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Rail Europe: Convenient France-Spain connections

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Renfe-SNCF trains travel at over 300 km/h, whisking Parisians off to Barcelona in just 6 hrs 29 mins

As the official agent for 105 rail operators in 24 European countries, Rail Europe offers the widest selection of train journeys across Europe, with 2.5 million European train tickets sold every year to over 25,000 destinations. If you’re starting to plan your next European rail adventure, Rail Europe’s easy-to-use online booking platform should be your first port of call.
Holiday planners in search of inspiration don’t need to look far: one of Rail Europe’s best-loved routes is the rail link between France and Spain. Travelling between the two countries couldn’t be simpler, with high-speed trains providing convenient connections between major French and Spanish cities as part of a joint venture between SNCF, the French national rail company, and Spain’s national rail operator Renfe.

Destinations include the French cities of Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier and Toulouse and a variety of Spanish sweet spots including Madrid, Barcelona, Girona and Figueres.

If you’re travelling with a group or need to hold a work meeting, you can book an exclusive club space on Renfe’s ultra-modern AVE S-100 train, complete with eight First Class seats
If you’re travelling with a group or need to hold a work meeting, you can book an exclusive club space on Renfe’s ultra-modern AVE S-100 train, complete with eight First Class seats

It’s all about speed on the Renfe-SNCF trains, which travel at over 300 km/h, whisking Parisians off to Barcelona in just 6 hrs 29 mins, just in time for tapas on the Barceloneta beach. The Paris/Toulouse to Barcelona service is provided by the TGV Europlex, renowned for being Europe’s fastest double-decker train with maximum speeds of 320 km/h, while Renfe’s AVE S-100 trains run on the route between Barcelona and Lyon (or Marseille).

From the French city of Lyon, it's a 4 hr 7 min trip across the French/Spanish border to the city of Figueres in north-eastern Spain, the birthplace of the iconic surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. After that, it’s just 14 minutes on a direct train from Figueres to the medieval Spanish city of Girona, whose narrow streets and monastery famously served as one of the filming locations for Season 6 of the hit TV series Game of Thrones.

Girona lies 38 mins north of Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s Catalan region and a city not to be missed with its ramblas, beaches, iconic architecture and colourful neighbourhoods. Travellers heading back to France will be pleased to learn that the French city of Montpellier is just 2 hrs 51 minutes from Barcelona on the train. This balmy southern city lies 10km from the coast of the Mediterranean sea and provides a perfect stopping-off point for exploring the Camargue with its wild horses, as well as the lavender-drenched Provence region.

But it’s not just about the destination. Getting there is half the fun, especially with the wonderful service provided en route. Both the TGV Europlex and the AVE S-100 are designed to provide passengers with maximum comfort. There’s a bar-bistro carriage serving hot and cold snacks, sandwiches, breakfast, salads, cakes, hot and cold drinks, beer and wine. Once you’ve settled back in your (spacious and comfortable) seat, you’ll find electric power outlets for recharging devices, as well as a work table. There’s free Wi-Fi connection for all passengers with a broad range of services and content. If you’re travelling with a group or need to hold a work meeting, you can book an exclusive club space on Renfe’s ultra-modern AVE S-100 train, complete with eight First Class seats.

It’s also worth mentioning that the trains are wheelchair-accessible, with dedicated personnel on hand at stations to assist passengers with reduced mobility. Which means that everyone can travel between France and Spain in supreme comfort –and fall in love with life while they’re at it.

* Find Rail Europe at stand EU1550  

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