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Lyon to Marseille by train
How to take the train from Lyon to Marseille by travelling on the faster high speed TGV services
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Routes
From Lyon Part-Dieu to Marseille-Saint-Charles
Journey Summary
1hr 43min - 1hr 49min (approx)
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion.
If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on Oui.SNCF.
When looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box - on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.
Our step by step guide to booking tickets on the PC version on Oui.SNCF (French national railways) website is available HERE.
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Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in France, we recommend taking a look at our guide to French train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
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There are also slower TER trains between Lyon and Marseilles, but the discounted 'Prems' tickets for these TGVs will be (much) cheaper - unless you're buying tickets no more than a few days before the travel date, OR on the day of travel.
So if you'll be buying last minute at the station, booking tickets for those alternative TER trains will be a much cheaper option.
Rail pass users can save money by taking those TER trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | from €26 | |
| Oui.SNCF | from €26 | |
| Download the Oui.SNCF app | from €26 | |
| SaveATrain | from €26 | |
| Happyrail | from €26 | |
| SaveATrain | from €26 | |
| Happyrail | from €26 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille or Nice
Most trains also call at: Avignon TGV and/or Aix-en-Provence TGV
When taking a train from Lyon to Marseille there is a choice between:
(1) Taking these TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.
- Taking the alternative TER trains, which are almost two hours slower because they don't use the high speed line.
If you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, those TER trains plus a gap of more than five hours between the departures of these TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, those TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking these TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target those TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
Final Destination: Marseille or Nice
Most trains also call at: Avignon TGV and/or Aix-en-Provence TGV
When taking a train from Lyon to Marseille there is a choice between:
(1) Taking these TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.
- Taking the alternative TER trains, which are almost two hours slower because they don't use the high speed line.
If you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, those TER trains plus a gap of more than five hours between the departures of these TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, those TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking these TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target those TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
From Lyon Part-Dieu to Marseille-Saint-Charles
Journey Summary
3hr 33min (approx)
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: No
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
The most heavily discounted tickets for the alternative faster TGV trains are cheaper than these TER trains - they will be placed on sale up to 3 months ahead.
However, when those most heavilly discounted TGV tickets have sold out - these slower TER trains become the cheaper option.
So these trains will be cheaper if you will be buying tickets at the station on the day of travel.
If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in France, we recommend taking a look at our guide to French train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Rail pass users can avoid the rail pass reservation fee on the TGV trains, by taking these TER trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille
All of these trains also call at: Avignon Centre, Arles and Mirimas
When taking a train from Lyon to Marseille there is a choice between:
(1) Taking alternative TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.
- Taking these TER trains, which are more than 90 mins slower because they stick to the older route and don't use the high speed line.
Though if you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, these TER trains plus a gap of more than five hours between the departures of those TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, these TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking those TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target these TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
Final Destination: Marseille
All of these trains also call at: Avignon Centre, Arles and Mirimas
When taking a train from Lyon to Marseille there is a choice between:
(1) Taking alternative TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.
- Taking these TER trains, which are more than 90 mins slower because they stick to the older route and don't use the high speed line.
Though if you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, these TER trains plus a gap of more than five hours between the departures of those TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, these TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking those TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target these TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
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