Trains to and from St Etienne Airport (EBU)

Saint-Etienne Airport is recognised by its official IATA code of EBU, and is also well known as the Saint-Etienne-Bouthéon Airport, or even as the Andrézieux-Bouthéon Airport. Although nearby Saint-Etienne, it is located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. It serves all towns and cities in the Loire department of the country, and is a small airport handling around 70,000 passengers per annum. Airports of this size do not usually have their own railway stations, and therefore there is no train station on site. However, passengers can easily reach the railway services of the nearby cities by way of the various buses in operation from the airport.

Saint-Etienne is mainly served by the three airline companies of Luxair, Ryanair and Pegasus Airlines, and is therefore considered as a low-cost airport. There are flights available to Istanbul, Porto and Bastia. This small international airport consists of a single terminal building, well equipped for the needs of its passengers, and there are various forms of public transport available and a car parking area for passengers arriving in their own vehicles. Although there is no train station at the airport, passengers can reach a few of the nearby railway stations by bus or taxi. The city of Saint-Etienne is about 12km, or 7 miles from the airport, and has two train stations, while Andrézieux-Bouthéon, just a few kilometres from the airport, has two train stations as well. Buses are even available for certain passengers to the Lyon Perrache Station. Lyon is approximately 64km from the airport, and Saint-Etienne is considered to be a sister airport of Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.

Travelling to the Saint-Etienne railway stations

An airport bus is available on Sundays (16:30) and on Wednesdays (13:45) for travel to the Châteaucreux Train Station in Saint-Etienne. The journey takes about half an hour and a single ticket will cost 7.50 Euros. Children under two years of age will travel for free. Taxis from the airport taxi rank can also be used, and they will cost approximately 20.00 Euros. Alternative shuttles are operated by Ryanair and Pegasus Airlines, on various days of the week. Buses are also available for travel from the Châteaucreux Train Station to the airport, at various times, for passengers departing from the airport.

The Saint-Etienne-Châteaucreux station is the main railway station of the city, and is a kilometre or two from the busy Centre Ville of Saint-Etienne. It is located in Châteaucreux, hence its name, and was built in 1855, by architect Joseph-Antoine Bouvard. Intercity train services take passengers from here to Paris (high-speed TGV trains) and to Clermont-Ferrand, and regional TER Rhône-Alpes trains travel to Noirétable, Firminy, Le-Puy-en-Velay, Lyon and Roanne. The station is linked to the city centre by the second tramway line service of Saint-Etienne, and buses are available to various areas. The tramway system of the city is historic, and only one of three in the country which have been maintained throughout the twentieth century.

The second train station of the city is known as the La-Terrasse Railway Station, and the first station here was built in 1827. It linked Saint-Etienne to Andrézieux, and was known as the Mottetières station. In 1888, a second station just a kilometre away was built. The station today handles regional TER train services to Clermont-Ferrand and Roanne. There is no direct bus service to this train station from the airport, but a taxi can be taken for about twenty to thirty Euro. The station is also linked to the city’s tram and bus systems.

Travelling to the Andrézieux-Bouthéon train stations

The two train stations in Bouthéon are known as the Gare de Bouthéon and as the Gare de Andrézieux, and both stations are about a five minute drive from the Saint-Etienne Airport. There are no bus services from the airport to either station, but a short trip by taxi will only cost a few Euro. Taxis are generally always waiting at the airport, but staff at the information desk will help you call one if there are none at the time of your arrival. Gare de Bouthéon is located on the line Veneux Moret to the-Sablons Perrache, and is between the stations of Saint-Galmier Veauche and the Fouillouse. TER Rhône-Alpes trains run between Bouthéon and the Saint-Etienne Châteaucreux station, and between Bouthéon and Roanne. This station’s physical address is at Place de la Gare, in Andrézieux-Bouthéon.

The Gare de Andrézieux is found at Avenue Martouret in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, and is located on the line of Clermont-Ferrand to Saint-Just-sur-Loire. It is between the stations of Bonson and Saint-Etienne Châteaucreux. The station is served by TER trains between Clermont-Ferrand and the Saint-Etienne Châteaucreux station.

Travelling to the Lyon Perrache railway station

Passengers who have arrived at Saint-Etienne on a Pegasus Airlines flight are able to travel by shuttle to the Lyon Perrache Train Station in Lyon. These shuttles are operated by the airline company of Pegasus Airlines, and depart at 13:35 to arrive in Lyon at 15:35. A single ticket will cost 16.00 Euro and a round trip ticket will cost 27.00 Euro.

This small French airport is well connected to the country’s public transport systems, even though there is no Saint-Etienne train station. Further details regarding transport can be obtained from the airport information desk, at 33 (0)4 77 55 71 71.