TGV High-Speed Train Services to Be Extended to Irun
TGV high-speed train services will be extended from Hendaye across the border into Spain to Irun, improving international rail connections.
Irun will become a TGV train stop again
The Spanish border station of Irun will once again become a TGV high-speed train stop, as Paris–Hendaye services will be extended to reach Irun from January 2027.
Currently, these trains terminate at the French border station of Hendaye, just 2.2 kilometres (1.4 miles) from the Spanish border station of Irun, across the Bidasoa River.
Renfe and SNCF, the Spanish and French railways respectively, have recently begun improving their working relationship in an effort to strengthen cross-border connections after both parties ended their cooperation in 2022.
The last time TGV high-speed trains reached Irun was in 2017.
TGV high-speed trains at Paris Montparnasse station. ©AndyBTravels
Connections
The decision by the French and Spanish railways to extend TGV high-speed train services from Hendaye to Irun will significantly improve cross-border connections.
Currently, passengers travelling from Paris to Madrid need to make two connections – one in Hendaye, from the TGV high-speed train onto a local Euskotren service, and then either in Irun or San Sebastián onto a Spanish train to Madrid.
Alternatively, passengers can take a detour by travelling on a direct TGV high-speed train from Paris to Barcelona and connecting there onto a train to Madrid.
By extending TGV high-speed train services into Spain, passengers will be able to take the more direct route via the LGV Atlantique (Atlantic high-speed railway) and make just a single connection at Irun onto a train to Madrid.
InterCity train connecting Irun with Vigo and A Coruña. ©AndyBTravels
Local trains
Besides TGV high-speed train services, some local trains will also be extended across the border.
Renfe’s C1 Cercanías commuter train service, linking Brinkola with San Sebastián and Irun, will be extended to Hendaye for a trial period starting in October this year.
This means that, in addition to Euskotren’s narrow-gauge services, travellers will soon also be able to opt for Renfe when travelling between Hendaye and San Sebastián.
In the future, regional authorities hope to launch half-hourly regional train services between Dax and Irun by 2032, with the service being extended to San Sebastián later in the decade.
AndyB says:
“This filling of the missing gap between France and Spain is more than welcome!
“The existing arrangement, where you have to take the Euskotren, is a little disjointed.”
