The ZOU! regional line between Marseille, Toulon and Nice has just celebrated its first anniversary with five million passengers transported. Increasing ridership, enhanced service and new trains have driven this growth. This first year has also been marked by several labor disputes, which reveal the challenges surrounding the opening to competition.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and Transdev celebrated on June 30, 2026 the first year of the new ZOU! service between Marseille, Toulon and Nice. Alongside the Regional President, Thierry Mallet, CEO of Transdev, and representatives of the State and local authorities, this milestone marks a turning point for regional rail service.
The line, the first in France to be opened to competition, transported five million passengers in twelve months. The Region emphasizes that “more trains, more passengers, better punctuality and record satisfaction” reflect the impact of this new organization. Transdev expresses “great pride” and recalls that this result “confirms the relevance of the choices made on this line.”
Service has doubled since June 2025. A train runs every hour between Marseille and Nice, serving nine stations: Marseille, Toulon, Carnoules, Les Arcs, Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes, Nice Saint-Augustin and Nice Ville. More than 10,000 trains operated in one year. Reliability has improved significantly, rising from 94% in 2024 to 98.59% in the first half of 2026. The satisfaction rate reaches 96%.
The 16 new Alstom trains, gradually put into service since May 2025, have replaced the old Corail trains. They offer 400 seats, level boarding, bicycle storage, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and facilities for people with reduced mobility. A 2,000 m² maintenance center was created in Nice to support this capacity increase. The operation employs 220 staff and relies on reinforced security resources.
A first year marked by several labor disputes
This progress takes place in a tense social context. Since Transdev arrived on the line in June 2025, three strike episodes have occurred. The Sud-Rail union denounces discussions that are “stalled” on work organization and claims that management “refuses to negotiate on acceptable terms to prevent rail workers from becoming the low-cost option in rail transport.”
A first strike took place in November 2025, followed by a second in February 2026, which was finally called off after last-minute discussions. A third strike notice was filed for May 21, 22 and 23, 2026, during the Cannes Film Festival. The potential disruptions highlighted the strategic importance of this line for travel between Marseille, Cannes and Nice.
These tensions are part of a transition process. The Region had presented the first Omneo train in Marseille in May 2025. Service began on June 29, 2025, with a reliability target of 97.5%. Fares were reduced starting July 2025. The gradual introduction of new trains, opening to competition and reorganization of staff constituted a major change for personnel.
A structuring line for regional mobility
The first year of the new ZOU! service confirms the importance of regular, accessible and modernized rail service to structure mobility between Marseille, Toulon and Nice. The results presented show clear progress in service, while labor disputes highlight the human and organizational challenges associated with this transformation.
The line continues its development, with a shared objective: to further improve the passenger experience and consolidate a rail service that has become central to daily commuting and tourist travel.
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