Arriving Zaragoza by train - International transfer

Arriving Zaragoza by train - International transfer

Today in Zaragoza a new international transfer starts with high speed railway.
Eight daily trains will join Madrid and Figueres-Vilafant close to the French border. All of them will have a call at Zaragoza and two of them will have a transfer (in less than 20 minutes) to a French TGV with origin/destination Paris-Gare de Lyon.

After a lot of years under construction, when first strech Madrid-Zaragoza-Lerida high speed lane was opened in october 2003, line arrives to Figueres-Vilafant (and international strech until Perpignan is on service but still only operated by SNCF).
It will take about eight hours to arrive Zaragoza, supossing you are departing from Paris. The two daily trains will have some calls incluiding Valence-TGV and Nimes where you can get a transfer to other destinations.
In spring it is estimated to have more services Madrid-Barcelona-Lyon-Paris with a transfer at Figueres-Vilafant and more services to other southern France destinations as well as to Switzerland.
Of course it is a long journey (even if there is a three days per week RYR flight Zaragoza - Paris Beauvois) but let's remember several interesting points:
* There is no limit with baggage. Forget those limits about 10 kg in the plane and baggage sizes. You can take two or three luggages providing you will be able to carry them only. Transfer at Figueres-Vilafant is in the same platform (two tracks in the same platform, one for Renfe train, another for SNCF trains. So you just get off one train, walk several steps and... you are inside the other train. You look for your seat and wait until destination).
* Forget carrying baggage from city centre to airport, later to bus transfer, later to... just city centre to city centre and as many baggage as you want
* You can use your mobile, computer, etc... inside trains with no limits... and have a walk while journey in the train aisle.
* If your origin/destination is not Paris, you will not have direct flight. Be sure that, even if a long journey, it will be the faster destination.
TGV SNCF and AVE Renfe trains are too comfortable for a long journey. You can plan to have meals inside, or buy something at the cafeteria. There are different classes inside the train with comforts and facilities.
Furthermore, should you have an Interrail pass or something like it, journey could be free, or will require only paying a supplement.

There are other possibilities to arrive to Zaragoza by train (transfer from any other airport, such as Madrid or Barcelona) but this is one way to arrive from any southern Europe site to Zaragoza by train, with a new high speed line and easy transfers.
In other posts we will talk about buying tickets and other advices for trains.
Today you can reach for timetables at Renfe and SNCF timetables selecting anywhere to Figueres-Vilafant (hint: not "Figueres" which is a regional train station located 500 m. away) and from Figueres-Vilafant to Zaragoza

Hint: At Zaragoza station you will have a free commuter train with your ticket from other station if you take an AVE train or someone else. In the ticket it will appear the word "Combinado cercanías" (commuter shuttle) and a five-letter password.
Look for any commuter ticket machine. English will be available there. Take the option of "Combinado cercanías" and just enter the password.
You will have a ticket to travel to any station within Zaragoza commuter network. It is a really small network but if your hotel or destination is not far away from Zaragoza-Portillo, Zaragoza-Goya or Zaragoza-Miraflores stations, shifting will be free