Making history: Inside the success of OUIGO España (video)

On 10 May 2021, SNCF made history as OUIGO España trains began running between Madrid and Barcelona. This video miniseries takes you behind the scenes as our teams prepare for the successful launch of our first high-speed rail business outside France.

Published on 29/10/2024

Reading time: 3 minutes

A new service in Spain

As the high-speed passenger rail market opened up to competition, SNCF made plans to launch a new offer in Spain, spearheaded by Voyages SNCF’s Europe and International Development Division. On 10 May 2021—less than 2 years after the project began—our OUIGO España subsidiary began running trains between Madrid and Barcelona.

90%
train occupancy rate in the 2 months following launch
5
daily return journeys between Madrid and Barcelona
250
SNCF employees worked on the launch of OUIGO España

The launch

Over 250 employees rise to the challenge

Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, OUIGO España was launched in record time, thanks to the world-class expertise and hard work of more than 250 SNCF employees.

The project, step by step

Follow our team as they test and rebrand trains, then transport them to Madrid from our Bischheim Technicentre. Learn how OUIGO drivers are trained. And watch what happened when the first tickets went on sale. In our 6-part miniseries, you’ll see how they did it.