Paris-Gare de Lyon has officially reopened Hall 2 to mark the completion of a three-year renewal project.
The new concourse has been designed to include more commercial space than the original 19th century interior.
Paris-Gare de Lyon, which opened in 1849, was at the heart of France’s high-speed introduction and currently welcomes around 105 million passengers each year.
“With our partners, we want to offer French and foreign travelers, a showcase that honors the destination France. A unique architecture that combines history and contemporary materials,” said Guillaume Pepy, president of SNCF, at the opening ceremony.
I took a train from Gd Lyon last year [Jul 2012] and Hall 2 was open then – what is new now? Hall 2 looks great but there isn’t enough seating and it was unbearably hot, despite it only being about 25 C outside. Obviously it’s too large a space to air-condition, but it really should have vents in the glass curtain walls which surround it. On the plus side passengers are very well provided for in terms of shops, cafes and toilets. Overall I’d give it 7 or 8 out of 10.