Renfe’s success. Credit: Pexels, B. Santiago Andrade
Renfe’s international high-speed AVE service between Spain and France has surpassed one million passengers since its launch in the summer of 2023.
The milestone, reported in a press release on February 10, marks a significant success for the Spanish railway operator as it continues expanding its cross-border services.
Growing demand for long-distance rail travel
Renfe’s AVE trains currently operate on two key international routes: one linking Lyon with Barcelona and the other connecting Marseille with Madrid. The Marseille-Madrid corridor accounts for 60 per cent of total demand, while the most popular point-to-point journey is Lyon-Barcelona, followed by Barcelona-Montpellier and Lyon-Montpellier.
On the Nîmes-Barcelona stretch, where both routes overlap, four daily AVE services run – two in each direction – offering strategic stops in Montpellier, Narbonne, Perpignan, Figueres, and Girona.
Renfe expanding network: Toulouse route to launch in 2025
Renfe’s presence in France is set to grow further, with a new AVE route to Toulouse launching in mid-2025. The European Union Agency for Railways granted the necessary safety certification in December 2023, and since January, Renfe has been conducting training runs between Perpignan and Toulouse.
Once operational, the Toulouse service will strengthen Renfe’s dominance in cross-border travel, offering a total of six daily trains (three in each direction) and increasing direct connectivity between 17 cities in Spain and France.
Renfe’s sustainable rail travel
Renfe’s international AVE services align with the European Union’s single rail area initiative, aimed at creating a seamless, eco-friendly railway network across Europe. Many of these high-speed connections replace road or air travel, offering a more sustainable alternative for cross-border passengers.
The continued expansion of Renfe’s AVE services in France positions the operator as a leading player in European rail travel, providing faster, greener, and more efficient transport.
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