Stuck for nearly 5 hours on a TGV to Montpellier: why 343 passengers had to be evacuated from the train

343 passagers d’un TGV se sont retrouvés coincés pendant près de cinq heures dans leur train (photo d’illustration). MAXPPP – Jean-Marc Lallemand

343 passengers on a TGV bound for Montpellier were stuck for nearly 5 hours near Laval, in Mayenne, this Sunday, September 22, 2024.

The journey must have seemed long, very long to them. 343 passengers on a TGV were stuck for nearly five hours on their train near Laval, in Mayenne, this Sunday, September 22, 2024, reports Ouest-France.

The train left Rennes station at 12:30 p.m. It was supposed to arrive in Montpellier six hours later, at 4:30 p.m. It never did. arrived. Due to a power supply fault, the TGV came to a halt near Laval at around 1:30 p.m.

Stuck, at a standstill

The passengers remained stuck in their car, at the stop, for almost 5 hours. Shortly after 6 p.m., firefighters were able to intervene and transfer the passengers to a train on the opposite track, reports Le Parisien.

Transferred by the firefighters

343 passengers, including thirteen people with reduced mobility and five SNCF personnel, were transferred without any problems. Their new train turned around and returned to Rennes. According to Ouest-France, exceptional compensation of up to 150% will be granted to passengers.

The return to normal was announced for this Monday, September 23, 2024, at 6 a.m.