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This is my personal advice and has nothing to do hitchhiking. But this is what has worked for me. Keep in mind I don't encourage anyone to break any state's laws. I just report what has been useful for me.
Method: wait until last minute INSIDE the train station for the train to Barcelona. Don't wait outside, on the platform. Once the train has arrived, don't go directly for it. You need to catch it last minute (or last seconds), when it is about to leave. PAY ATTENTION to the fact the usually the train halves in two, so one section will remain in Perpignan and the other one is to go all the way to Barcelona. But once you know this it is fairly easy to spot the half moving further (you'll see everyone getting off from one side and noone getting on). Be sneaky, try to get in when nobody is lookingand be fast. Inside the train, act normal, go to first class, leave your backpacks on the baggage shelves, and head for the train restaurant. At the restaurant, sit and enjoy the views. Or you can sit comfortably on your cozy first class armchair. Usually there is no control at all at this stage of the trip.
I have done this twice and has always proved to be the best technique. Once in Barcelona, you arrive at the main station Sants. If you need to go further South, go to the Rodalies (short-distance trains) platforms and take the one going to Sant Vincente de Calders, R4, and get off at Castell Bisbal (more info on the Barcelona page).
For those of you afraid of getting 'caught', I give you some facts: in France, they won't kick you out from the train. At least, this is not the common practice. You get a fine, but even if you live in France, if you don't get fined more than 10 times a year, nothing happens Now, if you don't live in France, you have it even easier. Myself, I have crossed the whole country twice and only got fined once each time I went across the whole of France. So you get an idea of your chances.
