The support from the EU cohesion funds make possible the high speed section between Barcelona and Figueres

On 9 of January, it entered into service the high speed section between Barcelona and Figueres, which represents the completion of a project, the high speed line Madrid-Barcelona-French border. This section has had a significant involvement and support of the European Union.

The high speed line Madrid-Barcelona-French border was completed with the entry into service on 9 of January of the high speed section between Barcelona and Figueres. The line, which is part of the backbone of EU transport (TEN-T), has been made possible with support from the cohesion funds of the EU, with an investment of €3,500 million (72% of the project on the Madrid-Barcelona) and the line of support TEN-T, which has earmarked €180 million, concentrated especially in cross-border sections and intermodal connections, as the connection to the port of Barcelona. The European Investment Bank has contributed €2,200 million to the financing of the high-speed railway line that connects Madrid with Barcelona and the French border.

According to the European Commission, this infrastructure will considerably enhance rail flows both for passengers and freight, linking the first two high-speed networks of Europe and Madrid to Paris via Barcelona and Lyon. The Commission also stressed that the line will efficiently connect some of the most important Mediterranean Ports (Tarragona, Barcelona, Valencia as well as Marseille on the French side).

The Barcelona-French border section is bridging the gap between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of the European Union and will allow, when fully operational, to reach France from Barcelona in less than 1 hour (from 3h30' so far). Moreover, the full Mediterranean arc from Valencia to Lyon is expected to be operational in 2020. By that time a journey time from Barcelona will be at only 4h30' from Paris (instead of 8h) and 2h40' from Lyon.