after a train breakdown, another 12-hour delay on the cursed Paris-Clermont line

Passengers on a Clermont-Paris train arrived at their destination almost 12 hours late Friday morning, a new episode in a dark series for this line whose users regularly denounce the dilapidation and delays, we learned from consistent sources. The train's locomotive, which was carrying 430 passengers, is “broke down at Briare station (Loiret), its brakes being blocked”told AFP a spokesperson for SNCF Intercités, who evokes a “extremely rare incident”.

The emergency locomotive parked at Nevers station failed to restart the train, she added. Consequence: buses had to be chartered and arrived between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on the night of Thursday to Friday to transport passengers to Paris. In total, more than 600 passengers were affected by this breakdown which blocked another train. The electricity and heating however worked, specifies the SNCF, which promises to compensate the tickets up to 200%.

A passenger recounted her “hell night” daily regional the Mountainclaiming to have arrived at Lyon station shortly after 8:00 a.m. on Friday while the train was expected at its terminus at 8:00 p.m. the day before. “The staff seemed overwhelmed by the situation. Fortunately, Secours populaire volunteers offered us a cereal bar, a small bottle of water and a survival blanket!” she testified.

“We are up against the wall”

Several Internet users expressed their exasperation on social networks: “There are elderly people, children, disabled people on board and 7 hours is how long it took you to decide to call buses?? You are the shame of the country”said one of them on X. “If we have to reach this point with each new breakdown, it’s dramatic”Stéphanie Picard, spokesperson for the Clermont-Paris Train Users collective, told AFP.

“We are up against the wall. We had noticed a deterioration before the holidays, with significant delays”indicated Stéphanie Picard, also evoking a “inertia” due to government instability: “the Clermont-Paris line is not the priority”she laments.

Almost a year ago on January 19, 747 passengers on the train leaving Paris were delayed for more than 7 hours in the extreme cold, deprived of heating. Following this new incident, the government announced “unprecedented measures” for this line, such as the installation of a breakdown locomotive in Nevers or the protection of the tracks against wild boars in particular. The delivery of new trainsets has been delayed and is now expected for 2027.