TGV at Aix en Provence stationTwo train stations serve Aix en Provence, the high-speed train station outside the city and Aix Centre, the downtown regional (TER) station. This is a guide to both, and to rail travel to and from Aix en Provence.

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Aix TGV Station

Long-distance rail travellers to and from Aix will almost certainly pass through the TGV station.

Located in the countryside 16 km / 10 miles south-west of the city, it opened in 2001 as part of the high-speed rail link between Paris and Marseille.

Click here to view the station website for Aix TGV station (in French only), which includes live travel information on train arrivals and departures.

GETTING TO AND FROM THE STATION

Aix TGV station seen from the roadThe Aix TGV station itself has been a roaring success, much more so than originally projected, mainly because it's not only used by people travelling to Aix itself.

Many commuters find it quicker and more convenient to get from Aix TGV station to the airport or to areas north of Marseille, than to travel from Saint Charles station in Marseille.

As a result, the station's facilities are woefully over-stretched especially at peak periods. One of the most obvious examples is the shortage of car parking.

There is free access (a dépose minute) of up to 15 minutes to drop off or pick up passengers.

For longer-term parking there are over 3,000 spaces at various prices and of various specifications (long-term, short-term, subscription only, etc).

But these car-parks are often full and, as a result (as well as in order to avoid high car-park charges), drivers park their cars along both sides of the approach roads for some distance around the station.

Up to a thousand vehicles are regularly left here. It can cause major traffic jams at peak travel periods, so anyone planning to drop off a car before travelling on by train should bear this in mind.

More recently an additional car-park, the P13 with 1,110 spaces, has opened at Aix TGV station. Designed for long-term parking, it is a ten minute walk from the station and cheaper than the other car-parks.

Passengers planning to rent a vehicle will find a cabin housing a number of car hire companies - including Hertz, Europcar, Avis and Sixt - outside the station. Take the exit by the northbound tracks towards Paris, and it's about 50 metres / 160 feet along on your left.

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The taxi rank is outside the exit by the southbound tracks towards Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 42 27 71 11. Click here to pre-book a holiday taxi to or from Aix TGV station.

There is a regular bus shuttle service to the centre of Aix and to Marseille-Provence airport at Marignane, which lies 12 km / 7.5 miles to the south-west of the station. It leaves from stops on Level -1, on the road running underneath the station. Click here for the bus timetable from Aix TGV to central Aix and Marseille-Provence airport.

Aix TGV station seen from the airBuses from Aix city centre to Aix TGV leave from the bus station (la gare routière) at avenue de l'Europe. At Marseille-Provence airport, they leave from the new bus station located between Terminal 1A and Terminal 2.

Aix TGV has no direct connections to the local (TER) rail network to other towns in Provence. But some municipalities have set up bus routes.

Companies such as Autocars Payan run regular services to towns within the region. Ciick on the links to check the current availability. These buses, as well as more local ones to Vitrolles and Martigues, leave from Level -1.

In winter, a snow bus shuttle (navette blanche) runs to a range of ski resorts at weekends. Click here for details of the snow buses from Aix TGV.

 

STATION FACILITIES

The main entrance is on the west side. Most of the station's meagre facilities are located here in Hall A including a newsagent, a photo booth, a bar serving snacks and drinks, vending machines and a few tables for diners.

Opposite is the ticket office and a help point for disabled travellers. There is no left luggage or lost property facility - you can report items of lost property online. Another disadvantage of Aix TGV is that its exposed location can make it a very chilly place to wait in when the Mistral is blowing.

Platform at Aix TGV stationA small bonus is the free wi-fi access. There is also free wi-fi in the shuttle buses linking Aix bus station, Aix TGV station and Marseille Saint Charles train and bus station.

There are (pay-for) toilets and a cashpoint (ATM) is found outside the station. Take the main exit and it's a few metres on your right.

The main concourse is linked to the southbound platform by a footbridge across the tracks with lifts / elevators on both sides. There is another entrance / exit on this side, but not much else, apart from a small waiting area.

TRAIN ROUTES TO AND FROM AIX TGV STATION

The website of France's national rail company SNCF has been rebranded yet again and given a new website address. Formerly and briefly oui.sncf, it is now SNCF Connect.

The high-speed route from Paris has slashed journey times from the capital to Aix en Provence to well under three hours.

If travelling from London, you need to change trains in either Lille or Paris.

The advantage of Lille is that the trains connect in the same station. However, you should make sure both your trains run to Lille Europe. Some domestic routes run to Lille Flandres, which is a 10-15 minute walk away.

Paris offers more trains and the total journey time is shorter, but you will need to cross the city, either by taxi or by RER, from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon: allow at least 90 minutes.

The dining roon of Le Train Bleu restaurant, ParisYou could do this trip in a leisurely style and have a drink or a meal in the incredible Le Train Bleu restaurant, pictured, in the Gare de Lyon.

Built in 1900, it is decorated in full Belle Époque splendour with 41 magnificent ceiling frescos giving Parisian diners a foretaste of their destinations in the South of France.

Another, cheaper restaurant near the station is the Brasserie l'Européen, right opposite the main entrance to the Gare de Lyon.

It too has a flamboyant interior with Art Nouveau chandeliers and Tiffany lights (and a clock whose hands go backwards), a handy locker room for suitcases, and a medium-priced set menu. Good to know: unlike Le Train Bleu, which only serves meals at limited set times, the Brasserie l'Européen offers continuous service.

The choice is small and basic, but of excellent quality. The set menu might feature oysters, steak, duck or fish and a dessert. The house speciality is rum baba. Brasserie l'Européen, 21 bis boulevard Diderot, 75012 Paris. Tel: (+33) 1 43 43 99 70.

There are also direct high-speed services between Aix and Avignon, Brussels, Lille, Lyon, Geneva, Marseille, Toulon and Nice, as well as less frequent ones with Barcelona, Dijon, Frankfurt, Hyères, Madrid, Montpellier, Nantes and Strasbourg.

And a more recent addition is the "Ouigo", a very low-cost, high-speed train introduced by the SNCF in 2013. You can take this train from Aix en Provence to Marseille, Avignon, Valence, Lyon, Marne la Vallée, just east of Paris (the station for Euro Disney), central Paris itself or Lille.

Alternatively you can head east on Ouigo from Aix TGV to Toulon, Les Arcs Dragignan, Saint Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes or Nice.

BUYING TICKETS

There is a ticket office at the station but you can book Eurostar and French high-speed train tickets in advance online and print them out on your own computer or download them to your phone before departure, just like an airline ticket.

If travelling from the UK, bear in mind that it is often cheaper to buy a Eurostar ticket to Paris or Lille and then a separate onward ticket to your final destination.

It is also worth checking the first-class fare, which might be little more than the second-class fare for the same journey and is sometimes even cheaper.

Prem's (sic - note the rogue apostrophe, often found in French) are cheap train tickets sold on a first-come-first-served basis. See above for detais of the low-cost Ouigo service.

Aix Centre Station

Aix Centre station is at the junction of the avenue Victor Hugo and rue Gustave Desplaces, a short walk from La Rotonde at the bottom of the Cours Mirabeau. The station website (in French only) includes live travel information on train arrivals and departures.

Aix en Provence central station SNCF TEROne train line passes through the station, from Marseille Saint Charles in the south to either Pertuis or (less frequently) Manosque, Gap and Briançon in the north.

Click here to read about the ZOU! card which offers up to 75% discount on local train travel. Discounts are also available to senior travellers over 60 of any nationality, An information desk by the main entrance will answer queries about these and will help disabled travellers.

Automatic vending machines sell drinks and snacks. A cashpoint (ATM) is on the wall outside and the toilets are on platform 1.

There's also a photo booth. But one of the most useful features of any station is missing: a left luggage office.

First the good news: in 2016 and not before time, Aix finally got a left luggage facility.

It's called Keepcase, is under video surveillance and is open seven days a week. The lockers come in a range of sizes and can accommodate items from large suitcases to small shopping bags.

The bad news for travellers is that it's nowhere near the train or bus stations. In fact it's right on the other side of the Old Town. But it's better than nothing! Keepcase, 29 rue Boulegon, 13100 Aix en Provence. Tel: (+33) 6 65 93 04 72.

A company renting bikes, electric bikes and scooters can be found opposite. Various car hire companies can be found on the nearby avenue Victor Hugo.

You may (or may not) find a taxi waiting outside the station. To book one in advance, telephone(+33) 4 42 27 71 11 or find one online via Holiday Taxis or the Taxi Aixois website

In winter, a snow train (train des neiges) runs from Aix Central station to a range of ski resorts at weekends. Click here for details of the Aix snow trains.

Where to eat and drink: Right opposite the station, Le Capitole has free wi-fi and serves excellent, cheap hot meals at lunchtime and snacks during the rest of the day.

 

WHEN TRAVELLING TO AND FROM EITHER STATION

French train strike cartoonAs on all continental railways, you need to date-stamp (composter) your ticket before boarding the train at one of the yellow machines at the entrance to every platform.

This does not apply to tickets which have been printed out on your own computer or downloaded to your phone and are tied to a particular train.

Finally, it is wise to check for French train strikes (grèves), delays, breakdowns and cancellations before you travel, as the SNCF is highly susceptible to all of these. Fortunately at least this information is now available in English on the SNCF website.

Alternatively, a website called Cestlagreve lists the many current and planned strikes in all sectors in France (in French only).

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