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Paris to Toulon by train
During the day you can only take high speed trains when travelling from Paris to Toulon during the day, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.
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Routes
Option 1: travel on the regular InOui services
Journey Summary
3hr 47min - 4hr 13min (approx) (inOui)
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these trains to Toulon depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.
Final Destination: Nice or Toulon or Hyeres or Menton
Connecting to the ferry port:
The Corsican Ferries depart from the Gare Maritime and bus line 3 (direction Mourillion) links the station to the ferry port; the buses are frequent during the day and the journey only takes 10 mins.
Mon - Fri up to 7 x trains per day
Saturday = 5 x trains
Sunday = 6 x trains
On this route there are additional departures in the summer months.
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.
The price is dictated by demand per departure, so book ahead and try and be flexible re: your departure and arrival times, as trains leaving earlier or later can be cheaper.
Expect to pay more for this journey between the beginning of June and mid-September, particularly if you will be travelling on a Friday or Saturday.
You will also see other alternative connections between Paris and Toulon, which involve changing trains at Marseille St Charles.
However, taking these direct trains is generally cheaper - particularly if 'Prems' tickets are still available for these direct trains - but cheapest of all will be taking a Ouigo train from Paris to Toulon,
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey, but rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding these TGV trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €41 | |
| Download the Oui.SNCF app | from €41 | |
| SaveATrain | from €41 | |
| Happyrail | from €41 | |
| Trainline | from €41 | |
| RailEurope | from €41 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The train which usually departs at 11:24 (except Saturday) is fastest because it takes the quickest route, all of the other departures make a diversion to call at the main station in Marseille, where they reverse direction.
You should be travelling at more than 270 km/h for more than 75% of this journey.
The train will head on to the high speed line around 10 mins into the journey and won't leave it until it reaches the outskirts of Marseille.
This high speed route becomes more scenic between Valence and the outskirts of Marseille, when the train will be travelling across Provence.
But this is a journey, which saves the best to last - once the train has passed through the suburbs of Marseille and moved on to the conventional tracks.
Between Marseille and Toulon there are some fabulous views over the coast from the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel).
The trains which call at Marseille will reverse direction when they depart from St. Charles station.
Option 2: Save money by taking the more basic Ouigo services
Journey Summary
4hr 1min - 4hr 4min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Nice
When making a train journey from central Paris to Toulon, 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.
2 x trains per day
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 may only see these Ouigo services, but they are not the only option on this route.
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 that:
(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 €19 | |
| Ouigo | from €19 | |
| Trainline | from €19 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you do opt to travel from Paris to Toulon by these Ouigo trains, you should aim to be at the Gare De Lyon, 30 mins before the train is due to depart.
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.
These Ouigo trains travel on the same high speed line between Paris and Marseille which the TGVInOui trains take.
This is a journey of contrasts, between Paris and the Marseille suburbs, the train will travel on the high speed line.
After Marseille the train will slow down, but this gives more of an opportunity to take in the scenery
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) - once the train has passed through the Marseille area, there are some sea views.
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