European Investment Bank Launches Funding Review for the €5.2B Provence-Côte d’Azur Rail Corridor

The Provence–Côte d’Azur line is planned to reshape rail transport. It covers the Marseille, Toulon, and Nice corridor. The project aims to increase capacity and improve reliability. It is also meant to make train services more attractive across the region. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Valued at several billion EUR, the project is now under European Investment Bank review. The review reflects its role in upgrading rail links in southern France. It also relates to its expected effect on regional and sustainable mobility.

Provence–Côte d’Azur line phases and Marseille works

The programme is divided into four stages. In October 2022, the first two stages received a declaration of public utility. That allowed the project to be formalized and move into implementation.

Under the current timetable, phase one is due to enter service between 2029 and 2030. Work on the second phase is planned to start between 2027 and 2028. Completion is expected between 2030 and 2035. Together, these two phases focus on rail infrastructure between Marseille, Toulon, and Nice. Also, they involve upgrades, expansion, and substantial improvements to the existing network.

Preparatory work started in Marseille in March 2025. The formal launch of phase one followed in December 2025 at Saint-Charles station. President Emmanuel Macron was present at the launch. A rail tunnel of about 8 km is planned there, as SNCF Group notes.

Also, the scheme is designed to make train movements through Marseille smoother and more efficient. In addition, it includes direct through-running through the urban area. Once completed, this phase will significantly improve rail links around Toulon. For example, the affected section is between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Carnoules. The phase will also improve access to the future Nice Aéroport station.

Network works in Marseille and Nice

The first two phases involve extensive changes to the network. The planned works include selected station upgrades and new infrastructure. They also include removal of at-grade crossings. Certain line sections will be doubled to increase operating capacity.

In Marseille, the programme includes major infrastructure expansion for TGV services. It also includes construction of the 8-km tunnel. That tunnel will allow trains to pass continuously through Saint-Charles station. It will remove the constraint of the station’s current terminus function. Near Nice airport, the plan provides for four platforms. It also includes a modern multimodal hub for TER regional trains and high-speed services.

Funding structure and European Investment Bank review

The first two phases are estimated at around 3.65 billion EUR. Of this total, approximately 1.2 billion EUR is assigned to the first phase alone. Financing is split between several contributors. The European Union is expected to provide about 20%. The French government will provide 40%. The remaining 40% will come from the project company.

This company brings together local authorities. It raises funds through local levies on visitors and landowners. The residential sector is excluded.

In December 2024, the government confirmed more than 1.2 billion EUR for the first phase. All institutional financing partners were also involved in that confirmation. This comes in addition to the 212 EUR million contracted in 2024. Also, that amount covers studies, land acquisition, and the start of preparatory activities. Separately, the financing structure for phase two is expected to be finalized later this year.

Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank announced that it was reviewing the project. The announcement came at the end of March. If approved, the EIB could provide a loan of about 600 EUR million. The bank has identified an estimated eligible cost of 5.2 billion EUR.

Rail hubs and Saint-Charles station capacity

The third and fourth phases are centered on rail hubs. They form the most complex part of the network’s development in the Marseille area. Their purpose is to change how trains move through and serve the city. Major works are planned around the approaches to Saint-Charles station.

In addition, the planned solutions aim to separate regional, long-distance, and freight services more effectively. This would allow rail traffic to move with fewer disruptions. Also, underground infrastructure would reduce pressure on the existing network.

The final phase also aims to create a full rail crossing through Marseille. It would use a high-capacity underground tunnel. This would remove Saint-Charles station’s terminus status. In addition, it would permit continuous rail movement across the city. The change would increase network capacity and support more frequent regional services. It would also reduce journey times.

Taken together, these two phases are central to the modernization of Marseille’s rail infrastructure. They also support the shift toward a more integrated metropolitan rail system.

Regional services and Marseille–Ventimiglia modernization

From 2030, the section covered by the first two phases is expected to handle several service types. These include regional, national, and international services. Around major metropolitan areas, TER regional train frequency is planned to rise. It will increase from 4 to 6 trains per hour in each direction. Meanwhile, long-distance services are expected to reach 3 connections per hour in each direction.

Train numbers and passenger growth

Separately, the project could increase daily trains by up to 66%, according to SNCF Réseau. It also includes the development of three RER-type suburban lines around Aix-Marseille, Toulon, and Nice. These include services along the French Riviera. Phases 1 and 2 are therefore expected to support a major expansion in rail use.

By 2035, daily trains are projected to rise from the current 760 to 950. That represents an increase of 200 trains. Passenger numbers are expected to grow by more than 23 million per year. About 62% of these additional passengers are projected to shift from road transport to rail.

At the same time, the project is linked internationally to the Marseille–Ventimiglia line. That line is being modernized and digitalized toward Italy. This 260-km route will be made interoperable and equipped with ERTMS. France is investing 700 EUR million in the programme. The line includes 68 stations that are due to be modernized. Passenger volumes are expected to reach 40 million per year by 2030.

Overall, the Provence–Côte d’Azur line is among southern France’s major planned rail infrastructure projects. Its expected effects include higher capacity and stronger regional connections. They also include a long-term shift toward more efficient and sustainable rail transport.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: