Tram systems in Marseille
Marseille is a major port city on France’s Mediterranean coast, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, it is France’s oldest city. The Vieux-Port remains the historic heart of Marseille, reflecting the maritime connections that have shaped the city for more than 2,600 years.
Marseille’s public transport network combines two metro lines, three tram lines and an extensive bus network, including bus rapid transit services. Regional rail and interurban coaches provide connections beyond the city. Water transport adds another dimension, with a ferry crossing the Vieux-Port and seasonal maritime shuttles serving coastal districts.
The modern tram network opened in 2007 and comprises three lines, numbered T1, T2 and T3. T1 links Noailles with Les Caillols in eastern Marseille, while T2 connects Arenc Euroméditerranée with La Blancarde. Together, these routes serve central neighbourhoods, the Euroméditerranée district and residential areas to the east.
T3 forms a north–south route between Gèze and La Gaye, passing through the city centre and Castellane. Extensions at both ends opened on 7 January 2026, adding connections to northern districts and the southern hospital area. The tram network complements the metro, with interchange points linking the two systems.
RTM — Régie des Transports Métropolitains
RTM operates Marseille’s tramways, metro and urban buses on behalf of the Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence. These services form part of the wider La Métropole Mobilité transport network.
Marseille’s first tram line opened in January 1876, linking Les Chartreux with La Joliette using horse-drawn vehicles. Further routes followed, establishing a network across the city. Electric operation began in 1892 on the Belsunce–Saint-Louis line, and wider electrification followed around the turn of the century. By 1914, Marseille had an extensive network comprising around a hundred lines.
During the 1950s, buses and trolleybuses progressively replaced Marseille’s tramways. By January 1960, only line 68 remained, connecting Noailles with Saint-Pierre through a tunnel beneath La Plaine and along Boulevard Chave. Its tunnel provided a direct route that was difficult to replace with buses, helping the line survive the closure of the wider network.
Line 68 was modernised during the 1960s, with PCC tramcars entering service in 1969. The Noailles terminus was subsequently adapted to provide an interchange with metro line M2 when it opened in 1984. The surviving tram line continued operating until January 2004, when it closed for reconstruction as part of a new tram network.
Modern trams began operating in 2007, initially on a route between Euroméditerranée Gantès and Les Caillols. The network took shape in stages while reconstruction of the former line 68 corridor continued. In September 2008, the refurbished tunnel to Noailles reopened, establishing T1 between Noailles and Les Caillols, alongside T2 between Euroméditerranée Gantès and La Blancarde.
T2 was extended north to Arenc Le Silo, now called Arenc Euroméditerranée, in March 2010. A third line, T3, opened in May 2015, sharing tracks with T2 through the central area before following a new route along Rue de Rome to Castellane.
On 7 January 2026, T3 was extended north to Gèze and south to La Gaye. These extensions added 6.2 kilometres and twelve new stations, turning the line into a longer north–south corridor through Marseille.
Marseille’s tramway uses standard-gauge track, with a rail spacing of 1,435 mm. Trams draw 750 V DC electricity from overhead wires through roof-mounted pantographs.
The established fleet consists of 32 Bombardier Flexity Outlook trams. These bidirectional vehicles have seven sections and are approximately 42.5 metres long. They are maintained at the Saint-Pierre depot.
The fleet has been supplemented by an initial order of 15 CAF Urbos trams for the expanded network. These also have seven sections and measure approximately 42.5 metres, with an exterior design that follows the maritime styling of the existing fleet. The CAF vehicles entered service on T3 alongside its northern and southern extensions in January 2026.
A distinctive feature of T1 is the Noailles tunnel, inherited from the former line 68. The tunnel carries a single track between Noailles and Eugène Pierre, requiring tram movements in opposite directions to share this section.
The T3 extensions introduced a second maintenance and stabling facility at Sainte-Marguerite Dromel. The depot accommodates the new CAF fleet and has been designed to hold up to 30 trams as the network expands.
A planned extension will take T2 from Rue de Rome towards Place du 4-Septembre, adding approximately 2.1 kilometres of track and four new stations. The route will pass through the Préfecture and Saint-Victor areas, improving tram access to Marseille’s 6th and 7th arrondissements and providing an interchange with metro line M1 at Estrangin-Préfecture.
The project underwent a public inquiry in May and June 2026. The Métropole’s published programme provides for construction during 2026–2027, with testing and opening from 2028.
The next phase of T3’s northern extension is planned to run from Gèze through the northern districts to La Castellane and La Bricarde. The current scheme comprises approximately 7.7 kilometres of new track and twelve additional stations, including connections with a planned rail and bus interchange at Saint-André.
In June 2026, the Métropole approved moving the proposed terminus beyond La Castellane to La Bricarde, where flatter ground allows an accessible terminal station. The published programme places the public inquiry in 2026–2027 and construction in 2027–2030.
A further tram project is being developed to serve the National and Belle de Mai districts. The planned infrastructure will connect with the existing tram network at Boulevard National and with Arenc railway station, following Boulevard National and Rue Loubon towards a provisional terminus at Place Burel.
The Métropole describes approximately 3.8 kilometres of new infrastructure and ten new stations, with opening of the first Arenc–Place Burel section envisaged for 2030. The project remains under development, so this is a target date rather than a confirmed opening date.