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Marseille to Avignon by train
How to take the train from Marseille to Avignon by travelling on the slower TER services which arrive in the city centre
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Routes
From Marseille-Saint-Charles to Avignon Centre
Journey Summary
1hr 8min - 1hr 48min (approx)
Daily
Tickets
A choice of stations in Avignon:
Avignon has two stations (1) Avignon TGV, which is on the edge of the city, 6km from the centre and (2) Avignon Centre, which is adjacent to the city centre - this matters when booking tickets.
When making the journey by train from Marseille to Avignon you have a choice between:
- these TER service
- or taking the InOui services
- or the Ouigo services
These TER trains have the advantage of arriving at Avignon Centre station.
Though you can also book an end-to-end journey to Avignon Centre station, with a change of train at Avignon TGV station, if you take those InOui services instead - and if you book ahead online, that can also be the cheaper option.
To see the journeys that involve travelling direct to Avignon Centre AND the journeys that involve making the connection at Avignon TGV – select Avignon Centre or Avignon as the ‘Arrival’ station, but leave the direct trains box UNTICKED.
Though if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, these TER services are the cheapest option.
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 should take these TER trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | * | |
| Oui.SNCF | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Good to Know
Final Destination: Avignon Centre or Lyon
The trains heading to Lyon are faster than most of the trains that won't be travelling beyond Avignon.
Though take care when boarding at Marselle St-Charles station.
There are also other TER train services from Marseille to Avignon, which have a journey time of more than two hours - and they will stand out on the departure screens as they will be terminating in Avignon.
However, they tend to depart 16 mins before other TER trains which call in Avignon and those trains are amongst these faster services - they will leave Marseille later, but arrive in Avignon sooner.
All trains also call at: Arles and Mirimas
When making the journey by train from Marseille to Avignon you have a choice between THREE different train services:
(1) These TER services which are slower, because they don't take the high speed line, but they arrive at Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name with a location on the edge of the heart of the city.
Despite the comparatively high number of trains on this route, there can be gaps of around two hours between departures.
Also despite Avignon's relative proximity to Marseille, the final TER train of the day usually departs from St. Charles station before 20:40!
(2) Alternative TGV InOui services which take the high speed line between Marseille and Avignon, but arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is 6 km south of the city centre - but it is connected to it by up to 2 x trains per hour from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre station - there are also buses available if the timings of those trains don't suit.
Though even when the connections between trains at Avignon TGV station are longer than 30 mins, it can be a faster journey to take those InOui services to Avignon TGV - and then complete the journey to the heart of Avignon by train or bus, the buses stop outside Avignon Centre station.
(3) Ouigo services, which take the same high speed line as those InOui services and also arrive at Avignon TGV station.
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: Avignon Centre or Lyon
The trains heading to Lyon are faster than most of the trains that won't be travelling beyond Avignon.
Though take care when boarding at Marselle St-Charles station.
There are also other TER train services from Marseille to Avignon, which have a journey time of more than two hours - and they will stand out on the departure screens as they will be terminating in Avignon.
However, they tend to depart 16 mins before other TER trains which call in Avignon and those trains are amongst these faster services - they will leave Marseille later, but arrive in Avignon sooner.
All trains also call at: Arles and Mirimas
When making the journey by train from Marseille to Avignon you have a choice between THREE different train services:
(1) These TER services which are slower, because they don't take the high speed line, but they arrive at Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name with a location on the edge of the heart of the city.
Despite the comparatively high number of trains on this route, there can be gaps of around two hours between departures.
Also despite Avignon's relative proximity to Marseille, the final TER train of the day usually departs from St. Charles station before 20:40!
(2) Alternative TGV InOui services which take the high speed line between Marseille and Avignon, but arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is 6 km south of the city centre - but it is connected to it by up to 2 x trains per hour from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre station - there are also buses available if the timings of those trains don't suit.
Though even when the connections between trains at Avignon TGV station are longer than 30 mins, it can be a faster journey to take those InOui services to Avignon TGV - and then complete the journey to the heart of Avignon by train or bus, the buses stop outside Avignon Centre station.
(3) Ouigo services, which take the same high speed line as those InOui services and also arrive at Avignon TGV station.
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 Marseille-Saint-Charles to Avignon TGV
Journey Summary
27 min - 37min
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes (on these trains)
Online bookings usually open: 4months ahead of the travel date
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.
Our step by step guide to booking tickets on the PC version on Oui.SNCF (French national railways) website is available HERE.
A choice of stations in Avignon:
Avignon has two stations (1) Avignon TGV, which is on the edge of the city, 6km from the centre and (2) Avignon Centre, which is adjacent to the city centre - this matters when booking tickets.
When making the journey by train from Marseille to Avignon you have a choice between:
- these TGV InOui services
- or Ouigo services
- or TER services
Those TER trains arrive at Avignon Centre station - but you can also book an end-to-end journey to Avignon Centre station, with a change of train at Avignon TGV station, if you take these InOui services.
To see the journeys that involve travelling direct to Avignon Centre AND the journeys that involve making the connection at Avignon TGV – select Avignon Centre or Avignon as the ‘Arrival’ station, but leave the direct trains box UNTICKED.
If you opt to take the Ouigo services, you can only book tickets to Avignon TGV station.
Saving money:
In ascending order from the cheapest to most expensive options - you can choose between
(1) Taking the Ouigo trains - though you will need to purchase bus or train tickets on arrival at Avignon TGV station, if you want to make the transfer to Avignon Centre.
(2) If you book in advance online, you can purchase 'Exchangeable - Conditions Apply' tickets - also known as 'Leisure' tickets, for journeys by these InOui services.
