tgv-inoui

The new TGV of the future will connect Paris and Marseille starting this summer!

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The Editor

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Great news for summer travelers! This Wednesday, March 11th at 6 AM, SNCF is opening its summer ticket sales for TGV and long-distance trains. And there’s an exciting new feature: the first TGV M trains, a new generation that is more spacious and eco-friendly, will be running starting in July between Paris and Marseille.

It's the summer surprise: Starting July 1st, travelers between Paris and Marseille could hop on board the all-new TGV M, the new generation of high-speed trains from SNCF.

Four trains are set to begin service on this very busy route. It's a strategic choice for the operator, who aims to boost its capacity on a line that's particularly crowded during peak travel times.

Designed to modernize the current fleet, the TGV M promises several improvements: an increased capacity of about 20%, with up to 740 seats, as well as a design aimed at reducing its environmental impact. Eventually, these new trains should gradually be introduced on other lines, especially towards Lyon.


Pre-sales for summer starting Wednesday at dawn

And to hope to hop on board this summer, you'll need to rise early. The SNCF is opening its summer ticket sales this Wednesday, March 11 at 6 AM. Travelers will be able to book their trips on TGV Inoui, Ouigo Grande Vitesse, and TGV Lyria for departures between July 4 and December 12. The Intercités, on the other hand, will be available for booking until September 16.

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So, we recommend not to wait too long because, according to the Trainline platform, the first days of opening are absolutely crucial for getting the best prices. Booking in the very first week can save you up to 50% on certain trips.

Demand keeps climbing: last year, 168.4 million passengers traveled on TGV Inoui, Ouigo, and Eurostar, marking a 3.5% increase compared to the previous year. The average occupancy rate reached 86%, with 35% of trains full.


Even more trains to the Mediterranean

To meet this high demand, SNCF has boosted its service to the South. For the weekends in July and August, up to eight round trips will be offered between Paris and Nice. Another exciting addition: 200,000 extra seats will be released for sale to Marseille and Nice in spring and autumn, as a complement to the summer schedule.

On the side of Ouigo, some seasonal routes will be making a comeback, especially between Paris Gare de Lyon and Perpignan, with stops at Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Nîmes, Montpellier, Sète, and Béziers. Lastly, the night trains from Paris to Cerbère will become daily during the summer, with three additional stops in the south: Port-La-Nouvelle, Leucate-La-Franqui, and Rivesaltes.

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One thing is for sure: with trains often fully booked to the Mediterranean, booking as soon as they open is the best way to travel at the best price.