only one in two trains in circulation on Monday

The situation does not improve in Paris-Montparnbade station, on the contrary. After a total interruption of traffic for three hours Friday, due to a fire on a transformer RTE, the rail traffic still blows 48 hours later. If the SNCF was able to leave 70% of the scheduled trains departing from the Paris station Saturday, they will be only 50% to circulate Monday, as Sunday. For its part, RTE does not provide for a full recovery of electricity before Tuesday at the end of the day.

Electricity restored by late Tuesday at the end of the day

Executive Director of Voyages SNCF also called RTE (Transmission System Electricity), the manager of the high-voltage electricity network, to "act urgently" to restore electricity to full power in Montparnbade.

RTE badured Sunday that electricity would be restored no later than Tuesday at the end of the day, or even Monday afternoon if the tests are conclusive, said Sunday the president of RTE, François Brottes at a press point . A little earlier, RTE had pointed out that electricity would not be restored "in full power" at Montparnbade station before Thursday.

Sunday, at midday, Régis Boigegrain, regional delegate of RTE, however indicated BFM TV have "good hope to keep, or even improve, the restocking time of the station Montparnbade". Nevertheless, the complete repair of the post devastated by the flames can not be effective for several months, he said.

The situation is deteriorating

The SNCF must face "material constraints", regretted Saturday the director general of Voyages SNCF, Rachel Picard. Sunday, so it is only one train out of two that will circulate, less than Saturday (two trains out of three). The maintenance workshop for TGV trains near Montparnbade is no longer supplied with electricity. "There are some oars that we can not go out because they are not safe for our travelers, that's why the duration of the incident is critical," she said on Saturday. at a press conference.

Travelers Lament a Lack of Information

Sunday morning, in the various halls of the station, shipwrecked railroaders deplored an incomplete communication. Some travelers are forced to go out of their way to find a solution. Thus, Jean-Pierre and Sylvie, arrived at the station at 7 o'clock to go to Rennes, had still not been able to embark at 9 o'clock. "There is no train, we do not have a lot of information, we were offered to take another train, knowing that they are all full," said the latter to Europe 1. " This is the galley, we will be standing with the dog, while we have reserved tickets in seats ". Unlike Saturday, the SNCF ended the distribution of coffee and bottled water in the station. The company simply recommends that travelers postpone their stay.

Repercussions into the Southwest

The Paris-Bordeaux line is particularly affected by this incident. In the middle of weekend crossovers and family reunions, many users were stuck in Saint-Jean station in Bordeaux. And especially Arlette, who will be able to join Paris, but with 24 hours of delay. And she still does not know where she is going to happen. "I do not know if I'm coming to Montparnbade or Austerlitz," she explains to Europe 1, while part of the Paris-Montparnbade traffic had to be deported Friday and Saturday to the Austerlitz station.

Even without a valid ticket, the SNCF advised him to board one of the few trains of the day. "I do not have a reservation, I do not have a seat," said the 76-year-old. "I'm going to see my grandson, I promised him I'll go, so I'm going in. What would not we do for his grandchildren …"

For his part, Julie returns from Eure-et-Loir where she took her 18-month-old baby on vacation to her grandparents' home in Dreux. But delays in cancellations, the path was strewn with pitfalls for this young mother who ended up opting for carpooling. "I really want to go home, I'm supposed to take five hours from Dreux to Dax, and I'll have exactly 12 hours to get in. Thank you very much SNCF!"

A fire of unknown origin [19659005] The paralysis of train traffic in Montparnbade station is the consequence of the fire of a RTE substation, which cut power to the SNCF's power stations. The fire, whose origin is still unknown, left Friday an electrical transformer in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris.