets at a stamping machine before boarding. Compliance officers may conduct random checks for valid tickets.
• Children under the age of four travel free when accompanied by an adult.
• Bicycles are not allowed on the Metro. However, they are allowed on the trams, which are located at the end of the trains.
• Small pets are allowed but must be in a carrier. Only service dogs are allowed without a carrier.
• Parking is reserved for Transpole customers only.

Future Expansions

Four stations will be added to Line 2 in 2019, adding five kilometres of track to the Labege – Innopole area. The length of Line 1 is expected to double between 2019 and 2020. In 2017, the automatic driving system will be upgraded and all old trains and machines from Line 1 will be transferred to Line 2. There are also plans to install screens at stations to provide information on arrival and waiting times, as well as accident alerts. Metro Lille aims to install 4G antennas at stations in 2018, providing phone service in underground stations. An extension of the line at CHR B Calmette on line 1 is also planned for 2019, improving access to the hospital and providing transport for students in the area.

Tips

• Car hire is available at six car parks in Lille stations, which are open 24 hours a day. They are located at: Villeneuve d’ Asqc (Quatre Cantons and Les Pres stations); Lomme at Saint Philibert; Porte d’ Arras, Porte des Postes and CHR B at Calmette. Free parking is also available at the Euralille shopping centre on presentation of a receipt from the Euralille Carrefour. Paid parking is also available.
• Make sure you take basic safety precautions while in the city.
• Be aware of potential problems with drunk people and pickpockets, especially on Saturday nights. However, Lille is generally considered a safe city within Europe.

Fun Facts

• The Lille Metro is the longest automatic metro network in the world.
• Each station has a unique architectural design.
• The materials used to build the stations include tiles, stainless steel, stone, brick and wood. Most stations are underground.
• Many stations feature works of art such as murals, sculptures and even a reflecting pool. Montebello station, for example, has an aquarium.
• Another fun fact is that just before arriving at the next station, a female voice announces the name of the station over the loudspeaker.

Initially, each district had its own budget to select an architect and artist to design the stations within its jurisdiction. This was the case during the construction of Line 2. During the extension, however, some new stations did not have this luxury.

Nearby Attractions

The area boasts a unique cuisine and architecture that sets Lille apart from the rest of France. Lille’s dishes incorporate elements of Belgian cuisine, such as moules-frites, as well as unique and original local dishes, such as waterzoi and potjevleesch. Tourist attractions in Lille include:

1. Palais Les Beaux-Arts: Accessible by metro line 1 towards Republique Beaux-Arts station. This museum covers over 20,000 square metres and houses famous works of art by Goya, Rubens and Delacroix. Also on display are maps of fortresses used by kings in the 1700s. Other exhibits include prominent French paintings from the 1800s. The museum also houses sculptures, including some by Rodin.
2. Musee d’Art Moderne Villeneuve d’Asqc: Renowned throughout Europe, this museum houses over 4,000 works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The building covers 3,500 square metres and includes works by artists such as Picasso, Miró, Kandinsky, Modigliani and Braque. The museum complex also includes a shop, bookshop, café and restaurant. This museum has the most extensive art collection of any French museum outside of Paris.
3. Grand Place: Lille’s main square is surrounded by Renaissance and Baroque buildings. It is one of the most social places in Lille and is full of casual restaurants and cafes. The square is also home to the Monument to the Goddess, a statue created by Theóphile Bra, who also worked on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
4. Place du Beauregard: Located on the Place du Theatre, this site features architecture from the 1600s, with works by Simon Vollant. The buildings resemble ancient Greek architecture and are decorated with angels and scrolls. They also display cannonballs embedded in the structure, dating back to historical times of warfare.
5. Musee de l’ Hospice Comtesse: This museum was built on the ruins of a medieval hospital. It was once part of the palace of Countess Jeanne de Flandre. The museum displays decorations from the 1400s, 1600s and 1700s, as well as an exquisite collection of furniture and paintings. The museum also houses an antique apothecary.
6. Braderie de Ville: This is the largest street market in Europe. Visitors to this flea market can find artwork, books, crafts, porcelain, kitchenware, and clothes. Food options include mussels with French fries, fish dishes, and other local specialties. The flea market also hosts a carnival. It is one of the most famous events in Lille.</ li>
7. Musee Louvre-Lens: This museum showcases over 100 pieces of art from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The museum was built on the site of an old coal mine and is located in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area. It is one of the most attractive places for tourists. The curators of the museum are directors from the Louvre Museum. The artwork exhibitions are not separated into rooms.
8. Eglise Saint-Maurice: A Gothic Church dating back to the 1300s. This barn-like church was built to accommodate the delicate soil of Lille. The church, adorned by artists from the 1600s and 1700s, was known as the “Temple of Reason” during the French Revolution. Despite several renovations, the church still maintains the same appearance it had in the 14th century.