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How to take a rail journey from Barcelona to Toulouse
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Barcelona to Toulouse by train
Since the withdrawal a few years ago of the direct train the option for taking a train from Barcelona to Toulouse are:
- Taking a high speed train to Narbonne and connecting there for a Toulouse.
- Taking the slower, but much more beautiful route through the Pyrenees with a a connection between two regional trains at La Tour De Carol.
Routes you can take to go from Barcelona to Toulouse
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.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: the direct train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
3hr 16min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
up to 1 x train per day
Purchase Tickets
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.
Trainline Guide
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 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 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
Other Ticket Providers
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.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Toulouse
This train also calls at: Caracassone
This direct train service will be restored from a to be confirmed date in the first half of 2025.
Departing from Barcelona:
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.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
On Mon-Friday AVE trains are normally used, but TGV trains are most likely to be used at weekends.
Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train travels on a high speed line.
Then between Perpignan and to the south of Narbonne the train threads through the marshes - the sea can be seen of the right of the train, while the lagoon can simultaneously be seen on the left.
Though you'll need to be travelling by this direct train when days are at their longest, to experience this part of the journey before dusk.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date - usually
It can usually be 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:
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, but on this route you may as well as book them at Barcelona Sants station - this train won't sell out.
Or avoid the reservation fees AND have a much more scenic journey by travelling via La Tour De Carol; highly recommended!
Route Information
Via stations: Narbonne
Option 1: connecting in Narbonne
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
4hr 27min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
4 x connections per day
Purchase Tickets
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.
Trainline Guide
Travel Information
When heading off Barcelona on a TGV heading to Paris, the trains which typically depart at around 09:30 and 13:25, the train on Narbonne will an Intercités express train.
So this combination of trains enable the entire journey to be taken in a reserved seat and the end-to-end journey time is faster.
In contrast when setting off from Barcelona at around 08:20 and 16:35, the combination of trains will be a Spanish AVE train, plus a connection into a French regional train - a TER service.
Reservations aren't available on the TER train and they call at more stations than those Intercités trains.
Though rail pass users can save at least €10 by taking this slower combination of trains, because the mandatory rail pass reservations on the Intercités trains can then be avoided.
Regardless of when you depart Barcelona, the time between arrival and departure in Narbonne will be a convenient 24 - 46 minutes.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Barcelona Sants and NarbonneYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Paris or Lyon
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.
Between Barcelona and Perpignan the train travels on a high speed line.
2. Then between Perpignan and Narbonne the train crosses the marsh land by the sea and it will seem as though the train is gliding across the water; the sea can be seen on the right, while simultaneously the lakes can be seen on the left
The videos were filmed from a train travelling in the opposite direction.
Train 2
Between Narbonne and Toulouse - MatabiauYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
These trains also call at: Carcassone
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
Route Information
Via stations: Latour-de-Carol
Option2: connecting in La Tour De Carol
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
from 6h 45min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Up to 3 x connections per day.
Purchase Tickets
Travel Information
If you will be travelling on the dates when the direct train operating, you can reach Toulouse from Barcelona more than two hours faster.
Or on the dates when that train isn't operating, or if you want to arrive in Toulouse before late in the evening, you can travel from Barcelona to Toulouse with a change of train in Narbonne.
In contrast this route via La Tour De Carol is at least an hour longer - so why travel this way.
Two reasons:
(1) This route via La Tour De Carol doesn't go around the spectacular Pyrenees mountains, it travels through them.
So one of the most spectacular railway journeys in Spain, is swiftly followed by one of the most beautiful railway routes in France.
(2) If you will be travellling with an InterRail or Eurail pass, this route avoids the needs to pay any rail pass reservation fees; one of the few routes from Spain to France, on which that is an option.
So rail pass users will save at least €10 by taking this route.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Barcelona Sants and Latour-de-CarolYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Latour-de-Carol
We've cheated by classifying the trains used on this route as Regional Express trains.
What they in fact are Rodalies trains, the trains used on the local and commuter routes around Barcelona.
They happen to have their regular journeys from Barcelona extended, so that they cross the border into France.
There are 4 x trains per day, but on Sat/Sun the trains operate at different timings to those on Mon-Friday.
The best of the views are around 20-30 mins from journey's end on the left hand side of the train.
Connections in La Tour De Carol:
These departures from Barcelona typically connect in La Tour de Carol for trains on to Toulouse
- 06:01 daily; Arrive in Toulouse at 13:14 - transfer time = 1hr 14min
- 08:31 daily; Arrive in Toulouse at 16:14 - transfer time = 1hr 42min
- 11:31 Sunday*; Arrive in Toulouse at 18:14 - transfer time = 33min
- 14:31 on Mon-Fri ;Arrive in Toulouse at 21:14 - transfer time = 40min
*= It is the train on La Tour De Carol to Toulouse which is only available on Sundays.
The majority of this train ride is an absolute delight
Though best of the views are around 20-30 mins from journey's end on the left hand side of the train.
Train 2
Between Latour-de-Carol and Toulouse - MatabiauYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Toulouse
This train journey through the foothills of the Pyrenees between La Tour De Carol and Aix-Les-Thermes, is one of the most spectacular routes taken by any French train.
The train will follow rivers down a series of valleys, though the scenery becomes less spectacular in this direction, the further the train travels.
When setting off from La Tour De Carol the best of the views are on the right, but for the first hour of the journey the pick of the views, switches between both sides of the train; the views down on to the town of Aix-les-Thermes are on the left.
There is little of note to see on the final hour of the journey, also the train will tend to become increasingly full as it makes its way to Toulouse.
Tickets
If you'll need to buy tickets you won't find this end-to-end journey via La Tour De Carol for sale online, but this isn't a route, on which you can save by booking in advance.
So buy a ticket for the train to La Tour De Carol at Sants station and then either purchase a ticket for the train on to Toulouse on arrival at La Tour De Carol, or you can book this section of the journey on Oui.SNCF
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