TCL (public transport)


TCL, before 1 September 2025 known as Transports en commun lyonnais, is the public transport network in the Metropolis of Lyon, administered by the SYTRAL Mobilités authority. It is the second largest public transport network in France, and covers 72 communes, including all 58 communes of the Metropolis of Lyon, spread over.
TCL is managed by SYTRAL Mobilités that sets policies and finances the infrastructure.
Keolis Dev and RATP run the network on a day-to-day basis.

Network

Lines

TCL manages:
  • 4 metro lines
  • 2 funiculars
  • 7 tramway lines
  • 24 high-frequency bus lines, including electric trolleybuses
  • Over 100 other bus lines, including electric trolleybuses

Major stations

The TCL network is built around several big stations connecting metro and tram lines:
Some other major stations are connecting suburban bus lines to metro or tram lines, and sometimes railway stations:

Night service

Several bus lines run one bus per hour throughout the night, mostly to allow young people to get home. Since September 2021 there have been three such lines, labelled "Pleine Lune" . A fourth line, Pleine Lune 4, was discontinued in March 2020.

Fares

The TCL network has a fare system composed of paper tickets and a contactless smartcard named Técély.
Tickets or the Técély card need to be validated at ticket barriers when entering a metro or funicular station, or at ticket validators located on board of trams, buses and trolleybuses. Validation of ticket or Técély card is mandatory at each connection, except for connections between metro or funicular lines.

Tickets

There are multiple types of tickets, with different validity durations. There are also different tarifications regarding the age of the passenger.
The most basic ticket is the "1-hour ticket", it can be validated unlimitedly during 1 hour starting from the first validation. It costs €1.90, and it can also be purchased in booklets of 10 tickets at €18. This ticket is red.
A "1-hour ticket" at a reduced price is available for people under 26 years old and students under 28 years old, it is sold only by booklets of 10 tickets at €15.40. This ticket is yellow.
Another version of the "1-hour ticket" is sold by bus and trolleybus drivers, this one costs €2.20. It is more expensive than a usual ticket in order to encourage people to buy tickets at vending machines or other sales points. This ticket is grey.
There are also long duration tickets valid during 2, 24, 48 or 72 hours starting from the first validation. These tickets are green.

Técély card

Introduced on 1 July 2002, the Técély card is the contactless smartcard of the TCL network. The card itself costs €5 and is usable during five years, it can be obtained in the five TCL agencies or by mail order.
To be valid, the Técély card needs to be recharged with a weekly, monthly or annual pass.
Booklets of 10 "1-hour tickets" can also be recharged on the Técély card, at normal or reduced price, depending on the age or status of the card holder. Up to 40 tickets can be contained at a time on a Técély card.
Tickets recharged on the card will be debited at validation only if no weekly, monthly or annual pass is recharged on the card. If there is a pass and tickets recharged at the same time on the card, no ticket will be debited at validation.

Sales points

Buying tickets and recharging Técély cards is possible at different types of sales points:
  • 5 TCL agencies are located at major stations. This is the only place to get a new Técély card.
  • *Proposed services: Buy tickets, recharge the Técély card with "1-hour tickets", recharge the Técély card with a weekly/monthly/annual pass, recharge the Técély card with a monthly pass subscription, get a new Técély card.
  • 477 ticket vending machines are available across all metro, funicular and tram stations, and at some stations of trolleybus lines C1, C2 and C3.
  • *Proposed services: Buy tickets, recharge the Técély card with "1-hour tickets", recharge the Técély card with weekly/monthly/annual pass.
  • 220 TCL service points are located in TCL's partners shops.
  • *Proposed services: Buy tickets, recharge the Técély card with "1-hour tickets", recharge the Técély card with a monthly/annual pass.
  • More than 100 ATMs of CIC and Crédit Mutuel banks propose to recharge Técély cards, even with a payment card from another bank.
  • *Proposed services: Recharge the Técély card with "1-hour tickets", recharge the Técély card with a monthly/annual pass.