Jean Castex, the CEO of SNCF, France's national railway company, has praised his teams for their efforts during a challenging summer marked by extreme heat. He has also announced plans to address the growing challenges posed by heatwaves and climate change. Castex took over leadership of SNCF following the departure of Jean-Pierre Farandou and has made several changes, including the dismissal of Christophe Fanichet, the head of SNCF Voyageurs, which is the division responsible for passenger services. Unions have criticized Castex's initial strategy, which involved restructuring the company into forced subsidiary units to comply with competition laws. They argue that this approach risks breaking up the railway network and reducing efficiency. After a major strike on June 10, Castex abandoned this strategy and appointed Jean-Aimé Mougenot, the director of TER (regional trains), to lead a new leadership approach focused on collaboration and stability. This summer's heatwave has caused significant disruptions to SNCF services, including canceled intercity trains, malfunctioning air conditioning, stranded high-speed TGV trains, and widespread delays. These problems have led to public criticism of SNCF for not being adequately prepared for the impacts of climate change. In an internal letter, Castex acknowledged these challenges and expressed pride in the efforts of SNCF employees who worked to maintain service and safety during the heatwave. He emphasized the need for the company to adapt to climate change, stating that climate adaptation will be a central part of SNCF's future strategic plan. Castex announced plans to develop detailed "heatwave continuity plans" aimed at protecting employees, improving work organization, ensuring equipment reliability, enhancing customer service, and maintaining service continuity. These plans are expected to be submitted to the French government and regional authorities for legal and financial support. Castex also mentioned that decisions made during a round table meeting on July 21 will lead to visible improvements in working conditions and customer care by the summer of 2027. However, unions have called for immediate action, specifically requesting salary increases to recognize the hard work of railway employees. They argue that the efforts of workers should be acknowledged through concrete measures, rather than waiting until 2027. While Castex is focusing on long-term strategic planning and adaptation, the unions are pushing for more immediate recognition and compensation for the challenges faced by SNCF workers.