Galleys in perspective for users of Line J of the Transilien. In a tweet published on Tuesday evening, the line announces train cancellations “between Paris / Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Pontoise, Mantes-La-Jolie, Gisors and Paris Ermont Eaubonne” from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 October. Transilien SNCF also announces “a few deletions” without however specifying the number.
This reduction in the supply of transport is linked to “a lack of drivers or staff”, specifies Transilien. A shortage of personnel which affects the vast majority of carriers in Ile-de-France and which has lasted for several months already. For Transilien, this shortage is explained by “the increase in absences (absence for illness, local strikes, etc.) which impacts the organization”, and by the Covid-19 crisis which “has greatly disrupted these last two years […] the cycle of recruitment and training of train drivers, whose training lasts 12 to 18 months, which has been significantly slowed down”.
Things are better on the RER C
As a result of which “all lines can experience temporary organizational issues which unfortunately impact the transport offer”. However, Transilien specifies that “some lines may be more impacted than others depending on retirements, mobility, etc. This was the case for RER C in September. This is the case on Line J.”
But the SNCF entity wants to be reassuring and affirms that this shortage is a “phenomenon which is temporary, controlled and very limited”. According to her, only about fifty drivers are missing out of the 2,650 drivers in Transilien in Ile-de-France. Better, she assures that “since Monday, October 3, six additional trains per day have been added to the RER C”. While waiting for a return to normal, Line J travelers will however have to be patient.