Jaume Collboni and Michaël Delafosse have signed a joint declaration to complete the French section of the high-speed line, which has been stalled since 2013.
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and his counterpart in Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, signed this afternoon in the Saló de Ciutat of the Barcelona City Hall a joint declaration calling for the completion of the high-speed railway line between the two cities. The agreement, which aims to overcome the stagnation of the French section, would benefit over two million people in cross-border mobility.
A strategic project for southern Europe
The declaration emphasises that the connection is not only key for Barcelona and Montpellier, but also acts as a bridge between eastern Europe and Paris, reinforcing territorial cohesion. Collboni highlighted that "this infrastructure is fundamental for the economic competitiveness and sustainability of the Mediterranean." The document links the project to the fight against climate change and the promotion of low-carbon mobility.
The Spanish section of the high-speed line has been operational since 2013, but the French side, which should connect Perpignan with Montpellier, remains incomplete. According to the agreement, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole commits to pressuring the French State to unblock the works. The Generalitat de Catalunya and the Regió d'Occitània also support the initiative.
Half a century of twinning and cooperation
Barcelona and Montpellier have maintained a twinning agreement since 1963, the oldest still active in the Catalan capital. The historical collaboration encompasses infrastructure, sports and cultural exchanges. In 2008, Barcelona hosted the first Mayors' Summit on high speed, creating an interest group with twelve cities: Barcelona, Béziers, Carcassonne, Figueres, Girona, Lleida, Montpellier, Narbonne, Nîmes, Perpignan, Tarragona, and Toulouse.
Both cities are also part of the Medcities network, chaired by Delafosse, which groups 91 Mediterranean cities. The network promotes sustainable urban development and the blue economy, and for Barcelona, it is a key instrument of its Mediterranean policy.
Local impact: what does it mean for Barcelona travellers?
For the residents of Barcelona, completing the high-speed connection to Montpellier would reduce travel time to less than two hours, compared to nearly four hours currently by conventional train or more than three by car. The connection would facilitate travel to Occitania and the rest of France, boosting tourism and business. Additionally, it would relieve pressure on El Prat airport for short-haul routes.
The agreement does not set specific deadlines, but Delafosse has assured that "we will work to make the French section a reality in this decade." The next meeting of the AVE cities group is scheduled for October 2026 in Montpellier, where progress will be assessed.
You may also like
