Heat wave: SNCF may have to reduce the speed of its trains

Screens everywhere and about fifteen agents on the technical platform of the Gare de l’Est, in Paris. It is from there that train traffic is controlled on the entire South-East axis, from Paris to the Mediterranean. The SNCF heat wave plan has been triggered. The company is trying to anticipate where the mercury will rise too much, this weekend extended by July 14, the weekend of the big start on vacation. It expects two million passengers in its trains. >> Heat wave: what are the temperatures expected this weekend in France? We will exceed 35 degrees in Toulouse, Bordeaux or even Avignon. 35 degrees in the air is ten degrees higher on the rails. And from this temperature, it is better to slow down the trains, explains François-Xavier Miller, who directs the national TGV on-call duty, “for example, because the catenary expands with the heat”. To avoid an incident on the catenary, “the trains must run more slowly”. “A tearing of the catenary means that at that time, as the trains are electric, traffic is interrupted.” François-Xavier Miller franceinfo Steel rails can also expand with the heat reinforced by passing trains. In the worst case, which has never happened before, the train can even derail. To avoid the risk, orders are given to drivers to reduce speed. This weekend, we must therefore expect some slowdowns and delays. Visiting the Gare de l’Est, the Minister Delegate for Transport, Clément Beaune, asks the question: “Do you already have concerns about some rails? Some catenaries?” The CEO of SNCF Réseau, Luc Lallemand, reassures him: “I’m not going to say that we are worried, but we are vigilant. We are focused on really intervening as quickly as possible when there is a problem.” On the high-speed lines, a priori, no big delays, especially on the most recent ones, such as between Tours and Bordeaux. On the other hand, elsewhere, in particular the Transiliens, the Intercités, the TER, there, the rails are older, a little less resistant to heat. For example, between Paris and Orléans, this Wednesday: “Between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., we will be driving at 100 km/h.” There will be an average of 20 minutes late. When we stay longer on the train, as much as the air conditioning cools us down. On this side, the checks have been carried out, assures the SNCF. All TGV, Intercités have air conditioning, almost all TER, but some systems can break down. Contacted by franceinfo, a company union warns those of you who are going to board the old Corail trains, for example on the Paris-Clermont and Paris-Brive axis. There, plan fans and fans. Finally, if your train is delayed for more than 30 minutes on arrival, due to the heat, you are entitled to the G30 guarantee and to compensation from the SNCF, proportional to the price of your ticket and the duration of the delay. . Heat wave: the SNCF may have to reduce the speed of its trains – the report by Thomas Giraudeau listen