TGV Lyria, a leading choice for rail travel between France and Switzerland, has partnered with gategourmet Helvetia, a member of gategroup and a leader in passenger catering, to manage its catering and on-board services. This decision follows a competitive tender process, and gategourmet Helvetia will provide these services on TGV Lyria trains until December 2030.
Several factors contributed to the development of this agreement, including the quality of services, operational management, culinary creativity, commitments to corporate social responsibility (CSR), and daily support for onboard teams. gategourmet has established itself as a credible expert in catering, on-board services, and logistics.
TGV Lyria offers over 17 daily departures that facilitate connections between Paris and the cities of Basel, Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne. gategourmet is committed to providing an exemplary culinary experience for its passengers and central to its offerings is the l’atelier Lyria gourmet, a specialized laboratory dedicated to gastronomic innovation, production, analysis, and the maintenance of nutritional quality.
l’atelier Lyria gourmet is a distinctive experience aimed at expanding the boundaries of culinary innovation, catering to the increasing demands of today’s and future travelers. It features two dining menus that are designed and refreshed each season (spring, summer, autumn, and winter):
The first option is the “Le Bistrot” menu, which passengers may find in the bar. This menu features original recipes created with locally sourced ingredients that adhere to seasonal availability.
The second option, “La Table,” offers a distinguished menu that is now served à l’assiette, designed to provide a more refined dining experience. What’s new: the “Le Bistrot” menu will be available directly from the bar, with online ordering and a choice of on-site delivery or click & collect from January 2025.
To facilitate this innovative workshop, gategourmet Helvetia enlisted the expertise of distinguished chefs: Michel Roth, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France and winner of the Bocuse d’Or, as well as Danny Khezzar, a promising young chef who was a finalist in Top Chef France 2023. This collaboration forms a team that skillfully merges the boldness of contemporary cuisine with the refinement of French and Swiss gastronomic traditions. Together, they create a sophisticated fusion of influences, elegantly blending the flavors of two emblematic cultures.
Innovation at l’atelier Lyria gourmet transcends the creation of unique dishes and is exemplified through a meticulous selection of ingredients. Menus will be adapted seasonally, with a strong focus on local produce from France and Switzerland. This strategy not only offers fresh and authentic flavors but also addresses the environmental concerns of contemporary travelers by promoting short supply chains and sustainable agricultural practices.
To elevate the gastronomic experience onboard, Antoine Pétrus, who has been awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in sommelier and service on two occasions, contributes his expertise in Grand Cru wines to develop harmonious food and wine pairings. Furthermore, he will play a pivotal role in training the onboard teams, ensuring that the service is attentive and refined, thereby meeting the high expectations of clientele.
Thanks to our 150 crew members, gatesolutions provides Lyria passengers traveling on the 34 daily trains between Paris and Switzerland with a customized culinary experience. This experience includes a creative and sophisticated menu for Business Class customers, along with a completely renewed selection of original recipes that utilize locally sourced, seasonal ingredients in the bar coach. Additionally, an in-seat click-and-collect service is available for all passengers. This six-year contract is a significant recognition of how gate solutions can develop and offer innovative and relevant services to the railway community, backed by a deep understanding of their expectations,” said Laurent Hermet, Director of Operations at servair.
About gategroup
gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries/territories across all continents. For further information, please visit: www.gategroup.com.
About gategourmet Helvetia
gategourmet Helvetia is part of the gate solutions network, a subsidiary of gategroup, the world leader in travel catering. gategourmet Helvetia offers catering solutions tailored to the food service, rail transport and out-of-home sectors.
About TGV Lyria
With 5.4 million passengers transported in 2023, TGV Lyria’s offer has consolidated its position as the benchmark service between Switzerland and France. TGV Lyria offers up to 18,000 seats on its 17 daily round trips between Switzerland and France, with journey times of just over 3 hours for Basel > Paris and Geneva > Paris, and up to 4 hours 04 minutes for Zurich. With its dual Franco-Swiss identity, Lyria places the excellence of both countries’ know-how at the heart of its customer promise. Lyria SAS, incorporated under French law, is a subsidiary shared 74% by SNCF Voyageurs SA and 26% by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
