La Vie du Rail () is a French publishing group headquartered in Auray, which specialises in magazines and books about rail transport, and transport more generally. The editor-in-chief is Vincent Lalu.
It was started in 1952 as an in-house publication of the SNCF, taking over the role played by ("Our trade") since 1938. In 1965 it became a weekly paid-for magazine independent of the SNCF, which retains a minority share in the company. The name then passed to the special-interest publishing house.
Titles Since 2002, so as to diversify its customer base, la Vie du Rail has split its coverage and publishes: La Vie du Rail magazine, generalist weekly centring on rail transport with an average circulation of over 100,000. ("Town, rail & transport"): Initially weekly and titled Rail & Transport, it was then published every two weeks as Ville & transports magazine. In 2009 it merged with La Vie du rail international.First issue after the merger: Ville, rail & transports 469, 8 April 2009. It is aimed at those working in the transport sector. Historail, quarterly, specialising in rail history. Rail Passion, approximately 100-page monthly with an average circulation of 40,000 copies.
Commercial structure Shares in the company are split between: Vincent Lalu et Associés, 71% SNCF, 10% , 5% Groupe La Vie-Le Monde, 5% Groupe Ouest-France, 5% Mutuelle d'assurance des artisans de France, 4%.
See also List of railroad-related periodicals
Notes
External links La Vie du Rail, official website VDR Multimedia, Publisher's website