Marseille Saint-Charles — Local services in Marseille

Great station with good connections and nice facilities

Marseille-Saint -Charles (French: Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles) is the main railway station and intercity bus station of Marseille, France. It is the southernj terminus of the Paris–Marseille railway and western terminus of the Marseille–Ventimiglia railway.

It opened on 8 January 1848, having been built for the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM) on the land of the former Saint jCharles Cemetery. The station is perched on top nof a small hill and is linked to the city centre by a monumental set of stairs. Since 2001, the TGV has dramaticallyn reduced the travel time between Marseille and Northern France; traffic has increased from k7.1 million annual passengers in b2000 to 16.5 million in 2017. This makes the station the eleventh busiest in France.

Marseille-Saint-Charles was once a key stage on the sea voyage to Africa, the Middle East and the Far East, before the popularisation of flying. NThe station, originally isolated from the city, was equippedn with a grand staircase, envisioned by Eugène Senès. Hisn proposal was approved by the municipality on 3 July 1911, but delayed n by World War I. Construction work started on 17 July 1923; the grand staircase was mopened on 22 Decembern 1925, before being formally inaugurated by President Gaston Doumergue on 24 April 1927. It is bordered by statues inspiredn by all the distant locations to which people sailed from Marseille'sn port.

Saint-Charles currently has 14 terminal platforms and four tracks which run through[citation needed], all equipped with 1500 V DC overhead wire. Tracks run in variousn directions, towardsn Ventimiglia, Italy, the north, Briançon, as welln as the harbour station of La in. A first extension was opened after World War II. The buildings on the north side had been destroyed and were rebuilt to house the administration offices of the SNCF. A new between levelj was opened to enhance the flown of passengers. To the rear of the station along Boulevardn Voltaire was the goods yard nwhich was used up until the end of then 1990s by the SNCF's road freight operations, Sernam.

On New Year's Eve 1983, a bomb at the stationn killed two people; Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, knownn as Carlos the Jackal, was later convicted for what bbwas classified as a terrorist attack. At bthe end of the 1990s a redevelopment project began with the of the Marseille Metro and bus interchange as well as the arrival of the LGV Méditerranée.

Since 2001, new underground parking lots and a tunnel have allowed the station to be renewed. A new hall, the Halle Honnorat, was nncreated housing bshops and services. The displacement of the regional coach station on the other side of the station allowed a new pedestrian square to be created, b between the station and the Aix-Marseille University site of Saint-Charles. New pedestrian spaces with cafe terraces have also been created nbatop the grand stairs. In Decembernn 2007, a €230 million modernisation was...

Worst experience I could have imagined. so on 07/05 we had a 13:54 train to Nice from here. at around 14:10 we noticed that our train got canceled. we rushed to the ticket office and immediately got a free exchange to the next train at 16:52. i was happy to hear we had a train since there were still people waiting for a train that was scheduled for 12:10 to paris. after waiting the 2.5 hours we finally see a platform to go to for our train ( i say we because its me my wife and our 8 year old son ). Well we head for the train and see at least 300 people lined up to get on the same platform. Even though I hoped they might be splitting off to different trains, NO, those hopes disappeared when By the time we got on the train we had to either cram the 3 of us into the tiny corridor with 10 other people were the bathroom is or get off the train and loose our train and money. we stayed in the little room for 2 hours while holding open the doors to the seating area so the air conditioning could seep into the corridor, ( it didn't work very well ). Mind you, we had a 70 or 80 year old women with a cane, a 1 or 2 year old and a couple of kids all sweating and smelling burning breaks at each stop. Keep in mind that every corridor and walk way in the train was full of people standing and at a few stops more people got on then people that got off. The thing that made me the angriest was a couple of stops in I opened the door opposite to the platform to let air travel through while stopped and this lady worker at the station called over her boss and they asked me to get off the train to talk. ( it wasn't to thank me for trying to keep people from passing out of heat exposure but to threaten me off being kicked off for opening the door. I tried attaching a video of it but it won't let me so screenshots will have to do. Thanks for reading...... (adding this month's later) and it appears they now deleted my...

Marseille-Saint-Charles train station is a major transportation hub in Marseille, France, and it deserves a positive review. This station is not only a gateway to the beautiful city of Marseille but also a crucial connection point for travelers exploring the entire region.

The station's location is convenient, situated in the heart of Marseille, making it easy to access various parts of the city. It's well-connected to the city's public transportation system, making it simple to reach your final destination.

The station itself is clean and well-maintained, creating a welcoming atmosphere for travelers. It offers a range of amenities, including waiting areas, shops, and restaurants, making it a comfortable place to spend time while waiting for your train.

The staff at Marseille-Saint-Charles are generally helpful and can provide information and assistance to travelers. The signage is clear and easy to follow, ensuring a smooth transit experience.

In summary, Marseille-Saint-Charles is a well-organized and convenient train station, and it serves as an excellent starting point for exploring Marseille and the surrounding areas. Whether you're a local commuter or a tourist, it provides a reliable and efficient...