The SNCF traffic returns to normal in the West – The Point

The railway traffic was gradually returning to normal Monday morning in the West following the collision of a bullet train with a tractor fell on a path between Rennes and Laval, announced the railway undertaking. Some delays are still expected.

“The trains travel,” but “the TGV are always diverted to go by Nantes in Brittany, and this, until noon,” because “discounts operations in a state are not finished, “said the director of the TGV Atlantic axis, Philippe Mouly, the microphone of France Info. Between thirty minutes and three hours late were expected for some TGV in the morning, he warned.

“Once the TGV and the tractor will be removed, one lane will be available and TGV and TER will run alternately on this path “,” without particular delay, “he explained, saying the two affected routes would be released” tomorrow morning “. The release of the TGV is “technically much more complicated than previously thought” and the operations take “longer than expected,” he stressed, adding that the tractor had passed under the debris and the TGV rail had been moved.

“extremely violent shock”

A spokesman for SNCF said Monday morning that the motive of the TGV had been raised. The trains will alternate until midweek, without disrupting traffic since traffic is reduced in this period of vacation. Seven or eight TGV should be diverted in the morning and go through Nantes, causing delays, but the resumption of normal traffic should be around noon, she said.

The SNCF will “wear complaint against the person who put the tractor in the middle of the road, “said another spokesman for SNCF, Michel Pronost. “The shock was extremely violent. It has escaped a disaster,” said Mr. Pronost, recalling that two people were slightly injured, the driver of the TGV and transient. Overall, “6000 people have experienced significant delays” as a result of this collision, including 3500 in Montparnasse, he summarized.

500 hotel nights and 2,500 taxis Offered

TGV ten were affected by these disturbances Sunday, some having had up to 6 hours late. The last train arrived shortly before 4:00 in Paris. Monday morning, Quimper-Paris TGV 5 hours 32 took 1 hour 30 minutes late and had to be diverted from Nantes, because cleaning the affected channel that is free of debris, according to Michel Pronost.

Sunday late afternoon, a double TGV train heading towards Rennes collided with a tractor fell on the road without its driver, apparently due to a technical problem in Noyal-sur-Vilaine . The tractor with trailer “left his field, rolled down the slope and landed on the road,” explained Philippe Mouly. This incident “us expensive” in terms of mobilization of personnel, passenger care and because of “considerable damage” that has been done, he added. The TGV must “be immobilized for several months” and repaired roads, he said. SNCF has offered 500 hotel nights and 2500 taxis in the Montparnasse station, he was detailed.

Sunday, traffic was also interrupted several hours in the south after Fire of a locomotive of a Spanish train near the station Lunel (Hérault).