Some TGVs between Paris and the Grand-Est, notably Strasbourg, announce to their travelers who are starting to find the time long that they will be at least 2 hours 20 minutes late on the eve of the weekend, in the middle of the school holidays for the academies from Nancy-Metz, Reims and Strasbourg.
The reason ? Traffic on the entire high-speed line between Grand-Est is interrupted after the catenary break at Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne). This causes numerous delays for trains usually using this line, indicates the SNCF.
Trains diverted onto the classic track
TGVs can no longer run on the high-speed line and are therefore forced to divert to the conventional route, causing delays in both directions ranging from “twenty minutes to two hours”, according to the SNCF.
According to the SNCF Gares & Connexions website, certain trains from Germany were experiencing delays of up to 4 hours upon arrival in Paris, and even up to 5:30 hours for a TGV from Colmar. In the direction of departures from Paris, many trains were delayed between 2 hours and 2 hours 20 minutes.
The catenary break occurred “a little before noon” and a restoration of power on the line is expected “during the afternoon”, said the SNCF.