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Barcelona to Marseille by train
How to take the rail journey from Barcelona to Marseille
This daily direct train from Barcelona to Marseille has been suspended due to the pandemic for more than a year, so it will hopefully resume in 2022.
So at the current time the best option is to travel via Valence TGV station and make a connection there into a train on Marseille
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Routes
Option 1: the direct train (temporarily suspended)
Journey Summary
4hr 35min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Marseille St.Charles
The train also calls at: Montpellier, Nimes, Avignon TGV, Aix-en-Provence TGV
Departing from Barcelona:
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Barcelona Sants station daily at 16:45 (but it has temporarily suspended).
Aim to be at Barcelona Sants a minimum of 20 mins before departure, in order to allow time to pass through the security checks.
At Barcelona Sants station this train to France departs from the part of the station used by the Spanish high speed trains - vias (platforms/tracks) 1 - 6,
So when you're in the station follow the signs that are pointing the way to the ' Alta-Velocidad' trains.
How to arrive in Marseille sooner:
The daily direct train from Barcelona isn't scheduled to arrive in Marseille at 21:36 in the evening.
So if you would rather arrive in the city before 15:30 you'll need to take the alternative journey option.
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
The train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Barcelona Sants at 16:45, so target that departure time when looking up this journey.
When looking for tickets on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box, on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box,
Though it can be worth comparing the prices between booking agents for this journey.
Note that this direct train arrives in Marseille too late to make onward connections to any destination to the east beyond Toulon.
Seat Reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Rail Pass Users:
Rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding, but these reservations cannot be booked on the ticket agent's websites.
If you want the peace of mind of reserving before arriving at a Spanish station, you will need to use the Eurail reservation service or the InterRail reservation service but you will be charged a €2 booking fee per reservation.
Though you can avoid a booking fee if you do reserve at a Spanish station.
Or of you will be making this journey on Monday to Friday, you can avoid paying the rail pass reservation fee, by taking this alternative journey option.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | from €37 | |
| Oui.SNCF | from €37 | |
| Happyrail | from €37 | |
| Renfe | from €37 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you will be making this journey between April and October, so will be travelling by daylight, this is a journey of three distinct parts:
1:Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train travels on a high speed line.
2. Between Perpignan and Montpellier the train follows the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly north of Perpignan.
3. Between Nimes and Marseille the train switches back to the high speed line.
Option 2: making a connection to arrive in Marseille sooner
Journey Summary
6hr 3min
Daily
Travel Information
The daily direct train from Barcelona is usually scheduled to arrive in Marseille at 21:36 in the evening, so if you want to arrive in the city by train sooner, you'll need to change trains (this is also the optimum routing available on the days when the direct AVE train isn't available).
This routing via Valence is available if you set off from Barcelona daily at 08:15, you'll then have around 30 mins to make the connection.
Though if you miss the connection in Valence due to a delayed train, tickets and reservations can transferred free of charge to subsequent trains on to Marseille.
Look at a map and it will seem as though travelling via Valence is a diversion off of the direct route, but none of the high speed trains from Barcelona have particularly good connections in Montpellier or Nimes with trains on to Marseille.
1 x connection per day
Changing trains at Valence TGV station.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date (usually)
Book a ticket and a complimentary seat reservation(s) for both trains will be included.
But if you will be travelliing with a rail pass you'll save if you take the direct train.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Lyon
Aim to be at Barcelona Sants a minimum of 20 mins before departure, in order to allow time to pass through the security checks.
At Barcelona Sants station these trains to France depart from the part of the station used by the Spanish high speed trains - vias (platforms/tracks) 1 - 6.
So when you're in the station follow the signs that are pointing the way to the ' Alta-Velocidad' trains.
This is a journey of three distinct phases:
1: Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train will travel at up to 280 km/h on high speed line.
2 Between Perpignan and Montpellier the train follows the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly north of Perpignan
3. Between Nimes and Valence the train switches back to the high speed line for the final 15 mins of the journey.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille St-Charles
The train also call at: Aix-en-Provence TGV
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