Direct Paris to Barcelona trains - how quick?

[SF-02]

Just wondering when the direct trains finally begin (April?) how long the journey will take? Is 5 hours possible non stop? Dobnt they will run non stop but maybe one a day?

 

[30907]

It's 5 1/2hours to Figueras currently, so I reckon 6 hours would be very good until the Nimes-Perpignan section is upgraded in several years' time. Present trains call Nimes-Montpellier-Narbonne-Perpignan at a minimum.

 

[TBY-Paul]

The Wife and I did Paris- Barcelona back in October. We left Paris at 14.07 and arrived in Barcelona at 21.45 (7 Hours 38 mins), we got to Figueras at 19.34 changed trains, and left at 19.54. The high-speed line to Barca from Figueras will reduce the time from 1 Hour 50 ish to around 1 hour, and when you remove the 20 minute change over time as well, I would expect the arrival time in to Barca to be somewhere around 20.30. So Paris to Barcelona should come out at around 6hours 20 minutes.

 

[cle]

What's the status on the line between Perpignan and Avignon - especially the Montpellier and Nimes bypasses? Will any of this be 320-350km/h?

What might the ultimate journey time be from Paris, and dare I ask, London?

 

[Bald Rick]

Nimes - Montpellier bypass starts construction late this year, due to open Dec 17 TT. This despite the RFF website saying it is due to open his year! Think it knocks off 15 mins, about 5 of which is by not stopping at Montpellier.

Montpellier - Perpignan is in very early stages of planning. Current forecast date is 2020, but you can add at least 4 years to that, as there has not been 'public debate' yet. This will take off at least a further half an hour, more if Narbonne is bypassed.

 

[shinkansen1966]

According to this report
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/paris-barcelona-tgv-to-launch-in-april.html

• From April, 2 direct TGVs per day between Paris and Barcelona taking 6 hrs 20 mins, with an additional third service at the weekend
• New Barcelona - Toulouse service using RENFE 100 train sets. (running via Perpignan and Narbonne ?)

The Man at Seat 61 suggests new service will start on 28 April 2013
http://www.seat61.com/Spain.htm#London-Barcelona_by_daytime_train