Transport disruptions hit SNCF rail and Lille metro

Major transport disruptions are affecting various regions in France due to vandalism and technical failures.

On the SNCF rail network, service remains heavily disrupted between Morcenx and Dax following acts of vandalism. Reports indicate that copper cable thefts and fires near a photovoltaic plant have caused significant delays and cancellations. Passengers have faced long waits, with some TGV services delayed by over five hours, and approximately 1,200 people were reportedly stranded in Bordeaux. Disruptions are expected to continue through the end of the day on September 18.

In Lille, the Line 1 metro service has been experiencing interruptions since September 15. The transport operator, Ilévia, attributed the disruption to a computer defect occurring during an automatic pilot update provided by Alstom. While shuttle buses have been used to bridge gaps in service, Ilévia has promised a full restoration of metro traffic by the morning of Friday, September 17.