After six months of successful operation, the Navigône river shuttle has reached a decisive milestone. Since mid-December 2025, the TCL boats plying the Saône have been 100% electric. This is a major development for the city of Lyon, transforming the river into a genuine low-carbon public transport route, integrated into the urban network and designed for everyday travel. It’s a major step forward for electromobility in France.
A successful launch and electrification on the horizon
Officially launched on 18 June 2025, the Navigône service marks the return of river transport to Lyon’s mobility offering. Linking Vaise-Industrie to Confluence along 6.2 kilometres of the Saône. The first phase of operation was based on two thermal boats, Le Lui and Le Vaporetto. The public responded immediately, and within six months more than 120,000 journeys were recorded, confirming user interest in a fluid, easy-to-understand and pleasant alternative to road travel. This rapid success validates the route, the journey times and the idea that a mode often perceived as a tourist attraction can find its place in the daily mobility of a major metropolis.
From the outset, Sytral Mobilités made it clear that the combustion phase was only a transitional stage. The objective was already to switch the entire fleet to electric power by the end of 2025. This strategy makes it possible to secure the start-up of the service while preparing for a ramp-up that is compatible with the city’s environmental ambitions. And in mid-December 2025, this transition became a reality with the arrival of two new electric ships, Le Gone and La Fenotte. These units will fully replace the original thermal boats, making Navigône a 100% electric urban river shuttle, a first on this scale.
Structuring investments and a sustainable fleet
The electric motor brings immediate benefits in terms of noise comfort, while at the same time enhancing the passenger experience. On board, the silence contrasts with the usual nuisance of urban traffic, and the speed is deliberately limited to around 15 kph, reducing turbulence and preserving the banks of the Saône. The batteries, produced in Taluyers near Lyon, underpin the project’s local roots and are part of a local industrial approach. Each shuttle represents an investment of 4.2 million euros, a sum that reflects both the on-board technology and the requirements of a modern public river service.
For the network as a whole, the annual operating cost is estimated at €4.1 million, including operation, maintenance and operational management of the service. Platform infrastructure is another major component of the project. The stations have required an investment of around €7 million, partly financed by the French government and Voies navigables de France as part of the State-Region planning contract. This infrastructural aspect is essential to ensure the long-term viability of the service and its sustainable integration into Lyon’s urban landscape.
An ambitious ramp-up
Although Navigône is now fully electric, its deployment is not yet complete. At present, the fleet consists of two shuttles in service, but Sytral Mobilités is planning a rapid expansion. From spring 2026, two new electric boats will be added to the range, bringing the total fleet to four. This will significantly improve frequency. At peak times, the boats will run every fifteen minutes, compared with thirty minutes today. At off-peak times, the interval will be reduced to thirty minutes. This change of scale is designed to make Navigône a reliable mode of transport for regular journeys, rather than just an occasional alternative.
Since September 2025, Navigône has been available at no extra cost to TCL zone 1 subscribers. This fare integration is an essential lever for encouraging everyday users to adopt the service. For occasional travellers, a special ticket is available at €3 one way and €5 return, valid only on the river shuttle. The service is operated by RATP Dev and Les Yachts de Lyon on behalf of Sytral Mobilités, and is now fully integrated into the TCL application. So you can plan a river journey just like any other public transport trip.
A new pillar of urban mobility
In Paris, the inauguration of the C1 cable car shows that urban electromobility can take to the skies, and with Navigône, Lyon is demonstrating that river transport can become another mainstay. By exploiting the potential of the Saône, the city is diversifying its transport solutions while reducing emissions and pollution. At a time when major conurbations are seeking to reduce congestion on their networks and accelerate their energy transition, Lyon’s example could become a benchmark. Navigône is no longer an experiment; it is now a fully-fledged electric public service, destined to become a permanent fixture in the daily lives of users.
Sources: TCL – SYTRAL MOBILITES – Greater Lyon metropolitan area
