Marseille to Lyon by train

Direct high-speed trains link Marseille Saint-Charles and Lyon in about 1h30 to 1h55. The slower TER along the Rhône takes nearly four hours.

TGV INOUI or OUIGO

For central Lyon, take the TGV INOUI. It runs from Marseille Saint-Charles to Lyon Part-Dieu in about 1h40 to 1h55, with departures usually one to two hours apart from early morning into the evening. Most trains stop at Aix-en-Provence TGV and Avignon TGV, and some also call at Valence TGV. The last high-speed train from Marseille leaves around 20:00, so evening choice is thinner than in the other direction.

OUIGO, SNCF's low-cost high-speed brand, is a little quicker at about 1h30, but it mostly arrives at Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV, the airport station east of the city. In busy periods some run to Part-Dieu or Perrache instead, so the arrival station is the detail to watch when you book. From Saint-Exupéry, the Rhônexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu in under 30 minutes. That works well if you are flying out of Lyon. If you are staying in the city, the tram ride and its fare eat into the OUIGO saving.

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

The TER on the classic line

In normal running, a few direct TER trains a day go from Saint-Charles to Lyon Part-Dieu in just under four hours. They call at Vitrolles Aéroport Marseille Provence, Arles, Avignon Centre, Orange, Montélimar, Valence Ville and Vienne, among other stops. You need no reservation. It makes sense for the towns along the way, not for reaching Lyon fast.

For now the classic line is badly disrupted. Storm damage to the rail infrastructure has cut or slowed TER services between Marseille, Miramas and Arles, and TER trains from Marseille towards Avignon, Valence and Lyon are shortened or take longer. The interruption is due to end on 14 December 2026. The TGV INOUI and OUIGO use the separate high-speed line, so they are the trains to take until then.

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 if you add it online and €20 at the station. OUIGO does not guarantee boarding in the last 5 minutes before departure, so leave time to find your platform at Saint-Charles.

With an Interrail pass, every TGV INOUI and OUIGO train needs a reservation, which costs €10 to €20. The TER needs none, so pass holders can ride it without extra cost once the line is running normally.