New (resumed) RENFE services to France

[Austriantrain]

RENFE has published its schedules for the resumption of Barcelona - Lyon and Madrid - Marseille services, now operated as open access in France:

https://www.renfe.com/content/dam/renfe/es/Viajeros/Secciones/Prepara-tu-viaje/ave-francia/pdf/Renfe_Horarios_es.pdf

Services will start mid/end-July, beginning with four times a week, with additional services later on.

(In Spanish: https://www.renfe.com/es/es/grupo-r...-francia-dos-rutas-desde-espana-lyon-marsella)

 

[railfan99]

It's really disappinting that RENFE and SNCF "hate" each other, but good to see competition.

Are Eurailpasses and Interrail passes accepted on these RENFE cross-border trains?

 

[Watershed]

It's really disappinting that RENFE and SNCF "hate" each other, but good to see competition.

It's also good to see the cross-border high speed line being used by more than the current 2 trains per day!

Are Eurailpasses and Interrail passes accepted on these RENFE cross-border trains?

So far there's been no indication, although the "reservation fee" on SNCF cross-border services is so extortionate that you're often going to be better off buying a public rate ticket, especially considering the value of a day's pass validity (assuming you have a Flexi pass rather than a continuous one).

 

[railfan99]

... the "reservation fee" on SNCF cross-border services is so extortionate that you're often going to be better off buying a public rate ticket, especially considering the value of a day's pass validity (assuming you have a Flexi pass rather than a continuous one).

Thanks: I always have a first class global 'continuous' Eurail. In Oct 2022 we travelled Paris-Girona on morning TGV: great. I agree SNCF supplements high, but operator presumably believes we take seats that might otherwise be sold to full farepaying users. There is a pass quota though. 500 on train: multilingual conductor said 'normally c.400, but usually c.300 Barcelona-Paris (other direction).

RNNFE pass supplements are not as expensive.

 

[rvdborgt]

So far there's been no indication, although the "reservation fee" on SNCF cross-border services is so extortionate that you're often going to be better off buying a public rate ticket, especially considering the value of a day's pass validity (assuming you have a Flexi pass rather than a continuous one).

Paris-Barcelona is SNCF's cash cow. Their regular fares are often so high that the pass reservation seems like a bargain. Perpignan-Barcelona under €80 not before August, often €99. Paris-Barcelona below €200 only in 5 weeks' time, below €150 from the 3rd week of August.

In Oct 2022 we travelled Paris-Girona on morning TGV: great. I agree SNCF supplements high, but operator presumably believes we take seats that might otherwise be sold to full farepaying users. There is a pass quota though. 500 on train: multilingual conductor said 'normally c.400, but usually c.300 Barcelona-Paris (other direction).

SNCF dropped the pass quota on 11/12/2022.

 

[HS2isgood]

It's nice that Renfe is back on the route, SNCF prices are ridiculously expensive.

 

[Austriantrain]

Paris-Barcelona is SNCF's cash cow. Their regular fares are often so high that the pass reservation seems like a bargain. Perpignan-Barcelona under €80 not before August, often €99. Paris-Barcelona below €200 only in 5 weeks' time, below €150 from the 3rd week of August.

Typical SNCF way of doing things… they could probably fill 4 or 5 trains a day, but run only two to milk their customers.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Typical SNCF way of doing things… they could probably fill 4 or 5 trains a day, but run only two to milk their customers.

That's a massive shame.

How is the Bordeaux to Dax corridor construction going?

 

[Austriantrain]

How is the Bordeaux to Dax corridor construction going?

No construction will be going on there for a very long time. First, Bordeaux - Toulouse will be built, and Dax will follow on from there.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

No construction will be going on there for a very long time. First, Bordeaux - Toulouse will be built, and Dax will follow on from there.

Oh that's sad. So no Paris to Madrid via the Atlantique route for a few more decades then.

 

[Austriantrain]

Oh that's sad. So no Paris to Madrid via the Atlantique route for a few more decades then.

That could happen earlier - third rail San Sebastián to Irun is slated to be ready soon; the basque Y will be finished too at some point, hopefully before 2030, and somewhere in the future Burgos to Vitoria will have a new line as well (or gauge-changing class 106 with approval for France could be used).

It won’t be a short journey though and not comparable to Paris - Barcelone. That will probably be quicker through to Madrid once Montpellier- Perpignan opens (which will also take quite some years yet).

 

[Sad Sprinter]

That could happen earlier - third rail San Sebastián to Irun is slated to be ready soon; the basque Y will be finished too at some point, hopefully before 2030, and somewhere in the future Burgos to Vitoria will have a new line as well (or gauge-changing class 106 with approval for France could be used).

It won’t be a short journey though and not comparable to Paris - Barcelone. That will probably be quicker through to Madrid once Montpellier- Perpignan opens (which will also take quite some years yet).

Third rail? You mean electrification?

 

[Austriantrain]

Third rail? You mean electrification?

No - both standard and broad gauge combined, using three rails in total.

 

[Snow1964]

There is a feature in this article

And lot more upcoming International routes

Europe’s best new train routes for 2023

Spain's Renfe has launched its first cross-border high-speed train service.

www.euronews.com