(06/03/2025) 

Long-distance journeys are the most in demand among passengers using these international services. The Marseille-Madrid corridor accounts for 60% of the total demand, although the main point-to-point connection in terms of passenger numbers is Lyon-Barcelona, followed by Barcelona-Montpellier and Lyon-Montpellier.

Renfe’s AVE trains in France operate on two routes: one connecting Lyon with Barcelona and the other linking Marseille with Madrid, partially sharing their route. On the common section, between Nîmes and Barcelona, Renfe offers four daily AVE trains (two in each direction). The main connections are Lyon-Barcelona and Marseille-Madrid, with strategic stops in cities such as Montpellier, Nîmes, Narbonne, Perpignan, Figueres and Girona. The Lyon AVE service also serves the important French transport hub of Valence, while the Marseille AVE connects to the tourist destinations of Avignon and Aix-en-Provence in France.

Arrival in Toulouse this spring

Last December, the European Union Agency for Railways granted Renfe the necessary safety certification to extend its operations between Perpignan and Toulouse. Since January 2, the required training itineraries have begun. This will allow Renfe to continue its expansion plan in France and launch its third international route in the second quarter of 2025.