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Spanish ‘TGVs’ to extend service to link Paris to Lyon and Marseille
Renfe is to expand its French operations with new lines and more trains in 2024
Spanish train company Renfe has confirmed its plans to operate between Paris, Lyon and Marseille before summer 2024, expanding its presence in France.
Renfe, which has been operating lines from Barcelona to Lyon and Madrid to Marseille since September, has long envisioned a move into the lucrative Paris to Lyon route.
‘Ready for the Paris Olympics’
In a press conference in October, the head of Renfe France, Susana Lozano declared: “Paris is the objective.”
These plans now appear to be taking shape.
“We are continuing to work towards our final goal: in 2024, our high-speed trains will reach Paris,” said Renfe CEO Blanco Diaz on December 14.
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“We want French athletes participating in the Olympic Games to be able to use our services to reach this event that is so important to France and to Paris”.
The company announced that it would run five daily return trips between Paris and Lyon, with some going to Marseille.
It also announced its plans to offer tickets to Montpellier and Nimes, and to increase the number of daily trains travelling to Spain from two to eight.
While not a low-cost operator per se, Renfe has so far been combative in its pricing, with tickets on the Barcelona to Lyon and Madrid to Marseille starting at €39, and at €29 for tickets between French stations.
However, these prices fluctuate significantly according to demand.
The company has not yet announced its prices for the future Paris to Lyon route, nor has it confirmed the start date.
Nonetheless, the arrival of another competitor on the Paris to Lyon line, should help keep the prices of the SNCF’s TGVs and Trenitalia’s Frecciarosa from rising, despite the increasing cost of French rail tolls, which are already the most expensive in Europe and set to rise by another 8% in 2024.
Tickets for the Barcelona to Lyon and Madrid to Marseille routes are available on the Renfe website.
