Sud Express - The Service Today

The Service Today

With the opening of the LGV Atlantique, the direct service was discontinued in favour of a (faster) combination of two different trains. The original connection from and to Paris is made with a TGV to Irun and from Hendaye (the twin border towns on opposite sides of the French/Spanish border). The continuing Sud Express then runs as a night train from Irun at the French/Spanish border to Lisbon and from Lisbon to Hendaye. Until April 2010, facilities exist for 2rd class seated accommodation, 2nd class couchette cars (6 bunk sex segregated compartments), and 1st class private sleeping compartments for 1, 2 or three passengers. Passengers in 1st class compartments traditionally find a bar of chocolate and a small bottle of port in their compartments upon boarding the train. Dinner is served in a well-appointed dining and bar car, which also serves a continental breakfast the following morning. Now the train is composed by Talgo cars hired from Renfe and a 334 diesel locomotive (Euro 3000) between Medina del Campo and Fuentes de Oñoro, and a 252 electric locomotive between Medina del Campo and Irún.

The Portuguese Government's strategic plan for transport, published in October 2011, envisaged the withdrawal of the Sud Express. The service has survived and, in October 2012, the route of the Sud Express will be modified to additionally serve Porto and Aveiro as well as Lisbon.