(25/04/2024) 


The figure was achieved six months after the implementation of the full operational procedure in France. The Barcelona-Lyon and Barcelona-Montpellier routes have been the most popular, followed by the ones linking Madrid to Montpellier and Barcelona to Marseille. These lines currently connect 15 destinations in both countries with an average occupancy of around 80 per cent.

Renfe’s AVE trains in France operate on two routes: Lyon to Barcelona and Marseille to Madrid, partially sharing their routes. In the common stretch between Nimes and Barcelona, the company operates four AVE trains daily, serving intermediate stations such as Girona, Figueres, Perpignan, Narbonne, and Montpellier. The Lyon AVE train also serves the French hub of Valence, while the Marseille AVE connects to tourist destinations such as Avignon and Aix-en-Provence in France, as well as the cities of Tarragona, Zaragoza, and Madrid in Spain.

Plans

With regard to future plans, Renfe will continue to expand its presence to become a benchmark operator in this market. Following this trend, it aims to quadruple its offer with the commissioning of new AVE S-106 high-capacity trains with more than 500 seats per train, the extension of the services to Paris, and the increase of the international and national connections in the neighbouring country.