the parents of Marwan, who died after being hit by a train, summon the SNCF to obtain security arrangements

«The SNCF did not offer us even condolences…” Almost three years after the tragic death of Marwan, struck by a TER train while he was crossing the track to join his train, at Gauriaguet station, no far from Saint-André-de-Cubzac, in Gironde, the pain is still as strong. Perhaps even more, her family did not have the answers they wanted, nor even the assurance that such an accident could not happen again in this place. She chose the legal route to make herself heard, by summoning the SNCF. The hearing will take place this Thursday, November 28 before the Libourne judicial court.

“It is unbearable for them that accidents like this continue to happen every year in France,” comments M.^e Claire Wurtz, lawyer at the Libourne bar. The railway company was not held criminally liable. The hearing will take place in civil court. “So that Marwan is finally recognized as a victim,” breathes his father Jean-Paul. An approach that he wants to be open to the future. “That won’t bring him back.” But we want to ensure that this station is secure. If there had been even a gate, Marwan would not have entered the path, he would still be there. »

fog

It is around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday January 26, 2022, the young man living in Marsas goes to Gauriaguet station. While still a student, Marwan was on an internship in a company, in a hotel in Bordeaux Bastide. “It was foggy that day,” recalls Jean-Paul. His train was already at the platform. While trying to reach him, he was hit by a TER arriving on the other track, which was traveling at 140 km/h. He did not wear headphones, did not take drugs, was not drunk, he recalls. “He was a nice boy, very intelligent, considerate of everyone…” He was just 20 years old.

Fortunately, the family had support. “The police were fantastic,” continues Jean-Paul. We discovered lots of great people who were there for us. We would have liked to see the SNCF show a little more humanity. » The lack of redevelopment of the station revolts him. “It is not a question of asking for money but of ensuring that the SNCF does what is necessary to ensure that this no longer happens. » No additional security devices have been installed since the tragedy, notes the family. “It’s not one more panel that’s going to change things. »

“Serious shortcomings”

“Gauriaguet station, like several hundred other stations in France, is only equipped with illuminated pictograms indicating the ban on crossing,” adds M^e Würtz. No barrier, or even sound device, is present to alert of the arrival of a train at the station. Unfortunately, this tragedy is not isolated and reveals the serious inadequacies of the infrastructure of small stations in France. In the month of January 2024 alone, in France, four people died on pedestrian crossings intended to cross the tracks at stations. »

This tragedy reveals the serious inadequacies of the infrastructure of small stations in France

“A significant cost”

“We have no particular hatred,” continues Jean-Paul. But the SNCF has the power to secure stations such as this one. It’s essential. Especially now, when we are encouraging more and more people to take the train. » Could things change? Alain Montangon, mayor of Gauriaguet, can only wish so. “I had the opportunity to talk about it again with a works manager from SNCF Réseaux, during a discussion on developments linked to the metropolitan TER,” he says.

However, he insists to dispel any ambiguity, it was only an exchange, “nothing is planned”. “All rural stations are like that,” he recalls, “as in 2022. The big ones, like Libourne, have footbridges but not ours. » He does not want to err on the side of excessive optimism. “The cost for the SNCF of such an arrangement is significant. And if the Gauriaguet station is developed, the same will have to be done with all the others. » For Marwan’s parents, on the eve of the hearing, the stakes of the hearing are even more important. “These are human lives that are at stake…”

(1) SNCF Réseaux did not respond to our requests.