Lyon to Marseille by train

Direct high-speed trains run from Lyon to Marseille Saint-Charles in about 1h30 to 2 hours. The slower TER along the Rhône takes nearly four hours.

Start at Part-Dieu

Most trains to Marseille leave from Lyon Part-Dieu, the city's main station. TGV INOUI trains leave from there usually one to two hours apart, with a longer mid-afternoon gap, from early morning until the last departure around 22:00. The trip takes about 1h40 to 2 hours, and every train goes straight through to Saint-Charles. Most stop at Avignon TGV and Aix-en-Provence TGV, and some also at Valence TGV.

OUIGO, SNCF's low-cost high-speed brand, runs a handful of trains a day, mostly in the afternoon and early evening. Some leave from Part-Dieu, others from Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV by the airport, and on some dates from Lyon Perrache. Saint-Exupéry is well outside the city, so read the departure station on your ticket: getting there from Part-Dieu means the Rhônexpress tram, under 30 minutes and a separate fare. The quickest train of the day is usually a OUIGO from Saint-Exupéry at about 1h30, which is handy if you land at Lyon airport and head straight south.

This pattern applies until the timetable change on 13 December 2026, when times can shift.

The TER along the Rhône

In normal running, a few direct TER trains a day leave Lyon Part-Dieu for Marseille Saint-Charles and take just under four hours. They call at Vienne, Valence Ville, Montélimar, Orange, Avignon Centre and Arles, among other stops, and at Vitrolles Aéroport Marseille Provence before Marseille. You need no reservation. Take it to stop at those towns, not to reach Marseille quickly.

Storm damage has disrupted the southern end of the line. Between Lyon, Valence and Avignon the TER runs normally, but south of Avignon services towards Marseille are shortened or slower, and the line between Arles, Miramas and Marseille is badly affected. The interruption is due to end on 14 December 2026. The high-speed trains run on their own line, so take one of those until the TER recovers.

Tickets, passes and luggage

OUIGO fares start at €10 for adults and €8 for children aged 4 to 11, on selected trains and dates. A OUIGO ticket includes one cabin bag up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm and one small bag up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm. A larger extra bag costs €5 online and €20 at the station. Boarding is not guaranteed in the last 5 minutes before departure, and OUIGO advises arriving 30 minutes early.

With an Interrail pass, you need a reservation on every TGV INOUI and OUIGO train, at €10 to €20. The TER needs none, which makes it a no-extra-cost option for pass holders once the line is back to normal.