SNCF Trains: Dealing with Snow and Frost Delays – Tips for Planning Your Journey

2024-01-19 18:42:00

There was sunshine today across the country. The traffic jams of the last few days seemed far behind us and yet. Cold temperatures and icy conditions disrupted trains.

Waiting in front of a display board that turns red is how the morning began for a good number of exasperated commuters. The culprit is the frost. When it forms, it can do great damage. One of his favorite victims: the pantograph. And that’s the rub. “It is an arm that connects the train to the catenaries (Editor’s note: cables) and which allows for connectivity with the electrical system that runs the trains. In the event of freezing, there may be disruptions to this connectivity“, explains Vincent Bayer, spokesperson for SNCB. And therefore, “it may happen, in the event of severe weather, that certain trains are canceled, for this reason“.

Fortunately, the situation improved during the day. Delays are still displayed, but they remain less significant. All thanks to the sun which warmed the switches and melted the frost.

“When a train breaks down, it remains on the rail and by the time it is taken back to the workshop, the trains behind suffer significant delays and it takes time for this to resolve. It started to subside in the early followingnoon.“, specifies the spokesperson.

However, delays are still to be expected. It is therefore better to organize your journey well in advance.

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