Over a month into its trials, Renfe is testing high-speed service on the Barcelona–Lyon–Marseille corridor in collaboration with French partners. The effort marks a significant shift after a long-running separation from SNCF, moving Renfe toward a broader, cross-border operation. The aim is to validate the route’s commercial viability ahead of the summer season, with the ultimate goal of delivering a reliable service that can be scaled if demand supports it.
On Monday, veteran Renfe technicians Ricard Codina, Arcadi Estrada López-Franco, and Javier García Calvo completed the first legs of the test, traveling from the Barcelona area to Lyon. The crew notes the journey typically takes about five hours, reflecting the complexity of coordinating international rail services. Renfe has prior experience running long-distance services in other markets, including operations in the Middle East and Central Europe, though the French network presents distinct regulatory and operational challenges.
Renfe’s Spain–France corridor is a focal point of a broader modernization effort, with the company aiming to introduce high-speed services along additional segments in the near term. Since early March, a rotating roster of professionals has begun to assume trial routes, building on the expertise of Codina, Estrada López-Franco, and García Calvo, who recently completed stretches linking Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, and Perpinyà. In parallel, SNCF colleagues based in Paris have joined the effort, providing shared crew experience along the corridor.
Renfe employees emphasize that the switch to cross-border operation requires absorbing three core rules of railway circulation that differ from domestic norms. The safety systems, both in-car and on the ground, demand careful learning and adaptation. The team notes that French operations include segments with traditional characteristics, such as level crossings and mid-route stops, which require heightened vigilance and precise coordination between crews and signaling centers.
Photos accompanying the trials show two Renfe drivers testing an AVE train slated for Barcelona–Lyon operations, with the expectation that the service could be ready for summer introduction. The tests focus on validating high-speed performance and the integration of signaling and energy systems across borders, ensuring a smooth handoff between control centers and crews.
300 km/h on the horizon
The Barcelona–Lyon route presents distinct infrastructural realities. Early data suggests the high-speed line between Nîmes and Lyon could approach 300 kilometers per hour, using a signaling system compatible with the TVM standard. This is akin to Renfe’s ERTMS framework, where the train reads the signaling data itself rather than relying exclusively on the driver. Carlos Nieto, head of international high-speed operations for Renfe, explains that ongoing rehearsals involve planned station calls, signaling changes, and system adjustments to ensure a seamless summer rollout.
In the coming weeks, teams will continue “dry runs” and simulated passenger itineraries to confirm timetable integrity, station handoffs, and passenger flow. While ticketing specifics have not been announced, these preparatory exercises lay the groundwork for a potential first-phase launch that could expand as demand grows.
Rolling stock and route planning
The initial rolling stock for the cross-border service features Alstom-derived units with eight cars and roughly 347 seats. These units are aging but have undergone significant refurbishments to meet international standards. Renfe’s broader fleet modernization includes a Talgo S106 option to scale operations toward roughly 28 weekly circulations on the Lyon and Marseille routes, signaling an incremental approach to service expansion. The plan envisions Paris-bound operations as a later phase, with ongoing dialogue between Renfe and SNCF regarding process alignment and regulatory approvals.
Juan Ricardo Zambrana, head of the company’s international high-speed operations, notes that the path to Paris remains contingent on regulatory clarity and the smooth handling of cross-border paperwork. French authorities have been meticulous, reflecting the checks and balances required for cross-country rail marketing and testing. The corridor’s success depends as much on administrative alignment as on technical readiness.
Line-by-line expansion and regulatory landscape
Renfe remains committed to expanding in France, recognizing that liberalization across Europe opens new opportunities while demanding careful navigation of national rules. In Spain, operators benefit from a unified permit system; in France, approvals are often required line by line, creating substantial commercial hurdles. Despite these obstacles, Renfe’s strategic plan anticipates international markets providing about 10 percent of revenue by 2028, including not just high-speed trains but regional and commuter services across Europe and beyond.
Market observers and industry partners attribute progress to persistent collaboration with local operators and regulators, along with a clear emphasis on safety, interoperability, and passenger experience. The initiative aligns with broader European rail aspirations, where cross-border services are integral to expanding high-speed networks and offering competitive travel alternatives across the continent.
Notes accompanying the trials emphasize that the project’s trajectory depends on continued regulatory alignment, successful performance in test scenarios, and the ability to deliver on capacity and reliability promises. While marketing campaigns and ticketing strategies are still in development, the operational groundwork aims to demonstrate a viable, scalable model for international rail service that could reshape cross-border travel in the region. These updates are reflected in internal planning materials and industry briefings shared with transportation observers and partner operators.
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