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| The stop on the tracks of the train driven by the railway worker found deceased blocked the TGVs in both directions on the LGV Sud-Est. |
| Photo : AFP/VNA/CVN |
According to an SNCF spokesperson, it is “from memory” the first time such an incident has occurred.
The driver “ended his life while the train was moving“, indicated the SNCF in a press release. His lifeless body was discovered a little later, said a police source.
This suicide was the cause of major disruptions on Christmas Eve on the line linking Paris to the South-East of France. They affected around ten trains and affected thousands of passengers, with delays of up to five hours.
A judicial investigation was opened to investigate the causes of death, the prosecution said. The SNCF deplored a “terrible drame“which plunges into the”grief“the whole railway family.
She explained that the security systems had worked perfectly.
As soon as the driver “abandoned his driving position, the train's automatic stopping devices were activated and the train stopped automatically“, she clarified.
“The safety of train passengers was not threatened at any time, nor was the safety of traffic, the traffic management center having been immediately automatically alerted“, the railway company said again.
“It worked quite well since the users were not put in danger.“, confirmed Philippe Tabarot, the new Minister of Transport, on France Info.
The CGT Cheminots union, which said “in mourning“, deplored attacks on X”scandalous” against the corporation while subscribers spoke of endangering passengers.
SNCF explains that the safety device, called “Automatic Standby with Support Maintenance Control” (VACMA), “allows you to confirm the active presence of the driver at all times” in the driver's cabin of the train.
The driver must therefore “alternately press then release either a pedal with your foot or a switch with your hand“, indicates the SNCF. “If he does not release the pressure every 30 seconds or if he does not press the mechanism again after 5 seconds, a very loud alarm is triggered in the driver's cab to make him react. He has 3 seconds to do it“.
“If it does not do so, the train motors automatically cut off their traction effort and the automatic emergency braking device is triggered at the same time.“, specifies the company.
“This is what ensured that there was no endangering of the lives of the many travelers who were on this train (which) was crowded“, confirmed Philippe Tabarot.
The SNCF announced on Wednesday December 25 on its website the “reprise progressive“traffic.”Some delays are still expected“, she warned, however.
AFP/VNA/CVN
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