Rail links between France and Spain have been somewhat disrupted in recent weeks.
In fact, SNCF has ended its 2013 partnership with Spanish national operator Renfe on several direct routes, including Paris-Barcelona and Lyon-Barcelona.
However, the French group took over the first in its own name (with an intensification of the number of trains) but cut the second.
But finally Lyon-Barcelona could be operated only by Renfe. During the “SER Conversa” forum that brought together various stakeholders linked to tourism in Barcelona, Mayte Castillo, Renfe’s institutional representative in Catalonia, clarified the ambitions of the Spanish group.
From partners to competitors
In addition to a Lyon-Barcelona takeover bid, Renfe would also want to operate Perpignan-Barcelona, Marseille-Barcelona, Lyon-Barcelona and even Paris-Barcelona, this time in direct competition with SNCF (and also perhaps with Trenitalia).
However, the date for the realization of this project has not yet been advanced, let us remember that the operator has announced on several occasions an arrival in France but without giving a calendar.
It would be above all a response to the offensive of the SNCF in Spain. The airline successfully launched its Ouigo brand between Madrid and Barcelona and inaugurated the Madrid-Valencia line.
It will open a new link with Alicante in the first half of 2023, with a stopover in Albacete. Then, Ouigo Spain will arrive in Andalusia with Madrid-Seville and will offer five round trips with a stopover in Córdoba. Eventually, the operator will offer up to 30 daily departures throughout Spain, capable of transporting up to 10 million passengers each year.
Source: BFM TV
