Opened to the public in June 2001, the new TGV Méditerranée line has cut the travelling time between Paris and Marseille to a mere three hours. Twelve years in the making, with a budget of more than €3.5 billion, the project included 250 kilometres of new track laid between Valence and Marseille, and the construction of three ultra-modern stations on the outskirts of Valence, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. Most travellers heading to these cities will alight at one of the new stations, from where there are shuttles into the centre of town. Likewise, those departing by TGV from Valence, Avignon or Aix will need to first take the shuttle out to the station in order to board their train. The new line also links Lyon, Valence, Avignon, Aix and Marseille directly with the Charles de Gaulle airport outside of Paris.
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