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Marseille to Lille by train
How to take the train from Marseille to Lille by travelling on the more comfortable TGV InOui services
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Routes
From Marseille-Saint-Charles to Lille Europe
Journey Summary
4hr 44min - 4hr 51min
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.
The train service between Marseille and Lille is now split between these TGV-InOui services and alternative Ouigo services.
Both services can be compared and booked on Trainline and Oui.SNCF - though those Ouigo services are usually more than 50% cheaper on this route.
Our step by step guide to booking tickets on the PC version on Oui.SNCF (French national railways) website is available HERE.
Booking these InOui services:
Discounted 'Prems' tickets are made available on these TGV InOui trains, but you need to book ahead to obtain these 'Non-Modifiable' tickets at the cheapest possible price
They need to be booked at least 10 days in advance - if you're happy to travel with a ticket which can't be refunded or exchanged, if you subsequently have to change your travel plans.
Seat reservations are complimentary on these TGV InOui services - but you can choose in type of seat, and in what part of the train you want to travel by - including opting for the lower or upper decks.
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for the direct trains - if you particularly want to avoid the transfer across Paris.
Though those journey options via Paris - which involve;
(1) Taking a TGV from Marseille to Paris Gare de Lyon
(2) Making the transfer from the Gare De Lyon to the Gare Du Nord
(3) Taking a TGV train from Paris to Lille,
can be cheaper than taking these direct trains - so un-tick those 'direct train' options if you also want to check the alternative journey options and compare them with these direct trains.
Booking those alternative Ouigo services:
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 cannot choose a seating area, you have to sit in the seat(s) you are assigned when booking - and double deck trains are used for Ouigo services.
(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 yellow Ouigo button to access more info on the luggage allowances on Ouigo trains - they're more restrictive than on TGV InOui trains.
(5) A higher price is charged to travel in 'Quiet Zones' on Ouigo trains - and children aged 11 and under cannot travel in these quiet zones.
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.
Travelling with Eurail and InterRail passes:
In theory, if you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you can book reservations for these direct TGV-InOui trains on Oui-SNCF - as explained here.
However, whenever we have tried to book rail pass reservations for these InOui services to Lille, we have instead been given the option to travel via Paris - though if that occurs, you will only have to pay one fee.
Rail passes cannot be used on the Ouigo trains, but if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass, our guide to using rail passes in France, explains why taking a Ouigo train can be worth considering.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €49 | |
| Trainline | from €49 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Bruxelles or Lille
All trains also call at: Marne La Vallée and Aeroport-CDG
You can avoid having to cross Paris from the Gare De Lyon to the Gare Du Nord by taking these direct trains from Marseille to Lille.
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.
Alternative trains:
You can also now opt to travel from Marseille to Lille by Ouigo trains - they take the same high speed lines as these InOui services.
They're (much) cheaper than taking these standard InOui trains, but the on-board experience is more basic.
You also need to be at the station 30 mins prior to departure of Ouigo trains, so that you'll have time to pass through Ouigo reception.
From Marseille-Saint-Charles to Lille Flandres
Journey Summary
4hr 29min - 4hr 36min (approx
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.
(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.
Eurail and InterRail Pass Users:
Rail passes cannot be used on Ouigo trains, but if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass, our guide to using rail passes in France, explains why taking a Ouigo train can be worth considering.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €16 | |
| Ouigo | from €16 | |
| Trainline | from €16 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Lille-Flandres
When making a train journey from Lille to Marseille, 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.
Though something not particularly obvious, is that these Ouigo trains are faster than the TGV InOui trains on this Marseille route (they actually skip more stations) - HOWEVER, this journey time saving will be 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.
Though a plus of taking a Ouigo for a Marseille to Lille train journey, can be that these Ouigo trains arrive at the main city centre station - Lille Flandres.
While most of those alternative TGV InOui services arrive at Lille Europe station.
Final Destination: Lille-Flandres
When making a train journey from Lille to Marseille, 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.
Though something not particularly obvious, is that these Ouigo trains are faster than the TGV InOui trains on this Marseille route (they actually skip more stations) - HOWEVER, this journey time saving will be 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.
Though a plus of taking a Ouigo for a Marseille to Lille train journey, can be that these Ouigo trains arrive at the main city centre station - Lille Flandres.
While most of those alternative TGV InOui services arrive at Lille Europe station.
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