Introduced in 1968, it was operated by the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français (SNCF).

The train had the following stops: Initially, Le Lyonnais was usually hauled by one of SNCF's four-axle 1.5 kV DC, Class BB 9200 electric locomotives.

When Le Lyonnais became a TEE in 1969, its formation of rolling stock was a rake of SNCF Mistral 56-type DEV Inox coaches [fr], being a Ds, six A8, one A5ru and a Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) pullman car.

In 1971, the train's rolling stock was upgraded to Mistral 69-type DEV Inoxes, with the formation being an A4Dtux, four A8u, two A8tu, one A3rtu and a Vru.

Throughout Le Lyonnais's existence, its dining car was staffed by the CIWL.