Barcelona to Lyon by train

How to take the rail journey from Barcelona to Lyon

The direct trains between Barcelona and Lyon have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

Share

Routes

From Barcelona Sants to Lyon Part-Dieu until Dec 10th

Travel Information

Final Destination: Lyon Part-Dieu

This train also calls at: Nimes and Valence TGV

Departing from Barcelona:

This train is scheduled to depart daily from Barcelona Sants at 08:15.

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 14:20 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.

1 x direct train per day

Tickets

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 08:15 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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trainline from €44

Trainline Guide

SNCF Connect from €44

SNCF Connect Guide

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 on Google Play

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 from €44

Renfe Guide

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.

On this journey

Journey Features

Coastal viewsHigh Speed (partial journey)
The view from the high speed line north of Figueres The view from the high speed line north of Figueres
Crossing the marshes between Perpignan and Narbonne Crossing the marshes between Perpignan and Narbonne
The view of Beziers from the left just before Beziers station The view of Beziers from the left just before Beziers station
A Roman aqueduct that can be see on the left south of Valence A Roman aqueduct that can be see on the left south of Valence

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.

  1. After Nimes the train will travel on another high speed line, and then leave it to travel on conventional tracks for the final 25 minutes of the journey.

From Dec 11th: departing in the morning

Travel Information

The French national rail company SNCF and the Spanish rail company Renfe have opted to terminate their partnership which jointly managed the service of high speed trains between France and Spain.
As a result the long-standing direct trains between Barcelona and Lyon have been withdrawn, without any adjustment to any other train times to provide an equivalent indirect journey on a similar schedule to what had been available.

When departing by the trains which typically leave Barcelona at 10:32 the ticket agents will usually offer an onward connection at Montpellier St Roch station into a train that will usually be departing from there at around 13:58.
It will be train heading to Metz or Strasbourg.
The scheduled connecting time between trains will only be around 15 mins, so it's ideal if the train from Barcelona arrives in Montpellier on time, though it obviously won't leave much contingency time in the event of a delay.
Though in this instance it's worth the slight gamble on making the connection, because the next train on to Lyon will be leaving within the hour and if need be tickets and reservations can be transferred on to that alternative departure in the event of a delay; though a visit to the ticket office at St Roch station will be necessary.

1 x connection
Changing trains at Montpellier St Roch station

Tickets

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.

Using rail passes

The removal of the direct trains has expensive consequences of users of InterRail and Eurail passes, because separate rail pass reservation fees will be need to be paid on both of the TGV trains.

The usual alternative that avoids any reservation fees is to make at least two connections in Port Bou and Avignon, but these journey options will need to be looked up on the Eurail/InterRail journey planning app.
The connections will vary according to both the day of the week on which you will be making the journey; and the travel date.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
SNCF Connect *

SNCF Connect Guide

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 on Google Play

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

Download the SNCF Connect App *
Trainline *

Trainline Guide

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)Coastal views

Good to Know

Final Destination Paris - Gare de Lyon

The view from the high speed line north of Figueres The view from the high speed line north of Figueres
he view of Beziers from the left just before Beziers station he view of Beziers from the left just before Beziers station
Crossing the marshes between Perpignan and Narbonne Crossing the marshes between Perpignan and Narbonne

Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train travels on a high speed line.

Then 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.

From Dec 11th: departing in the afternoon

Travel Information

When departing by the trains which typically leave Barcelona at 14:32 the ticket agents will usually offer an onward connection at Narbonne station into a train that will usually be departing from there at around 16:59.

The scheduled connecting time between trains will only be around 20 mins, so it's ideal if the train from Barcelona arrives in Narbonne 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 two hours later.

1 x connection per day
Connection between trains in Narbonne

Tickets

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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trainline *

Trainline Guide

SNCF Connect *

SNCF Connect Guide

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 on Google Play

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

Download the SNCF Connect App *

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)Coastal views

Good to Know

Final Destination: Paris - Gare de Lyon

The view from the high speed line north of Figueres The view from the high speed line north of Figueres
he view of Beziers from the left just before Beziers station he view of Beziers from the left just before Beziers station
Crossing the marshes between Perpignan and Narbonne Crossing the marshes between Perpignan and Narbonne

Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train travels on a high speed line.

Then 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.

Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge
hand-money

Please support ShowMeTheJourney

Help keep us advertising and paywall free!

Donate

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.

See if there’s a unique journey guide for your trip, featuring info on the trains, tickets & stations.
Leaving From
Going To
ShowMeTheJourney

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.