In France, the government has publicly signaled an interest in keeping open the possibility of night railway services, but the public operator SNCF is not prioritizing them at the moment. A night train linking Paris and Barcelona remains on the agenda, yet executives in Paris indicate a pause as current economics do not justify immediate action. The topic was the focus of a recent briefing in the French capital where company leaders laid out the likelihood and constraints surrounding such services.
Jean Baptiste Guenot, the International Development Director for the group, stated clearly that the option is not profitable right now. He spoke about a night train connection between Paris and Barcelona and stressed that the project would require a more favorable financial balance before any formal commitment could be made. Caroline Chabrol, the director of European projects at SNCF, added that if demand grows sufficiently, trains could be integrated within the high-speed network rather than treated as a separate service. This conditional stance highlights the company’s preference to align new offerings with proven passenger demand and existing infrastructure usage.
They are “completely different”
Night trains and high-speed services operate under very different economic realities. The discussion around a Paris–Barcelona overnight link has underscored that night services do not currently offer the same predictable returns as the faster high-speed options. As a result, the focus remains on evaluating profitability and aligning any potential service with the broader strategic plan for SNCF’s continental network. For now, the route under consideration would be served by the TGV InOui brand on a Paris–Barcelona corridor, should the project advance beyond feasibility milestones.
Guenot emphasized that the primary challenge is to test the route’s feasibility with an initial two trains per day, with an expectation that this frequency could rise to three services in the following summer season if performance metrics improve. The assessment process includes careful cash-flow projections, occupancy forecasts, and the integration of the service within the existing timetable and platform assets. The aim is to find a viable model that can sustain operation without imposing undue costs on travelers or on the railway system itself.
to be examined
The conversation around the potential service continues in parallel with ongoing cooperation talks involving Renfe, the Spanish rail operator. The joint venture between SNCF and Renfe is under review, and officials note that any commercial option must be examined through a strict lens of feasibility and market demand. The broader European rail market has seen liberalization trends that influence both the pace and the nature of such collaborations. These regulatory and competitive dynamics play a significant role in decisions about whether a night train between Paris and Barcelona makes sense in the current environment or should wait for clearer economic signals and mutual benefits for both operators.