Renfe Transported One Million Passengers Between France and Spain on AVE Trains

Renfe has transported over one million passengers between France and Spain on AVE trains. This confirms the growing demand for international rail travel between the two countries. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Popular Renfe Routes Between France and Spain

The Spanish railway operator launched AVE high-speed trains on these routes. The new services began operating in July 2023, connecting Barcelona and Lyon, as well as Madrid, Barcelona, and Marseille.

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The routes include a shared section between Nîmes and Barcelona, where two pairs of trains run daily. These trains stop in Montpellier, Narbonne, Perpignan, Figueres, and Girona. Trains heading to Lyon also serve the station in Valence, while those traveling to Marseille stop in Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.

Increase in Passenger Traffic on Renfe Routes

According to official company data, in February 2025, the number of passengers on these routes surpassed one million. This result confirms the demand for international rail connections between France and Spain.

The busiest route is between Marseille and Madrid, accounting for 60% of total passenger traffic. Additionally, the most popular routes include Lyon – Barcelona, Barcelona – Montpellier, and Lyon – Montpellier.

In December 2024, the company received a safety certificate from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). This certification grants the operator the right to provide passenger transport services between Perpignan and Toulouse.

After obtaining the permit, the company began training drivers required for the launch of the new route. High-speed trains are expected to start operating in the second quarter of 2025.

Overall, the expanded network will connect 17 cities across both countries. This marks another step in the development of international rail travel and improved transport accessibility.

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