Rennes Metro — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Rennes Metro Information

The Rennes metro, based on Siemens VAL transport technology, went into service in March 2002. The service currently has only one line – Line A. The journey between the two terminals takes just sixteen minutes, with lifts available at all stations. The network has thirty trains. Excluding the Lausanne metro and the tiny underground network in Serfaus, Rennes is the smallest city in the world to have its own metro. Although the number of journeys is currently quite low, a foreseeable increase in the coming years could lead to possible congestion on the system, especially during peak hours. Signs at stations along the network are in French, so tourists may need to ask the friendly French for help when travelling on the Rennes Metro. It has a daily ridership of 135,000 as of 2012.

The Rennes Metro, also known as the VAL (Véhicule Automatique Léger), is a popular means of transport in the city. It serves an average of 120,000 passengers per day. The fare system operates on an honour system where passengers are expected to pay for their tickets.

The metro does not operate 24 hours a day and there is no air conditioning. However, passengers can walk comfortably between platforms. Since 2002, the Rennes metro has been using driverless VAL trains, which make the service more efficient and comfortable.

The VAL trains are equipped with screen doors on the platforms for safety reasons. The Rennes metro is operated by STAR. Operating hours vary according to the day. From Monday to Wednesday, the metro runs from 5:20 to 12:40. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the service is extended until 1:35.

Rennes Metro Map

The metro has one line serving 15 stations over a total system length of 9.4 km (5.8 miles) between J. F. Kennedy and La Poterie stations. The total distance between the start and end stations can be travelled in sixteen minutes.

Map of Rennes Metro showing its lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Rennes Metro map in PDF format.

Lines and Stations

The Rennes metro consists of a single operational line, known as Line A, which connects the north-western part of the city to the south-eastern part, covering the stations between the J.F. Kennedy and La Poterie terminals.

Launched on 15 March 2002, Line A made Rennes the smallest city in the world to have a metro system, a status it held from 2002 to 2008. Despite its modest size, it has been a huge success. According to data from 2014, the metro system facilitates around 140,000 daily journeys, a number that is expected to increase in the future.

Stations

J.F. Kennedy Station: Located in the north-west of the city, this station is located under the rue John F. Kennedy in the Villejean district. Its location allows easy access to the Harpe campus, part of the University of Rennes 2 Haute Bretagne, and the small Berry park.
Villejean-Université station: Located under the Recteur Henri Le Moal in the Villejean district, this station provides access to the Villejean and Rennes University 2 Haute Bretagne campuses, as well as the Pontchaillou Hospital and the Eugène-Marquis Regional Cancer Centre.
Pontchaillou Station: Located on the Abbé Huet route in the Villejean district, this station provides access to the Pontchaillou hospital, the Eugène-Marquis regional cancer centre and the Coëtlogon high school.
Anatole France Station: Located on the 41st avenue of the La Touche district, near the Saint-Martin neighbourhood, it serves the Brittany Higher Education Centre, the Pontchaillou Hospital and the picturesque Ille-et-Rance canal.
Sainte-Anne Station: Located in the centre of Rennes, this station is situated under the Place Saint-Anne. It provides easy access to Los Jacobinos Walk, Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle Cathedral and La Cité Art School.
République Station: Located in the heart of Rennes city centre on Place de la République, this station mainly serves the Brittany Parliament, the Town Hall and the Rennes Opera House.
Charles de Gaulle Station: This station is located on the Charles de Gaulle Grand Plaza, just off the intersection of rue Alliés and rue Isly in the Colombier district. It provides access to the Les Champs Libres cultural centre and the Les Trois Soleils and Colombia shopping centres.
Gare station: Located in the Saint Helier district, this station is the main access point to the Higher Institute of Optics.
Jacques Cartier Station: Located between Alma Street and Jacques Cartier Boulevard in the Villeneuve district, adjacent to the Sainte-Thérèse-Quineleu district, this station provides access to the Rennes Women’s Prison and the old Jacques-Cartier Prison.
Clemenceau station: Located at the intersection of the Avenue Henri Fréville and the Boulevard George Clemenceau, this station is uniquely situated at the intersection of four districts: Binquenais, Sainte-Thérèse, Villeneuve and Chalais. Passengers disembarking at this station have easy access to the city’s famous Métropole Hotel.

Future Expansions

Work on Line B of the Rennes metro began in 2014 and is expected to be operational by 2022. This new line will add 15 new stations to the system, running in an east-west direction and intersecting with Line A at Gares station. This will further improve the connectivity of the city, making it even more convenient for residents and visitors to travel around Rennes.

