Transportation in the Marseille metropolitan area is reaching new heights! The cable car project connecting the Vitrolles train station to the Marseille-Provence airport is now officially underway (or should we say, in the air). On Friday, February 7, 2025, all the involved partners signed the agreement confirming its funding. The verdict: an investment of 43 million euros for a fast, eco-friendly, and elevated transport option, expected to be ready by 2029.
A ride suspended 20 meters in the air
Currently, the Vitrolles train station and the airport are only separated by a kilometer… but the journey is anything but smooth. This future cable car will change the game by providing a direct 6-minute connection, with a cabin coming every 6 minutes and a capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour.
Among the project's funders, we find the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis (22 million euros), the State (10.7 million euros), the Sud Region (4 million euros), and the airport.
Port Marseille-Provence (€3M) and Airbus Helicopters (€3M). The involvement of the latter is significant: its factory, which employs 12,000 people, will also be served by the line.A funicular-style elevator to complete the system
But that's not all! In addition to the cable car, another project is launching: an elevator that works like a funicular, connecting the Vitrolles train station to the Cap Horizon business area. Right now, a hill and the tracks make this connection challenging. With an investment of €8 million co-financed by the State and the Sud Region, this system should be operational by the first half of 2026.
© STOA – Groupement POMA / EIFFAGE / STOA / INGEROP
Between the cable car and this new easy access, Vitrolles is ready to step into a new era of mobility. Less traffic jams, more fluidity: we are totally on board with this (even if it’s not exactly cheap)!