Paris-Barcelona TGV confirmed for December 15 launch

Officials in Spain and France have confirmed that direct high-speed rail services linking Paris and Barcelona will start from December 15.

The announcement follows months of speculation about the launch of the new service following the completion of a 131-kilometre line between Barcelona and Figueras at the beginning of the year.

SNCF has said the price of ticket between Paris and Barcelona will start from €59 euros, with journey times of around six hours and 25 minutes.

Initially, Renfe and SNCF will operate five services a day in each direction: two daily services from Paris to Barcelona, and three more trains from Toulouse to Barcelona, Lyon to Barcelona and Marseille to Madrid.

Confirming the launch date, the Spanish government said: “This is a milestone in the interconnection between the two countries deepens our excellent neighborly relations, even closer to the Spanish and French citizens and facilitates the exchange of goods and services, thereby opening a new perspective for the Mediterranean branch of high-speed railway axis of southwest Europe.”