Electrical failure disrupts train service

On October 9, an electrical failure near Fréjus disrupted several trains on the Marseille-Nice line, including two operated by Transdev. At Dramont, around 300 passengers were evacuated at night and had to wait for hours for a solution to return home.

Multiple trains affected

According to Transdev, three trains on the line were stopped—two operated by Transdev and one by SNCF—with an investigation underway by SNCF Réseau. SNCF Voyageurs described the incident as "of importance," and the repairs affected the weekend.

Passengers stranded in extreme heat

The two Transdev trains each carried about 300 passengers. One stopped at Saint-Raphaël station, while the other, where the author of the report was traveling, waited on the tracks, where the temperature exceeded 30 °C. Around 5:45 p.m., the train moved to Agay station, where passengers were told to get off and were to be transported to Saint-Raphaël by shuttle buses.

Delays and second incident

Around 6 p.m., more than 250 passengers reboarded and the train departed. However, SNCF Réseau mentioned a brief improvement in traffic after the first intervention, but a new interruption occurred when passengers descended onto the tracks, delaying the intervention on the catenary. Shortly after departure, a loud "boom" echoed, and the train stopped at Dramont, a few minutes from Saint-Raphaël.

Second technical problem reported

Around 7 p.m., a "serious technical problem" was reported, and the train did not depart. Transdev did not mention this noise or the second incident in its response to Clubic, despite the disruption.

Evacuation at night poses risks

The evacuation began around 7:55 p.m., with passengers walking on the ballast at a level crossing, which could have posed risks at night. Transdev noted that the evacuation could only proceed after receiving a "green light from SNCF Réseau," with the presence of police and firefighters.

Substitution efforts limited

For the train at Saint-Raphaël, all substitution means, including buses, were deployed. However, for the train at Dramont, Transdev admitted it had difficulty finding all the substitution means due to the "almost simultaneous stops of the two trains." No firefighter was present at Dramont, only a local police patrol, later replaced by national police.

Passengers resort to taxis

Under light rain, the wait stretched along the roadside. After 9 p.m., the promised shuttles did not arrive, and passengers resorted to taxis, with some paying 216 euros for a VTC to reach Marseille Saint-Charles station, arriving around 11:30 p.m., six and a half hours after the scheduled time.

Responsibility divided between parties

SNCF Réseau and the Region Sud stated that the network manager is responsible for the tracks, traffic, and infrastructure incidents, while the railway companies are responsible for the operation of their trains, information, and care of passengers.

Contractual obligations in question

The Region, which entrusted Transdev with the Marseille-Toulon-Nice line, mentions that the contract includes real-time information, human presence on board, and the "provision of water," snacks, replacement buses, or even accommodation. However, it is too early to determine if these conditions were respected on October 9.

Passengers left in the dark

Almost a week later, no email or SMS from Transdev reached passengers, and many were unaware of the reimbursement modalities. A TER ticket remains valid all day on the purchased journey, so the operator may not know who was in which train.

Lack of communication and coordination

SNCF Voyageurs admits it is "a bit in the dark" in these trains, as the app SNCF Connect, which sold the tickets, only relays information from each operator. Transdev states that the evacuation was handled by the crew to prevent passengers from opening the doors too early.

No penalties expected for Transdev

Regarding possible sanctions, Transdev should not be penalized, as the Region's contractual penalties do not target "the consequences of an event that does not fall under its responsibility." However, it is "attentive to the concrete conditions of managing the event," and recalls having a performance contract with SNCF Réseau, which could lead to penalties.

Collaboration between operators

SNCF Voyageurs mentions that with several operators on the same tracks, the system is still learning. The Ministry of Transport did not respond to requests for comment.