“We’re not there,” SNCF Voyageurs boss Christophe Fanichet admitted on BFMTV on Friday. A controller strike left an average of one in two TGVs running in France for the first crossover of the winter holidays, leaving 150,000 holidaymakers at the docks, 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 found the necessary solutions”, added Christophe Fanichet. “He was given 100% compensation,” the official added.
Paris-Bordeaux most affected
With three out of four controllers on strike on Friday and this weekend, SNCF has prioritized connections to the Alps for a pay rise. Christophe Fanichet on Thursday assumed “priority” for “trains that are full and… in February, these are trains to the Alps”.
On the other hand, some lines are more affected, such as Paris-Bordeaux, where two-thirds of trains have been cancelled.
There should be more trains on the Atlantic axis from Sunday, announced TGV Atlantic boss Franck Dubourdieu. If some customers change their tickets to travel on Monday, “we will be able to transport everyone,” he assured.
This weekend, service is halved for the TGV Inoui and Ouigo lines as well as the Intercités. Traffic is “normal” for classic Oigo trains and “interrupted” for European connections, such as Eurostar.
Traffic is better on local lines with an “average, TER of 8 out of 10”.
On Monday, “it will run normally” with “almost all” TGVs and “100% of the transport plan”, announced Christophe Fanichet.
Passengers whose trains have been canceled can exchange or refund their tickets free of cost. The carrier is also offering affected customers 50% off their next trip.
