In 1971, the train's route and classification were radically altered, and Le Rhodanien became a first-class-only domestic Trans Europ Express (TEE) running between Paris and Marseilles.

The Geneva–Marseille Rhodanien was made up of SNCF Class X 2770 [fr] diesel multiple unit railcars, in a two- to five-car formation, in each case with a power car at each end.

The Paris–Marseille train was formed of passenger cars, hauled by an SNCF 1.5 kV DC, Class CC 6500 electric locomotive.

The passenger cars were a rake of SNCF Mistral 69-type DEV Inox coaches [fr], and were initially an A4Dtux, three A8tu, two A8u and a Vr.

While Le Rhodanien was operating as a TEE, its dining car was staffed by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL).