Trenitalia expands its French network with the opening of the Paris-Marseille route, scheduled for June 15, 2025. Offering four daily round trips, the Italian company is banking on comfort, speed and a premium experience on board its Frecciarossa trains, with the aim of attracting both leisure and business travellers.
Trenitalia's service will link Paris to Marseille in 3.5 hours, with a first departure at 5.52 am from Gare de Lyon, and a last train at 7.02 pm. The routes will be marked by strategic stops at Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Avignon TGV and Aix-en-Provence TGV stations, reinforcing the region's connectivity.
While full fare details have not yet been made official, Trenitalia generally follows a competitive pricing strategy, with attractive introductory prices and top-of-the-range services included. This policy has already proved its worth on the Paris-Lyon route, where the operator offers tickets starting at 23 euros. It is therefore likely that similar offers will be made on the Paris-Marseille route.
Trenitalia's arrival on the Paris-Marseille route marks a new stage in the opening up of the French rail market to competition. After upsetting the SNCF on the Paris-Lyon route, the Italian company now intends to stimulate overall demand rather than simply fragmenting the existing market. According to Trenitalia, the Paris-Lyon line saw a 40% increase in ridership in 2024, illustrating the potential benefits for the sector as a whole.
In addition to Paris and Marseille, this new link also benefits intermediate towns. Stopping at transfer stations will improve regional services, bringing significant time savings for the inhabitants of the regions crossed, and reinforcing the dynamic of sustainable mobility.
Trenitalia is clearly committed to expansion in France. After Paris-Lyon and Paris-Marseille, other routes could follow, in a context where travelers are looking for fast, ecological and comfortable alternatives toshort flights and private cars.
In short, with this new Paris-Marseille line, Trenitalia continues to expand its presence in France, reviving competition on this emblematic TGV route. A strong signal that could transform travel habits in France over the long term.
Transport in Paris and the Île-de-France region: fares and new features, what's changing in 2025
From January 1ᵉʳ 2025, public transport in the Île-de-France region will be evolving, with new fares and major changes to the network. Between fare simplification, line extensions and major projects like the Grand Paris Express, let's discover together what's in store for us in 2025. [Read more]
Transport in Paris and the Île-de-France region: fares and new features, what's changing in 2025
