Marseille Metro, Bus & Tram

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Marseille Metro, Bus & Tram

• Also see INFOrmation Page Bus Services in Provence

The RTM (Régie des Transports de Marseille) is the public transport service for Marseille. It is made up of both buses and subways, with a new tramway currently under construction.

The Marseille fare system is called Reseau Liberté. Tickets are valid for metro, tram and buses with free transfer within a one hour period. 

Tickets available are: Solo (single ticket), Carte Journee (day pass), Carte Liberte (cash card) and L'Hebdo (12 trips in one week).

Metro

There are two metro lines that both stop at the main train station and run north and south in the downtown area.

• Ligne 1 (10,4km): between Saint Just and Malpasse the line runs in the middle of a highway, after a short tunnel it continues on a viaduct to the terminus at La Rose. Takes about 19 minutes.
• Ligne 2 (8.9km): This line ends on a viaduct on both sides Bourgainville and Ste Margarite - Dromel, the rest is underground. Takes 16 minutes. 

Trains run from 5:00 until 21:30 every day. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, trains run until 0:30. There are trains every 5 minutes and every 3 to 4 minutes during rush hour.

There are two transfer stations: Castellane and St Charles (Central rail station). Information panels are clear and easy to read. On the trains stations are not announced, neither acoustically nor on a panel. There is an arrow showing which side to get off, but usually it's not illuminated before the train gets into the station.

• RTM
  At: 10-12 avenue Clot-Bey
  Tel: 04 91 10 55 55 / 04 91 91 92 10

Tram

Tram 68 formerly shown on metro maps was closed in December 2003 to be integrated in the future tramline 1 to La Blancarde and les Caillols. This will be part of a network with 3 tramlines, all meeting around Noailles. Line 2 will run from Bougainville to Castellane and Line 3 from Place 4 Septembre to La Blancarde. The first sections of this 3-line tramway should be completed in 2007.

Airport Transfer

Marseille Provence Airport (Marignane) is 25km from Marseille. There are shuttle buses to Marseille St Charles railway station (journey time 20 to 30 minutes) and to Aix en Provence bus station (journey time 30 to 40 minutes). 

Taxis are available 24 hours a day and can be ordered in advance.

• Airport Taxis
  Tel: 04 42 14 24 44

Buses

Two regional bus services cater to the Marseilles area, the Bus de Letange and the Autobus Aubagnais.

Bus de Letange 

The Bus de Letange serves the communes of Berre, Gignac, Marignane, Les Pennes, Rognac, St Victoret, Velaux and Vitrolles

• Bus de Letange website
  At: 7 rue d'Athenes, ZI, Les Estroublans, 13127, Vitrolles.
  Tel: 04 42 10 02 02
  Fax: 04 42 79 06 88

Tickets are available at the main station

• Centre Urbain
  At: Arcade des Abbayes, 13127 Vitrolles
  Tel: 04 42 06 66
  Fax: 04 42 74 82 63

Season tickets and ticket books (carnet) for 10 trips are available

Autobus Aubagnais

The Autobus Aubagnais serves the suburbs of Marseilles

• Autobus Aubagnais (main office)
  At: 747 avenue de la Fleuride, Zone Industrielle Les Paluds, 13400 Aubagne
  Tel: 04 42 70 28 00
  Info: 04 42 03 24 25

Tickets are available at shops in the following areas:

• Aubagne, Auriol, Cuges les Pins, Gemenos, La Penne sur Huveaune, Roquevaire, La Bouilladisse, La Destrousse, Peypin, Saint Zacharie