Presentation

The Tb11 trambus is the evolution into a high-level service bus (BHNS) of the portion of the C3 line between Saint-Paul station and Laurent Bonnevay, the busiest bus line in the network.

Schedules and frequencies

First departures from La Soie: 4:35

Last departure from La Soie:

• every day: 0:01
• Friday and Saturday: 1:40

Premiers départs depuis Perrache : 5h01

Dernier départ depuis Perrache :

• tous les jours : 0h20
• vendredi et samedi : 1h58

Fréquences (en minutes) :

Layout and route

The TB11 line traverses a great diversity of urban landscapes by connecting western Lyon to the heart of the metropolis and then to Villeurbanne. From the 5th arrondissement, it descends towards the historic center before crossing the Saône to reach the 1st arrondissement and the Presqu'île. She then continues her route in the 2nd arrondissement, a true hub of connections, before heading back up to the 6th, where she serves residential areas and major thoroughfares. Upon entering the 3rd arrondissement, the line connects to major transportation and activity hubs, particularly around Part-Dieu. It finally ends its journey in Villeurbanne, in the heart of a dense and dynamic area. This route, which crosses several successive centralities, makes the TB11 an essential axis for daily travel between the different neighbourhoods of the metropolis.

History

The TB11 line, formerly C3, is part of the long tradition of Lyon trolleybuses, a mode of transport emblematic of the city since the 1930s. Inheriting a structuring axis connecting the west of Lyon to the heart of the agglomeration, it has been accompanying the evolution of central neighbourhoods such as the 5th, 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 3rd arrondissements for decades, before reaching Villeurbanne. Its role is to ensure a regular and efficient electrical connection between densely populated areas and major transportation hubs.

Originally, this route was operated by classic bus lines, quickly saturated in the face of traffic growth in the central neighbourhoods. From the late 20th century onwards, the electrification of this route became a priority to improve capacity, reduce noise pollution, and limit pollution in highly constrained urban areas. The introduction of the trolleybus then allowed for the modernisation of the line while preserving fluidity on a route often subject to the uncertainties of traffic.

Over the course of the TCL network restructurings, the line evolves, changes its termini, and adapts to the new transportation hubs. It successively serves iconic places such as Old Lyon, the Presqu'île, Part-Dieu, or even the Gratte-Ciel neighbourhood, becoming a true link between the different centers of life in the agglomeration. Its passage through several central districts gives it an essential role in daily travel.

The most recent transformation comes with the arrival of IMC (In Motion Charging) trolleybuses, capable of partially operating without overhead contact lines (OCL). This technology offers greater operational flexibility, reduces infrastructure constraints, and improves service reliability. It is in this context that the line adopts the name TB11, marking its integration into the new generation of strong electric lines of the TCL network. The old trolleybuses running on this line, the Irisbus Cristalis ETB18, had an auxiliary diesel engine in case of LAC-free operation, but the establishment of the ZTL (limited traffic zone) in the Presqu'Île forced the line to be diverted (the Hôtel de Ville - Louis Pradel and Terreaux - La Feuillée stops are no longer served), which made the use of the Cristalis too expensive.

Today, the TB11 remains a major axis connecting western Lyon to the heart of the metropolis and Villeurbanne. It perfectly illustrates the ability of the TCL network to modernise historical lines while addressing contemporary challenges: sustainable mobility, emission reduction, and improved passenger comfort.

Pictures