Collboni and the Mayor of Montpellier Demand High-Speed Connection Between Both Cities

Jaume Collboni and his counterpart Michaël Delafosse have signed a joint statement to demand the completion of the high-speed line between Barcelona and Montpellier, a project that would benefit over two million people.

The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the Mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, have taken a firm step to unlock the high-speed rail connection between both cities. On Monday, in the Saló de Ciutat of the Barcelona City Council, they signed a joint statement urging the Spanish and French administrations to complete the pending section of the AVE.

A Project Delayed Since 2013

The high-speed line between Barcelona and the French border has been operational since 2013, but the French section to Montpellier remains incomplete. The two mayors believe this connection is key for the mobility of over two million people and for the economic and social appeal of both regions.

According to the statement from the Barcelona council, the railway union “would strengthen the economic and social appeal” of the two cities. Furthermore, it would contribute to placing climate action and environmental protection at the heart of public policies, an argument that has gained traction in recent years.

The Commitment of Montpellier and Support from the Generalitat

The metropolitan institution Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, chaired by Delafosse, has committed to advocating for this agreement before the French administrations. The pact also has the backing of the Occitanie region and the Generalitat de Catalunya, adding political pressure for the project to advance.

For residents of the province of Barcelona, the completion of the AVE would mean a qualitative leap in connections with southern France. Currently, travelling by train from Barcelona to Montpellier requires transfers or a travel time significantly longer than what direct high-speed would offer.

A Historic Alliance Celebrating 60 Years

Barcelona and Montpellier have maintained a twinning agreement since 1963, the oldest active relationship of the Catalan capital. This bond has been strengthened by both cities' membership in the Medcités network, which groups 91 Mediterranean cities committed to sustainable development and the blue economy. Delafosse is currently the president of this network.

This is not the first time the mayors have mobilised for the AVE. In 2008, Barcelona hosted the first summit of mayors on high-speed trains, where a group of cities promoting the project was formed. This collective includes Barcelona, Béziers, Carcassonne, Figueres, Girona, Lleida, Montpellier, Narbonne, Nîmes, Perpignan, Tarragona, and Toulouse.

Now, with the signed statement, Collboni and Delafosse hope to accelerate the negotiations with the central and French governments. The ball is in the court of the state administrations, but pressure from the local level is increasing. Meanwhile, the citizens of Barcelona and its metropolitan area continue to wait for a dignified rail connection with southern France.