Funiculars of Lyon
The Funiculars of Lyon (Funiculaires de Lyon) is a network of funicular railways in Lyon, France. Of the five lines once in existence, only the two routes on the Fourvière hill remain in operation, with the rest of the network now either closed, converted to road vehicle use, or integrated within the Lyon underground system. History. No fewer than five funicular lines, nicknamed "ficelles" ("threads") were built. Both lines still in service were modernised again in 1986 and 1987. The Fourvière funicular was refurbished at the start of 2018, and the St Just funicular at the start  of 2019. A new station at Saint-Jean was built in 1991 to serve the new line of the Metro and both funicular lines, and the whole complex named Vieux-Lyon. According to the definition of a rapid transit system given by French dictionaries"electric traction railway, partially or totally underground, serving a large urban area"Lyon can claim to have one of the world's first rapid transit lines, as the Terme funicular, which meets these characteristics, was opened in 1862, six months before the first section of the Metropolitan Railway in London. Late 2010s refurbishment. From January to June 2018 , the Fourvière funicular was refurbished. This refurbishment included a revised livery, brighter and more open carriages, the carriages had a wheelchair space created, and new AC motors installed to replace the old DC motors. From December 2018 to June 2019, St Just’s Funicular was closed for refurbishment. It received a new livery, similar to the livery on the upcoming MPL16s. It also received a new interior which is brighter and more spacious. Funicular cars in preservation. Funicular car n°1 is preserved at the AMTUIR (). It operated on the single track line from Saint-Jean to the Basilique  de Fourvière. The line it served on was modernised in 1970 and equipped with new cars. The car was given to the AMTUIR (Musée des Transports Urbains) by the Transports en Commun de la Région Lyonnaise (TCRL) on 27 May 1970.