The new Provence–Côte d’Azur line in France aims to transform and thoroughly modernize the rail transport linking Marseille, Toulon, and Nice, with the goal of increasing the capacity, reliability, and attractiveness of rail services in the region. With a cost of billions of EUR, the project is currently under review by the European Investment Bank, given its strategic role in modernizing rail connectivity in southern France and its major impact on regional and sustainable mobility.

The project is structured into four implementation phases, and the declaration of public utility for the first two phases was issued in October 2022, which allowed the project to be formalized and the implementation process to begin.

According to the current schedule, the first phase is expected to be operational between 2029 and 2030, while work on the second phase is scheduled to begin between 2027 and 2028 and be completed between 2030 and 2035. These first two phases primarily aim to modernize and expand the railway infrastructure between Marseille, Toulon, and Nice in southern France, with significant upgrades to the existing network.

Although initial work began in March 2025 in Marseille, the official launch of the first phase took place in December 2025, in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron, at Saint-Charles station, where a railway tunnel approximately 8 km long is planned. This project will enable smoother and more efficient train traffic, including direct passage through the Marseille urban area. Completion of this phase will significantly improve rail connections in the Toulon area, between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Carnoules, as well as access to the future Nice Aéroport station.

The work included in these two phases involves a major reconfiguration of the network, the modernization of selected stations, the development of new infrastructure, and the elimination of at-grade crossings, as well as the doubling of certain line segments to increase operational capacity. In Marseille, the works are particularly significant, including the expansion of infrastructure dedicated to TGV services and the construction of an 8-km tunnel that will allow continuous traffic through Saint-Charles station, without the current terminus-style limitations. In Nice, near the airport, plans call for the construction of four platforms and the development of a modern multimodal hub capable of integrating both TER (regional) services and high-speed trains.

The estimated cost of the first two phases of the project amounts to approximately 3.65 billion EUR, of which about 1.2 billion EUR are allocated exclusively to the first phase. The financing structure is divided among several sources, with the European Union contributing approximately 20%, the French government 40%, and the remaining 40% covered by the project company, which brings together local authorities and raises funds through local contributions levied on visitors and landowners, excluding the residential sector.

In December 2024, the government, together with all institutional partners involved in the financing, confirmed the allocation of over 1.2 billion EUR for the implementation of the first phase, an amount that supplements the 212 EUR million contracted in 2024 for the completion of studies, land acquisitions, and the start of preparatory work. For the second phase, the finalization of the financing framework is scheduled for later this year.

At the end of March, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that it is reviewing the project, and if approved, the institution could provide a loan of approximately 600 EUR million, relative to an estimated eligible cost of 5.2 billion EUR, according to EIB assessments.

These two phases primarily target rail hubs and represent the most complex stage of network development in the Marseille area, with the goal of transforming how trains traverse and serve the city. The focus shifts from capacity expansions to a profound reorganization of rail flows within a highly congested urban hub, with major interventions in the access area to Saint Charles Station.

Solutions are planned to more effectively separate regional, long-distance, and freight traffic, so that traffic flows more smoothly with fewer disruptions, including through the integration of underground infrastructure to reduce pressure on the existing network.

At the same time, the final phase aims to create a complete rail crossing of Marseille via a high-capacity underground tunnel, which would eliminate the terminus status of Saint Charles Station and allow for continuous rail traffic from one end of the city to the other. This change would significantly increase the network’s capacity and allow for a higher frequency of regional trains, with reduced travel times.

Overall, these two phases are essential for modernizing Marseille’s rail infrastructure and transitioning to a more fluid and integrated metropolitan system.

Starting in 2030, the line covered by the first two phases will serve regional, national, and international services, increasing the frequency from 4 to 6 TER regional trains per hour in each direction around major metropolitan areas, as well as 3 long-distance connections per hour in each direction.

By potentially increasing the number of daily trains by up to 66% and developing three RER-type (suburban) lines around the Aix-Marseille, Toulon, and Nice, including along the French Riviera, phases 1 and 2 of the project will contribute to a significant expansion in rail transport usage.

By 2035, the number of trains will increase by 200, reaching 950 trains per day, up from 760 currently. As a result, passenger numbers are projected to grow by over 23 million annually, with the majority—approximately 62%—being users who will switch from road transport to rail.

On the international front, as part of the modernization and digitization project for the Marseille–Ventimiglia (Italy) line, the line will be integrated and interoperable along 260 km, equipped with ERTMS. France is investing 700 EUR million in this project. The 260-km line has 68 stations that will be modernized, and upon completion, the number of passengers is expected to reach 40 million per year by 2030.

Overall, the Provence–Côte d’Azur line represents a landmark infrastructure project for southern France, with major impacts on mobility, regional connectivity, and the transition to more efficient and sustainable rail transport in the long term.