2024-02-16 20:54:00
“We are not there,” Christophe Fanichet, boss of SNCF Voyageurs, conceded on Friday on BFMTV. One in two TGVs runs in France on average for the first crossover of the winter holidays due to a controllers’ strike, leaving 150,000 holidaymakers at the dock, according to the company.
Some “850,000 French people will finally be able to go on vacation” but “I regret that 150,000 French people will not be able to leave” because “they have not necessarily found solutions”, added Christophe Fanichet. “They were reimbursed 100%,” added the official.
Paris-Bordeaux most affected
With three out of four controllers on strike on Friday and this weekend, for a salary increase, the SNCF has given priority to connections to the Alps. Christophe Fanichet had assumed on Thursday “the priority” given to “trains which are full and… in February, these are the trains from the Alps”.
On the other hand, certain lines are more affected, like Paris-Bordeaux, where two thirds of trains are canceled.
There should be more trains on the Atlantic axis from Sunday, announced TGV Atlantique boss Franck Dubourdieu. If some customers change their ticket to travel on Monday, “we will be able to transport everyone,” he assured.
This weekend, the service is reduced by half on the TGV Inoui and Ouigo lines, as well as for the Intercités. Traffic is “normal” for classic Ouigo trains and “disrupted” for European connections, such as Eurostar.
Traffic is better on local lines with “on average, 8 TER out of 10”.
On Monday, “it will run normally” with “almost all” of the TGVs and “100% of the transport plan”, declared Christophe Fanichet.
Travelers whose train is canceled will be able to exchange their ticket free of charge or have it refunded. The carrier is also offering 50% off their next trip to affected customers.
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