| Box Width: | auto |
| Marseille–Ventimiglia railway | |
| System: | SNCF |
| Status: | Operational |
| Locale: | France (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) Monaco, Italy (Liguria) |
| Start: | Marseille-Saint-Charles |
| End: | Ventimiglia |
| Open: | 1858–1872 |
| Owner: | SNCF Réseau |
| Operator: | SNCF |
| Linelength: | 259km (161miles) |
| Tracks: | Double track[1] 4 tracks (Saint-Charles–Blancarde) 3 tracks (Blancarde–Aubagne) 3 tracks (Cannes–Nice) |
| Electrification: | [2] |
| Map State: | collapsed |
The Marseille–Ventimiglia railway (French: Ligne de Marseille-Saint-Charles à Vintimille; Italian: Ferrovia Marsiglia-Ventimiglia) is a French-Monégasque-Italian 259adj=midNaNadj=mid railway line. It opened in several stages between 1858 and 1872.[3]
The line is an important transport corridor, connecting the French and Italian Rivieras, and it is used by passenger (express, regional and suburban) and freight traffic. It played a significant role in the economic development of the region, facilitating trade and tourism between France and Italy as the primary railway line serving the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur). The line was also of strategic importance during World War II, as it was used to transport troops and supplies to the Italian front.
A new high-speed line, the LGV Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, is planned for opening around 2035 to offer quicker travel times between Marseille, Toulon, Cannes and Nice.
The Marseille–Ventimiglia railway was built and used by the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée. The first section that was opened in 1858 led from Marseille to Aubagne. The line was extended to Toulon in 1859 and to Les Arcs in 1862. Cagnes-sur-Mer was reached in 1863 and Nice in 1864. The line was extended to Monaco in 1868 and to Menton in 1869. Finally in 1872 the section to Ventimiglia was opened. The construction of the Marseille to Ventimiglia railway line was a significant engineering feat of the time. The line had to cross the rugged terrain of the Maritime Alps, which presented numerous challenges, such as steep gradients and tight curves. To overcome these obstacles, the engineers had to use a combination of tunnels, viaducts, and bridges. For example, the line crosses the Var river on a massive steel viaduct, which was an engineering marvel at the time of its construction. The line also includes several tunnels, such as the Tenda Tunnel which is 5.8 km long and was considered a major achievement of the time.
Over the years, the Marseille to Ventimiglia railway line has undergone several upgrades and renovations to improve service and capacity. In the 1960s, the line was modernized, with the installation of new signaling and communication systems, and the electrification of the line. In the 2000s, the French and Italian governments invested in the line, upgrading the infrastructure and increasing the number of trains running on the line. This has led to a significant increase in the number of passengers using the line, and has also improved the reliability and punctuality of the service. A new high-speed line, the LGV Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, is planned to be built somewhat inland of the current line. It is intended to be operational around 2035 to offer quicker travel times between Marseille, Toulon, Cannes and Nice.
The line's main stations are: Marseille-Saint-Charles, Marseille-Blancarde, Aubagne, La Ciotat, Toulon, Fréjus, Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, Nice-Saint-Augustin, Nice-Ville, Nice-Riquier, Monaco-Monte-Carlo (underground), Menton and Ventimiglia.