There is a choice of train services when taking a train from Marseille to Béziers.
The express trains are not only faster, they can be cheaper too, if you can book ahead of the travel date.
Though when the discounted tickets have sold out, or if you will be booking walk-up tickets at the station, the slightly slower TER trains become the cheaper option.
If you will be making this journey with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you can save €10 by taking the TER trains.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
2hr 15min - 2hr 25min (appox)
Daily
Until July 28th:
Mon - Fri = 5 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = 4 x trains per day
From July 28th:
Monday = 6 x trains
Tues to Thurs = 5 x trains per day
Friday = 6 x trains
Sat/Sun = 5 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Exclusive for New Customers: Receive a 10% discount by using the code 24NOV on any purchase with a maximum total price of £100, until 28 November 2024 (11:59 pm CET). Limit one coupon per qualifying booking. Cannot be combined, transferred or exchanged.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Bordeaux (the IC trains); Madrid (Spanish AVE train)
These trains also call at: Nimes and Montpellier
The train service between Marseilles and Béziers is split between:
Though despite this there are fewer trains between Marseille and the Occitanie region than you might expect, so even if you will be buying tickets last minute, look up this journey online before heading to the station.
The RENE-SNCF train, which will be resuming from July 28th, is typically the first departure of the day and it is around 10 mins faster than the Intercités trains, as it takes the high speed line between Marseille and Nimes.
Booking tickets in advance:
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date.
The train service between Marseilles and Béziers is split between these express trains and an alternative service of TER trains.
If you're booking ahead and the limited numbers of discounted tickets for these Intercités trains are still available; they can be more than €20 cheaper than the TER trains.
In contrast the alternative TER trains have a fixed price, so you won't save by booking the TER trains online.
So if you're booking ahead and the departure times suit, target these Intercités trains, they're faster and can be cheaper.
However, when the discounted tickets for these express trains have sold out, the TER trains are then the least expensive option, but only by around €4.
Booking tickets at the station:
If you will be booking last minute at the station then the alternative TER trains will be cheaper.
Although, as the difference in price is only around €4, it makes sense to take the next available train; particularly as the overall train service between Marseille and Beziers isn't particularly frequent.
Rail Pass users:
If you will be travelling in France with a Eurail or InterRail pass you will save €10 by avoiding these trains and taking those TER trains instead.
2hr 47min - 3hr 9min (approx)
Daily
Mon - Fri = 4 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = 3 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
Exclusive for New Customers: Receive a 10% discount by using the code 24NOV on any purchase with a maximum total price of £100, until 28 November 2024 (11:59 pm CET). Limit one coupon per qualifying booking. Cannot be combined, transferred or exchanged.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Narbonne or Perpignan
These trains also call at: Nimes and Montpellier
The train service between Marseilles and Béziers comprises these TER trains and the faster express ntercités services.
If you can book ahead, you can make a substantial saving, by targeting the Intercités trains.
Though there are fewer trains between Marseille and Occitanie than you might expect, so even if you will be buying tickets last minute, look up this journey online before heading to the station.
The first of these direct TER trains is typically scheduled to depart from Marseille after 12:15, so if you'll want to head off in the morning you'll need to either take an express train, or leave by the TER train, which departs at around 08:20 and then make a connection in Montpellier.
In good weather and IF the train has clean windows, it can be worth taking a seat on the left, when boarding these trains. there are some sporadic coastal views throughout the journey.
Book early and save: No (not on these TER trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
If you're booking ahead and the limited numbers of discounted tickets for the alternative express trains, particularly the Intercites trains are still available, they can be more than €20 cheaper than these TER trains**.
In contrast these TER trains have a fixed price - so you won't save by booking the TER trains online.
However, when those discounted tickets for the IC trains have sold out, these TER trains are then cheaper; but only by around €4.
So if you will be booking last minute at the station, then these TER trains will be cheaper.
Although, as the difference in price compared to the express trains will only be around €4, it makes sense to take the next available train, particularly as the overall service isn't particularly frequent.
Rail pass users should take these TER trains.
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