cross-border mobility issue between france and portugal

Since 2013, Renfe, the Spanish national rail operator, and the French SNCF have jointly managed rail services between France and Spain via Catalonia. This collaboration ceased on December 11, 2022, resulting in only two daily trains in each direction now crossing the Perthus Tunnel. Consequently, Renfe has discontinued the Barcelona-Lyon and Madrid-Marseille routes, leaving the Paris-Barcelona service, operated solely by SNCF, as the sole remaining link in the Mediterranean corridor. These routes, suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, had been gradually restored except for the Barcelona-Toulouse connection, which was permanently abandoned.

Administrative barriers imposed on operators seeking access to French rail infrastructure have contributed significantly to the suspension of these lines. The remaining services fall short of providing a viable, competitive low-carbon alternative to the dominant short and medium-haul flights and private car travel in cross-border mobility.

The Perthus Tunnel, a high-speed rail link between France and Spain, represents a significant investment of €3.5 billion in public and European funds. However, its current usage is minimal. To maximize this infrastructure, operators should enhance reliable rail services connecting nearby regions and key cities such as Barcelona, Toulouse, Perpignan, Figueres, Girona, and Montpellier.

With the launch of the high-speed line in 2013, the night trains between Paris and Barcelona were suspended, despite their potential as a sustainable alternative to air travel for long-distance journeys. Similarly, the Paris-Madrid night train on the Atlantic corridor was discontinued, leaving no direct rail connection between the two capitals. The night train between Lisbon and Hendaye, near the French border, was also suspended during the pandemic and has not been reinstated, despite calls from Comboios de Portugal to revive the service.

Civil society organizations in France and Spain are advocating for their governments and rail operators to maintain the current services, reinstate the Barcelona-Toulouse route, reopen the night trains between Paris and Barcelona, Paris and Madrid, and Lisbon and Hendaye, and expand regional cross-border services between Perpignan and Figueres. Increasing cross-border rail connections is essential for offering citizens greener mobility options, supporting the fight against climate change, and ensuring continued economic activity.