Renfe considering leaving France

[nwales58]

This is about ending the existing services to Marseille, Lyon and imminent Toulouse (though related to the Avril debacle). There are some interesting new, to me, details.

Renfe se plantea dejar de operar en Francia por las trabas de SNCF

Renfe está estudiando abandonar todas sus operaciones en Francia, según ha podido saber La Vanguardia . Las continuas trabas que está poniendo la compañía pública

www.lavanguardia.com

The continuing obstacles impose by ... SNCF to the certification of Renfe's high speed trains to serve Paris hace led ... to consider withdrawing ... to concentrate on Spain.

Renfe attempted to get its 100F series approved for use in France. But the railway manger's response was that they are "incompatible" with current technology. [Renfe] then presented a project to validate the Talgo series 106. ... Adding to these obstacles is that SNCF wants to fore Renfe and Trenialia to operatte loss-making high speed lines, according to a proposal by the former french transport minister last summer.

The service currently offered by Renfe on high speed french routes is losing money. The initial services to Lyon and Marseilles had the objective of obtaininig relevant auuthorisations more esialy to reach Paris.

The article goes on to say that, of course, it might be pressure to get the EU Commission to take action against anti-competitive obstacles, particularly as Spain's Renfe/Adif split has made open access work well. Although spain is currently wondering about delaying opening up open access to more routes.

 

[williamn]

Great shame - I took their service from Barcelona to Montpellier last year and it seemed very popular.

 

[CdBrux]

Bit of French protectionism? Incroyable!