Spanish rail operator Renfe has announced that it has carried more than one million passengers between France and Spain on its AVE high-speed trains, reflecting the growing demand for international rail travel between the two countries and the fact that high-speed trains are strengthening regional transport.
Renfe will launch new services between Barcelona and Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona and Marseille in July 2023, introducing AVE trains on these routes. The new services make travel between France and Spain faster and more efficient, with a shared section between Nîmes and Barcelona running two pairs of trains daily. These trains stop in major cities such as Montpellier, Narbonne, Perpignan, Figueres and Girona. Trains to Lyon also serve the station in Valence, while those to Marseille stop in cities such as Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.
Increase in Passenger Traffic and Popular Routes
According to official Renfe data, the number of passengers carried on these routes exceeded one million as of February 2025. The busiest route covers the line between Marseille and Madrid, which accounts for 60% of total passenger traffic. Also popular are routes such as Lyon – Barcelona, Barcelona – Montpellier and Lyon – Montpellier.
New Route and European Union Certificate
Renfe received a safety certificate from the European Union Railway Agency (ERA) in December 2024, which qualifies the company to provide passenger transport services between Perpignan and Toulouse. The company has begun training drivers for the new route, which is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2025.
This expanded network will connect a total of 17 cities in France and Spain and will make a significant contribution to the development of international rail travel. These developments aim to improve transport accessibility in the region and provide more sustainable transport options.
