Heavy rains caused major rail damage in France, halting services between Nîmes and Lunel. Repairs are underway with partial service expected by October 25.
Flooding disrupts rail services in southern France
Heavy rains and subsequent flooding on Monday, October 19, and Tuesday, October 20, caused significant damage to railway infrastructure in the Gard and Hérault departments. Operations have been suspended between Nîmes and Lunel and on the Nîmes-Le-Grau-du-Roi line. Long-distance trains use alternate routes
Long-distance trains have been able to use the Nîmes-Montpellier bypass since yesterday. SNCF Réseau teams have been fully mobilized on the affected lines since Tuesday, October 20, in the morning, to assess the initial impacts and organize repair operations as soon as possible. Track damage requires extensive repairs
On the section of track between Nîmes and Lunel, technical diagnostics indicate that 60 meters of track must be completely renewed (rails, sleepers, ballast), four main breaches have been identified, and 600 meters of track must be realigned. Repair work has begun this morning and involves about fifty employees (SNCF Réseau and external companies). Rail traffic to resume on October 25
This exceptional organization of work should allow for the resumption of initial rail traffic between Nîmes and Lunel during the day of Sunday, October 25. This resumption will be accompanied by a slowdown to 100 km/h on the areas most affected, due to finishing operations that will be necessary. The resumption at a normal speed is scheduled for Thursday, October 29. Signaling work delays Nîmes-Le-Grau-du-Roi line
On the Nîmes-Le-Grau-du-Roi line, damaged signaling installations are currently being repaired. The resumption of rail traffic is scheduled for Friday, October 23, in the morning.
