The high-speed rail connection between Barcelona and Paris, initially slated for 2024, has been put on hold. The Spanish operator Renfe announced its temporary withdrawal from the project, as confirmed by company sources to ARA, following a report by Eldiario.es. This decision comes after encountering numerous difficulties from French authorities.

For some time, Renfe has faced significant bureaucratic hurdles, alongside an intense commercial rivalry with its competitor, the French state-owned company SNCF. This situation has led the company, chaired by Álvaro Fernández, to opt for a 'temporary withdrawal,' though they assure it is 'not a definitive renunciation' and the project will resume 'when technical and operational conditions allow'.

One of the main obstacles has been the inability to advance with the homologation of Renfe's trains in France, a process dependent on SNCF. This situation has prevented the establishment of a 'reliable' timeline for the completion of the connection. It is important to note that operating trains in European territory requires not only homologation but also a safety certificate, which in the French case is demanded for each line or section, further complicating the process.

Despite this decision, the operation of Renfe's other international lines in France remains unaffected. The Barcelona-Lyon and Madrid-Marseille connections, which include a stop in the Catalan capital and have been managed solely by the Spanish operator since 2023, continue to operate normally. These routes transport an average of 642,395 passengers annually.