Rennes – Failure on the Paris-Bordeaux line: thousands of stranded passengers – L’Express

Occurred around 18:00 between Tours and Poitiers, a computer failure in the signaling system Monts command post, in Indre-et-Loire, halted all rail traffic between the stations of Paris-Montparnasse and Bordeaux, according to SNCF.

“ On the evening, 7,000 people were affected. Some 3,500 to 4,000 are still in these trains in circulation, with four hours late around ,” said SNCF little after midnight, adding that “ less than a dozen trains ” were still affected by the problems.

“ The failure is still not repaired, the crossing point form a traffic bottleneck “, told AFP a spokesman for the railway.

The SNCF announced earlier have been deleted in two TGV from Paris and one from Bordeaux and 13 others were delayed TGV.

An AFP journalist who was to leave for Tours at 7:13 p.m. has left the Montparnasse train station a little after 23:30, the skipper while announcing an arrival to Tours with four and a half hours delay.

Passengers several trains to Tours were transferred to another train, where meal trays were distributed.

“ This is a switch controlled by computer, which was a problem, we had to switch to a manual installation that does not roll as many trains as the automated system “said a spokesman for SNCF.

– ‘Small break 3:30 …’ –

“ Two or three ESTs were also affected in the region but they arrived to “he said.

Regarding the canceled trains, “ we invited our customers to postpone travel or a refund. Those stranded were supported “, has informed SNCF. This indicated that customers would be reimbursed 20% to 100% of the tour price according to the size of the delay.

On social networks, comments from disgruntled passengers were rife, criticizing generally the lack of information from the conductors.

“ TGV 8333, more train staff on the train, last com it an hour ago, it’s normal that ” asked a passenger on Twitter.

Another was a sense of humor by saying: “ Small break 3:30 in the station waiting nicely as the TGV reparte .”

Gare Montparnasse, queues lengthened as electronic signs listing the deleted oars.

At least three people reported to AFP -one must take the TGV to Bordeaux to 18H01- that SNCF had first reported that their train had stopped because of the presence of protesters in the tunnel of Massy, ​​awaiting evacuation.

It was only after a delay of one hour, according to these people, that SNCF informed them that stopping the TGV was linked to a “ Referral problem “.

Numerous passengers waiting outside the wickets they are offered an accommodation for the night.

“ We have been asked to leave the train, and possibly a hosting solution would be we proposed. But since the tail, maybe we will do night in the station, and we do not know tomorrow what time you will start “, testified Sylvie, a Bordelaise stranded in the Parisian train station.

For the day Saturday, “ all trains scheduled tomorrow morning will roll, even with residual difficulties “, according to SNCF.