The closure will facilitate the installation of 58 new signal posts and a new operational center in Lyon, part of an extensive project costing 820 million euros, with 120 million euros funded by the EU.

Trenitalia will also reduce its Paris-Lyon services to two round trips per day during this period, down from five.

The upgrades aim to implement the European ERTMS signaling system, which is expected to enhance train reliability and increase line capacity by 25% by 2030.

SNCF Réseau is replacing all 58 signaling posts on this line, which is the most frequented in Europe, accommodating around 240 trains daily.

Currently, only 30% of TGV services will operate during the closure, with travel times potentially doubling for journeys to cities like Lyon, Grenoble, and Marseille.

For instance, the journey from Paris to Lyon will take approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes instead of the usual 2 hours, while travel to Marseille will extend to 7 hours and 20 minutes.

Additionally, certain routes will be entirely suspended, affecting connections to regions such as Pays-de-la-Loire, Brittany, and Normandy.

The project, which began five years ago, is set to be completed by 2030 and aims to modernize the rail infrastructure significantly.

Despite the ambitious plans, France currently lags behind other European countries in deploying ERTMS, with only 1,000 kilometers of its 8,000 kilometers of rail equipped.

The high-speed train line between Paris and Lyon will undergo a significant closure from November 9 to November 12, 2024, for essential upgrades to the signaling system.

This unprecedented 101-hour shutdown, starting at 11:00 PM on November 8, will mark the first complete halt of such a busy high-speed line in Europe.

This closure, occurring over a holiday weekend, follows extensive planning and discussions regarding the modernization of the line.