Lyon to Lille by train

You can avoid having to cross Paris from the Gare De Lyon to the Gare Du Nord by taking these direct trains from Lyon to Lille.

Final Destination: Bruxelles or Lille

The direct train which is usually scheduled to depart from Lyon at 07:30, typically arrives at Lille Flandres station.
All of the other TGV-InOui departures arrive at Lille Europe station.

All trains also call at: Marne La Vallée - Chessy for Disneyland Paris and Aeroport-CDG

The daily train which is usually scheduled to depart from Lyon Part-Dieu at 10:59 has a longer journey time becuse it diverts off the high speed line to serve Arras

The other InOui services have a journey time of around 3 hours.

The alternative Ouigo services:

When taking a train from Lyon to Lille, you can now choose between taking these TGV InOui services, or the more basic and low-cost Ouigo services.

Though those Ouigo services don't offer a like-for-like comparison because they don't depart from Lyon Part-Dieu station.

There is a daily Ouigo service, which is usually scheduled to depart from Lyon Perrache station at 09:05.

On Sunday - Friday up to three Ouigo services per day depart from St Exupery station at Lyon Airport station, but in order to travel to that station from Part-Dieu, you'll need to take the Rhone-Express tram.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion

The train service between Lyon and Lille is split between these TGV-InOui services and Ouigo services.

Both services can be compared and booked on Trainline and Oui.SNCF

Booking these TGV InOui services:

Seat reservations are complimentary on these TGV InOui services - you can choose in type of seat, and in what part of the train you want to travel by - including opting for the lower or upper decks.

Booking the alternative Ouigo services:

As explained on our guide to booking French train tickets, how tickets can be booked and used for a journey by a Ouigo train, differs from booking tickets on a TGV (InOui) service.

What is particularly worth being aware of when booking tickets for journeys by Ouigo train services is:

(1) 1st class/Premiere tickets are not available.

(2) Reservations are included when booking, as they are on TGV InOui trains, but you cannot choose a seating area, you have to sit in the seat(s) you are assigned when booking - and double deck trains are used for Ouigo services.

(3) You cannot book or collect tickets for Ouigo trains at stations.

(4) Additional fees apply if you want access to a power socket, or to travel with additional luggage - click the yellow Ouigo button to access more info on the luggage allowances on Ouigo trains - they're more restrictive than on TGV InOui trains.

(5) A higher price is charged to travel in 'Quiet Zones' on Ouigo trains - and children aged 11 and under cannot travel in these quiet zones.

Though these factors, and more, are why you can make big savings by opting to travel by these Ouigo trains - and not on the standard TGV InOui trains.

Eurail and InterRail Pass users:

In theory, if you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you can book reservations for these direct TGV-InOui trains on Oui-SNCF - as explained here.

However, whenever we have tried to book rail pass reservations for these InOui services to Lille, we have instead been given the option to travel via Paris - though if that occurs, you will only have to pay one fee.

Rail passes cannot be used on the Ouigo trains, but if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass, our guide to using rail passes in France, explains why taking a Ouigo train can be worth considering.