An agreement of 23 February 1904, validated by the decree of 26 March 1904, authorised the Compagnie Générale Française de Tramways – which operated the Marseille tram network – to build a line from Saint-Marcel to Aubagne on the condition that the departures take place from Place Saint-Ferréol. This line was put into service on January 10, 1905 with the route number 39. It originally had a single track outside of Marseille laid on a sidewalk along the national road. The terminus of Aubagne was located on Cours Legrand from where a path lead to the depot located at the entrance of the "little road" from Aubagne to Marseille 1. On 10 June 1905, line number 40 was established, running between Noailles station and Aubagne along the East line to Saint-Pierre, then the Pomme line and finally a brief connection to the previous line laid along the current Boulevard Heckel. Departures then took place in an alternating manner with a departure on each line every 30 or 40 minutes. Due to users preferring the newer, faster route, service on Line 40 was augmented whilst Line 39 was limited to the Préfecture-La Penne-sur-Huveaune route from 3 May 1909. The 40 trains included two trailers, one of which was detached at Penne-sur-Huveaune and picked up on the return journey. In 1928, reversible cars were put into service, consisting of a power train and a trailer or two power cars framing a trailer. These “Pullman” trams were replaced in 1937 by bogie trams, which were modernized beginning in 1944. From 9 November 1950, the service began to be split between trams and buses, which connected the Noailles station to Saint-Pierre along the Cours Lieutaud, Baille boulevard and St. Pierre street, continuing parallel to the tram track, with trams only running during peak hours. On 23 June 1958, service between Saint-Pierre and Aubagne wound up, having lasted for 53 years.
Current system
Stations
The length of the tram line runs between seven stations all of which are located within Aubagne.
Tickets
The tram line, like the municipal bus system have been operating tariff-free since May 15, 2009, a setting a world first in public transportation.
