The Ligne Nouvelle Provence Côte d'Azur Project (LNPCA)

Presentation of the project and challenges

The Ligne Nouvelle Provence Côte d’Azur (LNPCA) project aims to

develop, improve and make more reliable the rail service between Marseille, Toulon and Nice.

The phases 1 & 2 project of modernisation of the existing railway line will allow the increase in the number of daily trains (TER) and the implementation of 3 “Metropolitan Regional Express Services” known as SERM around the urban areas of Aix-Marseille, Toulon and Nice.

It also allows the development of cross-border links with Italy but also facilitates long-distance travel by train from Spain or Northern Europe to Italy.

The objectives of phases 1&2

The project aims to strongly encourage the modal shift from private cars to trains and contribute to the decarbonisation of mobility in line with the carbon neutrality objectives for 2050.

Benefits for you

At the local, metropolitan and regional level

Thanks to improvements on the existing network, the TER service will be able to increase from 2 to 3.5 non-timetabled TERs / hour / direction (current situation) to 4 to 6 TERs / hour / direction with an attractive timetable around the Metropolises of Aix-Marseille, Toulon, Nice and the Côte d’Azur.

At the national level

They will allow facilitating continuity and improving the quality of service of national and inter-regional lines beyond Marseille towards the Var and the Côte d’Azur, thanks in particular to the underground crossing of Marseille which provides a significant time saving of 15 to 20 minutes.

At the level of European interest

With the creation of an Azurean shuttle between Cannes and Ventimiglia on the one hand and the elimination of the bottleneck at Marseille Saint-Charles station at the intersection of the European transport corridors “North Sea-Rhine-Mediterranean” and “Mediterranean”, the project will allow before 2035 to:

densify cross-border links with Italy
facilitate the extension beyond Marseille of international lines from Spain to Italy

The following phases (phases 3 and 4 which provide for sections of new line) should allow densifying and accelerating links between the regional metropolises around Marseille, Toulon and Nice and contribute to building a high-performance railway axis on the Mediterranean arc between Barcelona and Genoa.

The LNPCA works

Phases 1&2 of the LNPCA project include 22 operations spread between Marseille and Nice.

The various works will allow increasing the number of trains in circulation but also reducing the consequences of incidents on the line which currently cause delays and even train cancellations.

They will also allow the creation of new, modernised, comfortable, multimodal stations located at the heart of developing neighbourhoods driven by the local authorities partnering the project. These stations, easily accessible by bus, metro, tram, bicycle or on foot, will effectively contribute to the modal shift from car to train and will fit harmoniously into their urban environment.

The LNPCA project complements the significant modernisation effort of the coastal line carried out through the Haute-Performance Marseille-Vintimille (HPMV) project of new European signalling allowing to facilitate the movement of trains from one country to another.

Schedule

Cost and financing of the project

The project presents an exemplary collaborative financing model, which allows all local stakeholders to be associated with an ambitious project. Alongside the State and the European Union, 11 local authorities have united within the Société de la Ligne Nouvelle Provence Côte d’Azur to contribute financially to the success of the project by guaranteeing compliance with territorial constraints and the technical, financial and time framework of its implementation.

The complete financing protocol for the phases 1 & 2 project, signed by all partners on 21 December 2021, specifies the financing intentions of each co-financer. The cost of the phases 1&2 project is in the order of 3,838M€ at the economic conditions of July 2020 (an economic condition called “constant” does not take into account costs related to inflation).

History

2005-2013

From the public debate to the Ligne Nouvelle Provence Côte d'Azur

2005: public debate on the LGV PACA project
2009: Choice of the “Métropoles du Sud” scenario which prioritises the service of Marseille, Toulon and Nice
2011: New public consultation which highlights the priority to be given to daily trains
2013: Phasing of the project into 2 Priorities by the Commission Mobilité 21: treatment of the Marseille and Nice railway nodes, then creation of two sections of new line between Aubagne and Toulon, on the one hand, and Le Muy and the Siagne, on the other hand.

2013-2018

Continuation of studies, evolution of phasing and LNPCA national priority

2013: report of the Commission Mobilité 21
2016-2017: New public consultation on route scenarios then finalisation of routes on the underground crossing of Marseille, La Pauline area in the Var and the St Laurent du Var-Nice section. For the most sensitive areas, new studies launched
2018: The Infrastructure Orientation Council (COI) proposes as a priority the desaturation of the Marseille and Nice railway nodes and presents a new phasing of the project into 4 successive phases
2019: the LNPCA is part of the priority investments of the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM)

2019-2022

Consultation, financing and declaration of public utility

2019: continuation of recalibration studies then public consultation on phases 1&2 of the LNPCA project
2021: decision to launch the public utility inquiry and signing of the financing intention protocol between the State and the local authorities
2022: launch of the public utility inquiry
October 2022: declaration of public utility on the phases 1&2 project of the LNPCA

2025

Start of works

Early 2025, start of the preparatory steps and works for the release
Mid 2025, start of the preparatory works for the Nice Airport station

Governance

The main Governance bodies of the LNPCA Project are:

The steering committee (COPIL)

Chaired by the Prefect of the Sud region and by the President of the Sud Region and composed of elected representatives of the partner local authorities
Ensures the steering and validates the major orientations and decisions of the project. It relies on:

The technical committee (COTECH)

Chaired by an Inspector General of the Environment and Sustainable Development and composed of representatives of the partner local authorities
Prepares the COPIL meetings and informs partners on technical aspects

The commitment, monitoring and risk committee (CESR)

Co-chaired by the President of the SLNPCA and a representative of the State.
Formally informs on risks, financial commitments and strategic contracts

The metropolitan coordination committees (COCOMET)

Chaired by the relevant Metropolises.
Coordinate the LNPCA project with urban and territorial projects, and relay local specificities

Agenda

July 06, 2026

17th board of directors of the SLNPCA

Ratification of the minutes of the board of directors of 13/03
Presentation of new board members and expression
Election of the Vice-President of the SLNPCA
Renewal of governance bodies
Approval of financing agreements
Supplementary budget 2026
Information update on the progress of the financing strategy and decision-making schedule
Information update on the European financing strategy

July 09, 2026

Risk review

Organised every year, the partners analyse the evolution of risks and the implementation of the actions undertaken to manage them.

July 16, 2026