(3)Tickets for those TER services - but if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, they will be the cheapest option.
(4) Booking tickets for these InOui services last minute at the station will be the most expensive option of all.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | * | |
| Trainline | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Including in this total number of InOui departures is the Spanish RENFE-SNCF train, which departs at 08:04 a
Though on this route the ticket and rail pass usage terms and conditions are no different to the regular InOui services.
Final Destination: Various including Paris (Gare de Lyon) and Bruxelles
When making the journey by train from Marseille to Avignon you have a choice between:
(1) THESE TGV InOui trains which take the high speed line between Marseille and Avignon and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is 6 km south of the city centre - but it is connected to it by up to 2 x trains per hour from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre station - there are also buses available if the timings of those trains don't suit.
(2) Ouigo services, which take the same high speed line as these InOui services and also arrive at Avignon TGV station.
(3) TER services which are slower, because they don't take the high speed line, but arrive at that Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name with a location on the southern edge of the heart of the city.
Though even when the connections between trains at Avignon TGV station are longer than 30 mins, it can be a faster journey to take these InOui services Avignon TGV - and then complete the journey to the heart of Avignon by train or bus, the buses stop outside Avignon Centre station.
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.
Despite Avignon's relative proximity to Marseille, on Mondays - Saturday the final InOui service of the day, departs from Marseille at the comparatively early time of 20:14.
Including in this total number of InOui departures is the Spanish RENFE-SNCF train, which departs at 08:04 a
Though on this route the ticket and rail pass usage terms and conditions are no different to the regular InOui services.
Final Destination: Various including Paris (Gare de Lyon) and Bruxelles
When making the journey by train from Marseille to Avignon you have a choice between:
(1) THESE TGV InOui trains which take the high speed line between Marseille and Avignon and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is 6 km south of the city centre - but it is connected to it by up to 2 x trains per hour from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre station - there are also buses available if the timings of those trains don't suit.
(2) Ouigo services, which take the same high speed line as these InOui services and also arrive at Avignon TGV station.
(3) TER services which are slower, because they don't take the high speed line, but arrive at that Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name with a location on the southern edge of the heart of the city.
Though even when the connections between trains at Avignon TGV station are longer than 30 mins, it can be a faster journey to take these InOui services Avignon TGV - and then complete the journey to the heart of Avignon by train or bus, the buses stop outside Avignon Centre station.
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.
Despite Avignon's relative proximity to Marseille, on Mondays - Saturday the final InOui service of the day, departs from Marseille at the comparatively early time of 20:14.
From Marseille-Saint-Charles to Avignon TGV
Journey Summary
27 min - 34min
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead* of the travel date - usually
*Tickets for the alternative service of TGV InOui trains are usually made available 4 months ahead, so if you look up this journey more than 4 months ahead on Oui.SNCF, you will only see these Ouigo services - but they are not the only option on this route.
As explained on our guide to booking French train tickets, how tickets can be booked and used for a journey by a Ouigo train, differs from booking tickets on a TGV (InOui) service.
What is particularly worth being aware of when booking tickets for journeys by Ouigo train services is:
(1) 1st class/Premiere tickets are not available.
(2) Reservations are included when booking, as they are on TGV InOui trains, but you can opt to pay a surcharge to select a specific seat (more info is available on the Ouigo 'Train Guide').
(3) You cannot book or collect tickets for Ouigo trains at stations.
(4) Additional fees apply if you want access to a power socket, or to travel with additional luggage; click the Ouigo 'Train Guide' to access more info on the luggage allowances on Ouigo trains; they're more restrictive than on TGV InOui trains.
Though these factors, and more, are why you can make big savings by opting to travel by these Ouigo trains and not on the standard TGV InOui trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €10 | |
| Ouigo | from €10 | |
| Trainline | from €10 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Lille or Paris (gare de Lyon)
When making a train journey from Marseille to Avignon TGV station you now have a choice of travelling by standard TGV InOui trains or by these Ougio trains.
So you can now opt to save money, but have a much more basic on board experience, and travel on a Ouigo service.
At face value these Ouigo trains are a good option for travelling from Marseille to Avignon by train.
The comparatively short journey time can make the forsaking of the superior on-board experience on those nOui services worthwhile, in order to save on the ticket price.
These Ouigo services are also always cheaper than taking the TER trains to Avignon Centre station - even when factoring in the need to book separate train or bus tickets for the transfer from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre.
HOWEVER, this benefit is somewhat negated by the need to be at the station 30 mins before the Ouigo train departs.
And that's because you need to pass through 'reception' before boarding a Ouigo train - staff need to verify that all passengers are abiding by the 'rules' of travelling on a Ouigo train, no additional un-booked luggage, no bikes etc.
Final Destination: Lille or Paris (gare de Lyon)
When making a train journey from Marseille to Avignon TGV station you now have a choice of travelling by standard TGV InOui trains or by these Ougio trains.
So you can now opt to save money, but have a much more basic on board experience, and travel on a Ouigo service.
At face value these Ouigo trains are a good option for travelling from Marseille to Avignon by train.
The comparatively short journey time can make the forsaking of the superior on-board experience on those nOui services worthwhile, in order to save on the ticket price.
These Ouigo services are also always cheaper than taking the TER trains to Avignon Centre station - even when factoring in the need to book separate train or bus tickets for the transfer from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre.
HOWEVER, this benefit is somewhat negated by the need to be at the station 30 mins before the Ouigo train departs.
And that's because you need to pass through 'reception' before boarding a Ouigo train - staff need to verify that all passengers are abiding by the 'rules' of travelling on a Ouigo train, no additional un-booked luggage, no bikes etc.
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