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Madrid to Marseille by train
How to take the rail journey Madrid to Marseille
The direct trains between Madrid and Marseille have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.
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Routes
Until Dec 10th: From Madrid Atocha/Puerta De Atocha to Marseille-Saint-Charles
Journey Summary
7hr 55min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Marseille
This train, which is the only direct train from Madrid to destinations in France arrives in Marseille too late to travel on to any destination to the east beyond Toulon.
The train also calls at: Montpellier; Nimes; Avignon TGV and Aix-en-Provence TGV.
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 4 months ahead of the travel date
This trains is usually scheduled to depart from Madrid Atocha daily at 13:25 - so target that time when looking up this journey
It can be worth comparing the prices between booking agents for this journey.
Reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Rail Pass Users:
Rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding, but these reservations cannot be booked on the ticket agent websites.
If you want the peace of mind of reserving before arriving at a Spanish station, you will need to use the Eurail and InterRail booking services to reserve your seats - and pay the booking fee for doing so.
Though you can avoid a booking fee if you do reserve at a Spanish station.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | * | |
| Renfe | * | |
| SNCF Connect | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
This journey showcases European train travel at its best.
With its fantastic contrasts between the sweeping vistas across the Spanish plains and the coastal views in France - though you won't see the latter if you make this journey between October and March.
This is also a journey of three distinct parts.
- Between Madrid and Perpignan the train travels on two high speed lines.
From Madrid to Barcelona:
From Figures to Perpignan:
- Between Perpignan and Montpellier the train follows the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the lagoons. particularly north of Perpignan.
Though you'll need to travelling when days are longer to experience this landscape as the train travels by the coast after 18:00.
3: Between Nimes and Marseille the train then switches back to the high speed line.
After Dec 11th: From Madrid to Marseille by train
Journey Summary
from 11hr 37min
Daily
Travel Information
The French national rail company SNCF and the Spanish rail company Renfe have opted to terminate their partnership which jointly managed the service of high speed trains between France and Spain.
As a result the long-standing direct trains between Madrid and and Marseille have been withdrawn, without any adjustment to any other train times, to provide an equivalent indirect journey on a similar schedule to what had been available.
1 or 2 x connections per day
Tickets
No ticket agent will seemingly offer this end-to-end journey on single booking, but Trainline will sell a Madrid to Barcelona journey and a Barcelona to Marseille journey via Nimes.
Both journeys will typically be available from four months ahead of the travel date.
Train 1
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Barcelona-Sants or Figueres
The train which typically departs Madrid at 06:30 is due into Barcelona Sants at 09:20 and a train which departs Madrid at 07:00 and is non-stop to Barcelona where it usually scheduled to arrive in Barcelona at 09:30.
Both of these trains aren't seemingly available on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The train on to France will typically be departing from Barcelona at 10:32.
A daily train to Barcelona usually departs from Madrid at 09:30 and is due to arrive into Barcelona at 12:37, nearly two hours before the departure of a train on to France.
This train is scheduled to depart from Madrid-Charmartin at 07:15 on Mon-Fri only.
This train is second class/Turista class only.
Note that this train departs from Chamartin station in Madrid and NOT from Atocha station - which is where the AVE trains to Barcelona to depart from.
Final Destination: Barcelona Franca
This train also calls at: Barcelona Passeig Di Gracia
If you'll be headong to central Barcelona, don't leave this train at Barcelona Sants station, remain on the train until it arrives at the next station Passeig Di Gracia.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Paris Gare De Lyon
The connecting time between trains in Nimes will typically be around 1hr 5mins.
The connection at Nimes is suggested because there are brasseries and cafes right by the station, which are suitable places to await the onward train.
Or there will be the option of waiting for the onward train on the voie (track/platform), the train from Marseille will typically arrive on the same voie that the train on to Marseille will be departing from.
Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train travels on a high speed line.
2. Between Perpignan and Montpellier the train follows the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly north of Perpignan.
The videos were filmed from a train travelling in the opposite direction.
Train 3
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille-St Charles
Take the connections which are typically available on any day, but Tuesday and Wednesday and the arrival time into Marseille will typically be at 16:37.
Or if you take the usually available daily connections, the arrival time into Marseille will be around 21:30
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