There are also long-term plans to add more lines to the Rennes metro system in the future. These plans are still in the early stages of development and no specific timetables have yet been set.

Nearby Attractions

Many of Rennes’ main attractions are within easy reach of the Rennes Metro. Here are a few you might want to visit:

Parc du Thabor: This beautiful park can be reached from Sainte-Anne station. With stunning gardens, a mini zoo and great views of the city, it’s the perfect place for a leisurely stroll or a picnic.
Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts): A short walk from République station, this museum houses an impressive collection of artworks ranging from ancient Egyptian artefacts to modern art.
Rennes Cathedral: This impressive cathedral is a short walk from République station. It’s well worth a visit to admire the beautiful architecture.
Les Champs Libres: Located near Charles de Gaulle station, Les Champs Libres is a cultural centre that houses the Brittany Museum, the Science Centre and the Rennes Library. It’s a great place to learn more about the history and culture of the region.
Place des Lices: A short walk from République station, this large square is home to a weekly market, numerous cafes and the Mordelaises Gate, once the main entrance to the city.

Media

Operating Hours

The Rennes metro runs every day of the year, except on 1 May when it is closed.

On weekdays, the service starts at 5:00 a.m. On Saturdays, it starts 15 minutes later at 5:15 a.m., while on Sundays and public holidays, the metro starts at 7:30 a.m. From Monday to Thursday, the service continues until 12:45 a.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the service continues until 1.45 am.

The Rennes Metro may run overnight during major city festivals or events requiring public transport.

Trains arrive at stations every two to four minutes during normal operating hours. During weekday rush hours, the frequency increases and waiting times are reduced to around 90 seconds. The average journey time on the line is around 16 minutes, as expected for a system of this size.

Ticket Pricing

The Rennes Metro offers a range of fares and season tickets to meet the different needs of its users. The details are as follows:

One Heure ticket: Priced at €1.50, this ticket offers unlimited travel on the metro and bus lines in Rennes for one hour.

Pass 1 à 7 Jours: This pass allows unlimited travel on the metro and bus lines in Rennes for one to seven days. It can be used with the KorriGo public transport card or by buying a ticket valid for the chosen period. The latter option allows you to pay for a maximum of five days’ travel.

1 day: €4.10.
2 days: €8.20.
3 days: €11.40.
4 days: €13.60.
5 days: €15.70.
7 days: €17.90.

Pluriel Pass: For €5.00, the Pluriel Pass can be used by two to five people and offers unlimited travel on the Rennes Metro and local buses for a whole day.

Subscription 1 à 12 mois: This pass allows unlimited travel on the metro and bus lines for a period of between 1 and 12 months. Valid from the date of purchase, subscriptions of more than six months can be purchased with a 50% discount.

1 month: €51.30.
2 months: €102.60.
3 months: €153.90.
4 months: €205.20.
5 months: €256.50.
6 months (includes a free week): €294.98.
7 months (includes 2 free weeks): €333.45.
8 months (includes 3 free weeks): €371.93.
9 months (includes a free month): €410.40.
10 months (includes five free weeks): €448.88.
12 months (includes two free months): €513.00.

Please note that the cost of a monthly pass varies according to the age of the user. The exact prices can be found on the official website of the Rennes metro system.

Transfers

Most Rennes metro stations have at least one connection to citywide bus lines.

Details of these connections are given below:

J.F. Kennedy Station: This station is served by urban bus line 14 and interurban bus lines 52, 65, 77, 81, 82, 152ex and N1.
Villejean-Université Station: This station is served by bus line 14, which provides services for people with disabilities. Other connections include city buses on lines 12 and 14 and intercity buses on lines 52, 65, 68, 76, 77, 81, 82, 152ex, 168ex and N1.
Anatole France Station: Connections from this station include the C2 bus, which is for people with disabilities, and the 31 urban bus.
Sainte-Anne station: This station is served by the C1 and C5 disabled buses, the 9, 12 and 36 urban buses and the 51, 70, 71 and 151ex interurban buses.
République station: République station provides connections to buses on lines C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6, all of which serve disabled people. It also has connections to city buses on lines 9, 11, 12, 40 and 44 and interurban buses on lines 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 64, 67, 150ex, 153ex, 154ex, 155ex, 156ex, 157ex, 164ex, 167ex and Ker Lann ex.
Charles de Gaulle station: This station is served by the C3 bus service for the disabled, the 12 urban bus service and the 54, 55 and 56 interurban buses.
Gares station: This station is connected to the C1 and C2 disabled buses, the 11 and 41 ex urban buses and the 63 urban bus.
Jacques Cartier Station: This station is connected to the C3 disabled bus line and the 12 urban bus line.
Clemenceau station: This station is connected to the city buses of line 13.
Henri Fréville station: This station is connected to the C3 disabled buses, the 13 and 37 city buses and the 59, 61, 72, 74, 79, 80, 159ex, 161ex and 172ex interurban buses.
Triangle Station: This station provides access to city buses of lines 13 and 32 and interurban buses of lines 61 and 161ex.
Le Blosne station: Passengers arriving at this station can connect to the city buses of line 13.
La Poterie station: This station is connected to the C2 disabled bus line, the 11, 12 and 13 urban buses and the 62, 73, 75, 89 and 173ex interurban buses.

