Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
When looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box, on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.
It can be worth comparing the prices between booking agents for this journey.
The train is usually scheduled to depart from Marseille St Charles at 08:01 (but on some dates it can depart at 08:04).
Seat reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
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 French 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 station in France
Or on Monday to Froday there is an option to avoid paying the rail pass reservation fee, by taking this alternative journey.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trainline | from €37 | |
Oui.SNCF | from €37 |
Final Destination: Madrid
The train also calls at: Avignon TGV**,** Figueres-Vilifant and Girona
The train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Marseille St Charles just after 08:00.
Barcelone is the French name for Barcelona - it will be used on info screens at stations and on the train.
This is a journey of three distinct phases.
1: Between Marseille and Nimes the train travels on the high speed line.
2. From Montpellier to Perpignan the trains follow the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly south of Narbonne.
As can be seen in the video, that was filmed on a TGV, what's unusual and rather fabulous about this part of the journey, is that the 'sea' can be seen from both sides of the train.
3. Between Perpignan and Barcelona, the train reverts back to using a high speed line.
Final Destination: Madrid
The train also calls at: Avignon TGV**,** Figueres-Vilifant and Girona
The train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Marseille St Charles just after 08:00.
Barcelone is the French name for Barcelona - it will be used on info screens at stations and on the train.
This is a journey of three distinct phases.
1: Between Marseille and Nimes the train travels on the high speed line.
2. From Montpellier to Perpignan the trains follow the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly south of Narbonne.
As can be seen in the video, that was filmed on a TGV, what's unusual and rather fabulous about this part of the journey, is that the 'sea' can be seen from both sides of the train.
3. Between Perpignan and Barcelona, the train reverts back to using a high speed line.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.