On July 31, a sudden mini-tornado disrupted transportation in France, leading to a complete halt of TGV (high-speed train) services between Paris and Lyon.
Caused Significant Damage
According to Liternatute the SNCF, France's national railway company, reported that the storm caused significant damage to railway, road, and electrical infrastructure. The incident occurred near Saint-Florentin in the Yonne region, where several trees fell onto the South-East high-speed line (LGV).
One TGV train, traveling from Lyon to Rennes, collided with a fallen tree, fortunately without causing any injuries. Replacement trains were dispatched from Paris's Gare de Lyon.
By 1 PM, the SNCF had completed clearing the affected sections of the conventional rail line. However, they cautioned travelers that train services were still suspended and advised against going to the stations. The company announced that all tickets issued for the day were exchangeable and refundable.
80,000 Affected Passengers
The SNCF estimated that around 80,000 passengers would be affected by the disruptions. The incident halted all train traffic on the Paris-Lyon and Paris-Dijon routes. Unlike previous disruptions caused by sabotage, no detour routes were available, exacerbating the situation.
SNCF Réseau, the network division of SNCF, deployed about fifty workers to assess and begin clearing the damage. The operation is particularly challenging due to the large number of fallen trees obstructing the tracks. According to reports from Le Parisien, the complexity of the situation means that restoring full service will take time.