Regulations

Pets are not allowed on public transport in Rennes, including the metro and buses. The only exception to this rule is guide dogs, which are allowed because of their role in assisting their owners.
Passengers should not try to open the doors of the train. Wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop. Doors should only be opened manually in extreme circumstances where personal safety is at risk.
Smoking is strictly prohibited on all trains, buses and stations of the public transport network in Rennes.
Certain seats are reserved for disabled people, senior citizens and pregnant women on all public transport, including trains and buses. Please respect these designated seats and do not use them if they are not intended for you.
Please be considerate when boarding city trains and buses. Allow passengers to disembark before you board.
It is forbidden to carry oversized luggage on the metro and other public transport in Rennes. If staff discover that you are carrying an oversized bag, they may deny you access to public transport.
Prams should be placed in the areas reserved for wheelchairs. If these spaces are occupied, you will have to wait for the next available vehicle.
Bicycles are allowed on the Metro, provided they do not cause inconvenience to other passengers. You may not be able to take your bike if the carriages are too full.
Drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited on public transport in Rennes.
When entering a station, passengers must comply with the rules of the Rennes metro. Entering the station implies acceptance of these rules.

Connection to the Airport

To get from Rennes city centre to Rennes Saint-Jacques airport, take the metro to République station.

From there, take bus 57, operated by STAR. This bus connects the city with the airport. The journey usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes and there is a regular service to this stop.

On weekdays, the buses start running between 5.20am and 1.50am, so if you are leaving or arriving in the early hours of the morning, bear these times in mind. On Saturdays, the buses start picking up passengers at 6:00 a.m. and finish at 1:50 a.m. On Sundays, the service starts at 8:15 a.m. and finishes at 12:50 a.m.

Conversely, if you want to go from the airport to the centre of Rennes, the journey is pretty much the same if you take line 57. The bus stop is 300 metres from the airport and is easy to find. You can buy a ticket on the bus, which costs 1.50 euros. However, if you prefer to take a taxi, there are taxi companies in the area that can provide a transport solution to suit your needs.

Future expansions

The authorities responsible for the Rennes metro have long had plans to expand the network. However, they have not yet reached a consensus on which project to prioritise. This is particularly true for the construction of the second line, which has been under discussion for some time.

According to the information currently available, the second line would extend towards the north-east of the city, reaching the town of Cesson-Sévigné, which is mainly a rural area. It would also extend to the south-east, reaching Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande in the Morinais district. The total length of the network would be 13.4 kilometres, with 15 commercial stations. In addition, the second line would introduce “Neoval” technology, an environmentally friendly upgrade being developed by the Rennes metro.

There are also plans to extend Line A, which is currently in service. In the southern part of the network, there is a desire to extend the metro towards the Chantepie area. This would involve the construction of approximately 3.4 kilometres of new track. In addition, at the northern terminal, the line could be extended to the Pacé area. The purpose of this extension is to stimulate housing construction in the area and to promote urban development in the area.

Touristic attractions

The Parc du Thabor is a 10-hectare park close to the Charles de Gaulle metro station. One of its most attractive features is the presence of both French and English gardens in the same space, surrounded by a large botanical garden. Due to its popularity with tourists, the park receives considerable attention from the authorities, who allocate generous funds for its upkeep. Every nook and cranny is meticulously tended to meet the expectations of the hundreds of daily visitors who come to admire its beauty.

Another must-see for tourists is the historic centre of Rennes, easily accessible by getting off at Sainte-Anne station. This area is a paradise for architecture lovers as it preserves medieval, baroque and renaissance buildings in one place. Many of the bars, restaurants and leisure facilities in the historic centre boast these architectural styles and are a testament to the harmonious coexistence of old and new. The centre also organises various activities and festivals for the locals, especially during the summer. You cannot claim to have experienced Rennes without strolling through its oldest streets.