The standard-gauge Figueres–Perpignan railway connecting Spain and France has broken multiple performance records in June. Despite earlier closures in Barcelona’s Rubí tunnel and a general downturn in freight volumes in Spain, the line is on track to match 2025’s results.
In the second half of 2026, freight on the Figueres–Perpignan railway is expected to exceed that of the same period of 2025. That would compensate for the losses incurred in the first half of this year. It would also lead to a yearly result similar to that of 2025, according to Spanish publication El Mercantil.
Between January and May, the infrastructure manager LFP Perthus saw 738 train trips along its cross-border railway. This is 9.4% less than during the same period of 2025. Still, June was a record-breaking month suggesting that more good things are still to come.
Historical record
In total, 219 trains travelled along the Figueres–Perpignan railway to cross the French-Spanish border — a historical record, says LFP Perthus.
Volumes match the development of raw train numbers. The total gross mass moved, as well as the average mass of the trains reached record highs, the infrastructure manager adds. It did not elaborate on the exact numbers. Early July figures suggest that this trend is continuing into the summer.
LFP Perthus is enthusiastic about the record volumes. “This is excellent news for all actors in the logistics chain and a concrete contribution to the development of more sustainable transport and the decarbonisation of the economy”, the organisation writes on LinkedIn.
90% discount behind the success?
It seems likely that a massive reduction in track access charges has greatly supported the growing volumes. In late 2024, LFP Perthus announced a 90% reduction in its charges for freight trains in particular with public subsidy support.
The infrastructure manager did not confirm to RailFreight.com that the lowered prices are behind the success. However, at the time of the initial announcement, LFP Perthus said that the decrease would continue over the medium and long-term. Tolls through the Perthus Tunnel were estimated at between 300 euros and 700 euros per freight train in 2023. During that year, 1,404 freight trains passed through the tunnel. When compared to 2026, the line has clearly become busier for freight traffic.