This decision by the Spanish operator follows the prior cancellation of routes between Barcelona and Toulouse, also attributed to bureaucratic hurdles in the neighboring country. The company has relinquished its reserved operating slots on the Paris-Lyon corridor, allowing competitors to expand their services on this line.
“"At this time, we have decided to prioritize operations in our own country."
Despite the withdrawal, Renfe has stated that it is not a definitive abandonment and that the project will resume when technical and operational conditions allow. This situation had been anticipated by analysts after the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, expressed last April the need for a 'process of analysis and reflection' on Renfe's strategy in France, mentioning the 'difficulties' and 'lack of profitability' of the French market.
Relations between Renfe and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) have been strained since the pandemic, when the joint venture operating the routes dissolved in December 2021. Despite these setbacks, Renfe continues to operate routes from Barcelona to Marseille and Lyon, transporting over 640,000 passengers annually since 2023. Meanwhile, the French company continues to operate in Spain under the brands TGV Inoui (Barcelona-Paris) and Ouigo (Barcelona-Madrid).
