caroline

got to be quick here, I've got to go to work! Spain (and Portugal) have different track to the rest of western Europe which makes cross border trains very difficult. In most case you have to get off at the border and change trains although there are a small number of exceptions using Talgo trains with variable axles. There are two main 2 crossing points, Irun/Hendaye in the north and Port Bou/Cerbere in the south. The latter is easily reached from Barcelona and the resorts to the east. Both RENFE and SNCF have pretty hopeless websites, what are your wider plans before and after the border?

Hi thanks for reply. We are spending time in Portugal and Seville and travelling North up to Madrid and stopping in a few cities (yet to be thoroughly planned). We would then like to spend some time around South France (Nice/Monaco) and then maybe up to Paris to finish. As mentioned its simple enough to sort trains in either country but having trouble finding a reasonable train (and times) to cross the border from North Spain into South France.

Your first problem here is that you are trying to cross from North Spain when you need to be down on the Med for the next bit!

Since you don't mention any intention to see the Basque region you should head from Madrid via Barcelona to Cerbere. And I've just realised why your planning has gone wrong! Because of the track issue both main border crossings have a pair of tracks over the border, each country runs trains over the border at both places. But, traditionally both carry passengers in one direction and run empty in the other! So entering Spain on the southern crossing the French take you to the Spanish station of Port Bou, then run back empty to Cerbere. Leaving Spain the Spanish take you to Cerbere and run back empty to Port Bou. The exceptions are the couple of through Talgo trains that run direct between Barcelona and France destinations.

The RENFE website enquiry system is dreadful and doesn't have Cerbere in the main list. It has also lost all but one page of it's English translation (that was fine 8 years ago!) and that page collapses if you try to do enquiries.

So, start here http://www.renfe.com/horarios/index.html

in the enquiry panel next to Todas las Estaciones click Buscar. Then set the date and pick your start station (in big cities if you're not sure which look for one with the asterisk and it should work it out for you).

Then do the same for destination, look under C and voila, there's Cerbere . When you select it gives you a full list of trains. if you click on a train number it gives the full schedule.

you may also find this map useful http://www.renfe.com/mediadistancia/mapa_catalunya.html

If you do stay in Barcelona or Girona the answer is simple. Talgo 73 leaves Barcelona Estacion de Franca at 08:45 / Girona at 09:55 and runs direct to Montpellier Saint-Roch arriving 13:22. A connection departs there at 14:16 arriving Nice Ville at 18:33. Both these trains have reservation conditions.

there is another way to get information - ask the Germans! They have the best software, their database covers most of Europe and it works in English. It is reliable for France but the Spanish have a habit of not telling them about alerations in time (ditto Network Rail for GB!!!). So do the enquiry and when you've got the answer confirm the detail on the RENFE site. http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Portugal doesn't normally send their data to the Germans. I've done Seville - Algarve, you have to use a coach for part of that journey but cubsur in the Portuguese board has an excellent website with details.

Excellent!! Thanks Steve. Really appreciate all the information you have provided.