The direct train from Barcelona to Lyon has resumed, but if it's timing doesn't suit, what should be a straightforward connection on to Lyon is available when departing Barcelona in the early afternoon.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
4hr 58min
Friday to Monday
1 x train per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
Renfe is the national rail operator in Spain and it has recently simplified the range of tickets it sells for express and regional train journeys in Spain.
Which is convenient as there are big savings to be made if you book ahead online.
Final Destination: Lyon Part-Dieu
This train also calls at: Nimes and Valence TGV
Departing from Barcelona:
This train is scheduled to depart from Barcelona Sants at 08:22.
Aim to be at Barcelona Sants a minimum of 20 mins before departure, in order to allow time to pass through the security checks.
At Barcelona Sants station these trains to France depart from the part of the station used by the Spanish high speed trains - vias (platforms/tracks) 1 - 6.
So when you're in the station follow the signs that are pointing the way to the ' Alta-Velocidad' trains.
Arriving in Lyon:
The train is due into Lyon at 13:20 and has good connections in Lyon into TER trains on to Aix-Les-Bains, Annecy, Dijon, Geneva and Grenoble.
It also typically has a 40 min connection into a TGV train heading on Bruxelles via Lille.
This is a journey of three distinct phases:
1: Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train will travel at up to 280 km/h on high speed line.
2. Between Perpignan and Montpellier the train follows the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly north of Perpignan.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
This direct train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Barcelona at 08:19 so target that time when looking up this journey
It can be usually worth comparing the prices between booking agents for this journey.
Seat reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding, but these reservations cannot be booked on the ticket agent's websites.
If you want the peace of mind of reserving before arriving at a Spanish station, you will need to use the Eurail reservation service or the InterRail reservation service but you will be charged a €2 booking fee per reservation.
Though you can avoid a booking fee if you do reserve at a Spanish station.
Or avoid paying the rail pass reservation fee, by taking this alternative journey option.
5hr 27 min
Daily
1 x optimum connection per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
When departing by the trains which typically leave Barcelona at 13:25 the ticket agents will usually offer an onward connection to Lyon at Valence TGV station
The scheduled connecting time between trains will be under 20 mins, so it's ideal if the train from Barcelona arrives on time, though it obviously won't leave much contingency time in the event of a delay.
The connection between trains won't be guaranteed, though if need be tickets and reservations can be transferred at the ticket desk in Narbonne on to the next train on to Lyon, but it won't be departing from Narbonne until around 1hr 10mins latwe
Final Destination: Paris - Gare de Lyon
This is a journey of three distinct phases:
1: Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train will travel at up to 280 km/h on high speed line.
2 Between Perpignan and Montpellier the train follows the coast, don't expect incredible seascapes, but there are some nice views as the train threads through the marshes - particularly north of Perpignan
3. Between Nimes and Valence the train switches back to the high speed line for the final 15 mins of the journey.
Final Detsination: Lille
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey, but rail pass users will need to be pay a rail pass reservation fee prior to boarding.
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