“We have been stuck for nearly two hours with little news, even though we just left Marmande. Pascale, a passenger aboard the TER leaving Agen at 1:47 p.m., exasperation peaks. “We are not permitted to touch the doors. These are the only instructions that we were given, and the controllers have never been found.” The heat was unbearable without air conditioning. Many passengers were returning from the Ascension Bridge when they realized that water was not available.
The cause of the forced immobility is an electrical fault on this train. It stopped just a few minutes after departing Marmande. This caused a domino effect that led to more or less severe delays for other trains along the route. “But no blockage” specifies the SNCF, which was able to control the trains’ movement on a single track through a series of switches. We don’t move one inch, even though we can see trains passing us.
Just before 5 p.m. buses were mobilized to transport passengers. Many of them were loaded and some had disabilities as Guillaume, another passenger, testified. “I ride the train almost every day, but this is my first experience feeling so neglected!”
According to the SNCF “the usual inspections were done on the train to ensure everyone is safe.” The delay in picking up passengers is due to the busy weekend. This is why it’s difficult to find buses that can be mobilized quickly. Passengers could either return to Bordeaux or continue on to Marmande.
