After the fiasco of the breakdown on the Paris-Clermont train line, the boss of the SNCF is summoned by Christophe Béchu

Partis de Paris Bercy, 700 passagers sont restés bloqués 10 heures dans le train ce vendredi 19 janvier, et sont arrivés à Clermont-Ferrand avec 7 heures de retard. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP – Bruno Levesque

700 voyageurs étaient restés bloqués dans la nuit de vendredi 19 à samedi 20 janvier à bord d'un Intercités ralliant Paris à Clermont-Ferrand après la panne d’une locomotive. 

It was a real ordeal that the approximately 700 passengers experienced to travel the journey between Paris and Clermont-Ferrand aboard an Intercités, which left the capital on Friday January 19 around 7 p.m. to reach his destination on Saturday 20th in the early morning, 7 hours late.

The incident earned the CEO of SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, a summons by the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu.

"What SNCF users experienced is unbearable"

Jean-Pierre Farandou "will have to propose to me on Friday a plan of concrete and immediate measures" for this line regularly affected by incidents, indicated Christophe Béchu this Tuesday, January 23, specifying that he would share the content of this plan "within two weeks with elected officials and stakeholders in the field".

"What SNCF users experienced on Friday on the Paris-Clermont line is not only unbearable, but also unbearable. adds to the various incidents that are far too frequent on this line", insisted the minister, whose scope also includes Transport. "This situation cannot no longer last". 

The train, whose locomotive broke down, had to be repaired to Montargis station (Loiret) where meal trays were distributed, before continuing its route to Montargis station (Loiret) where meal trays were distributed, before continuing its route to Montargis station (Loiret) #39;to its final destination later that night. Passengers shared on social networks their dismay in a train without heat, electricity or water.

Repeated delays

As reported by Franceinfo, the Intercités Paris-Clermont line is known for its repeated delays, regularly denounced by its users. A program to modernize the line has been launched with, in particular, the arrival of new trains, called "Oxygène", delivery of which is scheduled for 2026.

The State has also undertaken work on the line to the tune of one billion euros, a first tranche of which was released by the State. former Minister for Transport, Clément Beaune, in November.