Renfe’s Spain-France high-speed train service has reached a major milestone: it has exceeded one million passengers since its launch in the summer of 2023.
The AVE service between Spain and France began in the summer of 2023 with two routes (with hubs in Lyon and Marseille) connecting around fifteen destinations in both countries. In the coming months, a new route to Toulouse will be launched, consolidating Renfe as the leading operator in cross-border traffic and a model of sustainable mobility on both sides of the Pyrenees.
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. The two routes partially share 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.
With the launch of the third international AVE route, Renfe will solidify its position as the leading operator of cross-border connections between Spain and France, offering six daily trains (three in each direction) connecting a total of 17 cities in both countries with direct high-speed rail services.
A large part of the routes now served by International AVE services since July 2023 were previously only accessible by road or, in some cases, by air. With this expansion, Renfe continues to work toward ensuring the connected and sustainable mobility envisioned by the European single rail area project.
