Bis repetita? After the snow-related disruption at the start of the weekFrench transport is facing a major new challenge. Storm Goretti will hit in a few hours' time. Since 8 January, 27 départements have been placed under Vigilance orange. La Manche has even been placed under red alert. So what impact will it have on travel?
La SNCF has already announced the suspension of TER services in Normandy between the evening of 8 January (10pm) and the afternoon of 9 November (2pm). In La Manche, the suspension will begin at 7pm this evening. In addition, no TER trains will be running in the Hauts-de-France region on Friday. These operations will be suspended from 11pm on Thursday evening. In Brittany, SNCF expects train traffic to be severely affected on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 January. It states: "In order to guarantee the safety of passengers and staff, traffic will be interrupted on the following routes: Quimper- Landerneau from 08/01 16h00 to 09/01 12h00; Dol de Bretagne-Saint Malo from 08/01 20h to 09/01 7h00; Plouaret-Lannion from 08/01 20h to 09/01 6h00, Guingamp-Paimpol from 08/01 19h30 to 09/01 08h00, Brest-Morlaix from 08/01 19h30 to 09/01 8h00 and Redon-Nantes from 08/01 18h00 to 09/01 12h00".
High-speed lines and airports are not expected to be affected
In the Paris region, the RER and Transilien networks are likely to be affected from 6pm on Thursday. RER C and RER E are the most exposed, as are Transilien lines H, R, J, N, U, P and K.
Suspensions of traffic are also expected on several lines in Centre Val-de-Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire and Grand Est. But traffic should be maintained on the high-speed lines, "subject to the evolution of the climatic event" according to the Ministry of Transport.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, who has been particularly busy at the start of the year, summed up the situation on his X account. " Since yesterday [Wednesday] we have been preparing for the arrival of violent winds on the Channel coast, to ensure that transport is safe and adapted accordingly. In conjunction with the Regions, SNCF is adapting its traffic arrangements. SNCF Réseau maintenance teams will be mobilised from tonight to intervene quickly in the event of damage caused by the wind. I invite the inhabitants of the departments placed under orange and red "wind" vigilance to follow the safety instructions. "says Philippe Tabarot.
Finally, it should be noted that, in contrast to the snowstorm, storm Goretti should have little impact on Paris airports, according to the Ministry concerned. However, vigilance measures have been taken in Brest and Rennes, while Nantes airport, which reopened on Wednesday afternoon, is under special surveillance.
Update of 9 January:
Transport disruption continues on Friday. Île-de-France Mobilités states that "Storm Goretti is causing traffic problems on part of your network. The disruption is mainly affecting the rail network (trains and RER) and the C1 cable. As conditions are changing rapidly, please check that your lines are working before setting off".
The whole of RER line A is affected by a tree on the track in the Maisons Laffitte and St Maur Créteil sector. On RER line D, traffic is disrupted between Melun and Corbeil-Essonnes in both directions. Slowdowns and service reductions are also to be expected on several sections. On line H, traffic is disrupted between Pontoise and Creil in both directions until 1pm, and slowed down between Paris Gare du Nord and Valmondois in both directions. There have also been several traffic disruptions on line P, notably between Meaux and Château-Thierry and between Paris Est and Provins.
In addition, TER services will be interrupted throughout the Hauts-de-France region on Friday 9 January.
