SNCF to add extra daily train route between Barcelona and Paris in summer

The French railway operator, SNCF, has announced an extra daily route between Barcelona and Paris this summer, increasing from two services to three each day.

Between July 8 and September 3, trains will depart from the Catalan capital at 10.33am, 2.32pm and 4.10pm – from the French city, services will set off at 6.56am, 9.42am and 2.56pm.

In a statement, SNCF said their move is a response to the "high demand expected for summer."

Indeed, they estimate that 300,000 passengers will use the route between June and September, and 800,000 during the whole year.

The French company started covering the route alone in December 2022, after they terminated their shared service for the same connection with Renfe, their Spanish counterpart.

Since then, occupancy rates have been above 80%, the statement reads.

Trains stop in Girona, Figueres, Perpignan, Narbonne, Béziers, Agde, Sète, Montpellier, Nîmes, Valence, and Paris Gare de Lyon, where passengers arrive after a 6 hour and 45 minute journey if they departed from Barcelona.

In parallel, after their breakup with SNCF, Renfe has been working to operate in France alone, and on July 13 they will start routes to Lyon, stopping in Barcelona and Girona – on July 28, other services will reach Marseille, with stops in Tarragona, Barcelona and Girona.

Starting prices will range from €9 for internal trips within France to €29 for those traveling from Catalonia to Lyon or Marseille.