THE ROUTE of a new high-speed rail link across the South-east will pass through Marseilles and Toulon on its way to Nice.

The route will make it possible to reach Paris from Nice in 3hrs 50mins compared to 5hrs 25mins at present.

The government has made a decision on the planned South-east TGV route, ending years of debate over different options.

Apart from the chosen route, known as “the line of the metropolises,” the other main one, “the northern line,” avoided Marseille and Toulon and followed the line of the A8 motorway. It would have been less costly – €8 billion instead of €15 billion – and would have cut another ten minutes off the Nice to Paris journey time.

Construction work is expected to include digging several tunnels under Marseille and a new station to the east of Toulon. It should start this year, but the line is not expected to be open until 2024 or 2025.

Photo: Sebastian Terfloth