TRANSPORT

DRIVING IN FRANCE

Firstly the French drive on the right side of the road!
To drive in France, you must hold a valid licence. It can be used for a limited period of time, after which you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP). This permit is a translation of your drivers’ licence into nine languages. The IDP must be obtained in your home country. It is a handy document to have because if you have an accident or mechanical problems the police may not be able to read a foreign drivers licence.
For more information on the obtaining of an IDP, check with your local driving assistance company

For your safety make sure you are aware of the following speed limits and seatbelts are compulsory for all.
130km/hr (80 MPH) on major highways and toll road (autoroutes)
110km/hr (65 MPH) on four lane roads
90km/hr (55 MPH) on other roads
50km/hr (30 MPH) or less in towns.

The legal limit of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.5%. If you are convicted of driving while over the limit, you can face imprisonment.

BUSES

The transport company in Saint-Etienne is called La STAS with bus lines and a tramway.
The buses and trams run from 4 am to midnight, 364 days a year.
The main tram (4) line covers the Grande Rue of the town from the south of the town “Solaure” to the North “Hôpital Nord”.
The other tram (5) coverts the town from” Bellevue” to “Chateaucreux”
Cost:

1 hour 1/2 : 1 euro 30 , valid for one hour and a half on the STAS system ( round trip possible).
1 day : 3 euros 90 , valid for one day on the STAS system.
10 “voyages” : 7 euros 80, for people under 26 years of age and who possess a young person’s card “Carte Jeune”(2, 20 euros)
100 units : 17,20 euros, is valid on the STAS system. One hour and a half in low hourly traffic = 5 units. One hour and a half in rush hour = 7 units.
1 Month : 30 euros 80. For the people under 26, valid for one month after the first use . A young person’s card is obligatory.
1 Year “ Jeune” : 253 euros .For people under 26, valid for 12 months after the first use.

STAS

Place Dorian
42000 Saint-Etienne
04-77-33-31-35
Web site

PLANES

Andrézieux-Bouthéon Airport (10 mins from St Etienne)
+33 (0) 477 557 771
3 flights from Monday to Friday. Special prices for students.
Web site

Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (1 hour from St Etienne)
For all the other national and international destinations.
Web site

A shuttle service Saint-Etienne/ Lyon is available :
Autocars SATOBUS
tel. : + 33 (0)4 72 68 72 17 (From Lyon to St Etienne)
tel. : + 33 (0)4 77 25 97 79 (From Saint-Etienne - to Lyon )
6,20 € for a single ticket for student under 24.
Pick up / drop off points in Saint-Etienne : Place Dorian, Place Jean Jaurès, Place du Peuple.

TRAINS (SNCF)

Châteaucreux station, the largest station of the town , is located 10 minutes from the city centre. The tram N° 5 takes you to the town Center “Place du peuple”.
Web site

Châteaucreux station
Place Stalingrad
Travellers information: 08 92 35 35 35
Web site

If you are a student under 26, you can take out a preferential subscription: “La Carte 12-25 ans”.
Thanks to this ticket sold around 50 euros for one year, you can travel cheaper. For the TGV (fast train), your ticket price can be up to 50% cheaper.