Train journeys: Concerned about potential air conditioning failures on its aging trains under the intense midday heat, SNCF cancels approximately 20 vacations trips
In the midst of a scorching heatwave affecting France from today through the weekend, approximately thirty train trips have been canceled. The affected lines include the Paris-Limoges-Toulouse and Paris-Clermont lines, which carry a combined total of four million passengers each year.
SNCF, the French national railway company, has taken this measure to prevent potential air conditioning failures due to extreme temperatures. According to Fabrice Chambelland, adjoint secrétaire général de la CFDT Cheminots, the situation is "abnormal" and "even scandalous". He adds that there are problems finding spare parts for the air conditioning equipment and that the State has not invested in rolling stock for years.
The Corail trains running on these tracks are sometimes up to 50 years old. The air conditioning equipment on these trains is undersized to respond to extreme heatwaves, according to Fabrice Chambelland.
However, France is currently investing substantially in upgrading its rolling stock. In July 2025, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region secured €620 million financing to transfer and manage all TER (regional train) rolling stock via a newly created local public company (SPL). This is part of the rail competition reforms and will facilitate modern and efficient operations of regional trains.
Additionally, Alstom signed contracts worth over €300 million to modernize Lyon's metro Line D. This includes delivering 26 new state-of-the-art rubber-tyred automatic metros and upgrading automation and control systems, improving reliability and capacity. These trains and systems are designed to be more adaptable and resilient, likely enhancing service stability during extreme weather.
While the old Corail trains may not guarantee the same robustness as more recent trains in certain weather conditions like those encountered from today, the ongoing investments in France's rolling stock are actively enhancing the quality and resilience of train services, including better handling of extreme weather conditions by providing new, advanced trains and control systems.
All affected customers have been contacted since the beginning of the week to reorganize their trip. They benefit from free exchange or refund of their tickets. Cancellations include three round trips on Saturday, August 9, on the Paris-Limoges-Toulouse line, two round trips and one one-way trip on Sunday, August 10, and two round trips on the Paris-Clermont line on Saturday, with one round trip and one one-way trip canceled on Sunday. Several Intercity trains in the south of France are also being canceled until August 11, and three round trips between Bordeaux and Marseille are canceled until Monday.
The operation of air conditioners on Corail cars has been checked on 100% of the trains during the summer period and is subject to regular maintenance. Despite this, the current heatwave has exposed the need for more immediate investment in France's railway infrastructure to ensure reliable and comfortable service for passengers.
- The circumstances involving the cancellation of approximately thirty train trips due to a heatwave in France this week, including lines such as Paris-Limoges-Toulouse and Paris-Clermont, have been deemed "abnormal" and "scandalous" by Fabrice Chambelland, adjoint secrétaire général de la CFDT Cheminots, given the lack of investment in rolling stock by the State and the inefficiency of the air conditioning equipment on some trains like the Corail.
- France is currently funding substantial upgrades to its rolling stock, including €620 million financing for the transfer and management of all TER (regional train) rolling stock via a newly created local public company (SPL) in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, as part of rail competition reforms enacted in July 2025.
- Alstom has also entered contracts worth over €300 million to modernize Lyon's metro Line D, providing 26 new state-of-the-art rubber-tyred automatic metros and upgrading automation and control systems, with the main objective of improving reliability and capacity and ensuring adaptability and resilience during extreme weather conditions.
- As the ongoing investments in France's rolling stock are being implemented, the establishment of more modern and advanced trains and control systems will likely lead to improved handling of extreme weather conditions, enhancing the overall quality and resilience of train services for the public-transit and travel sectors, financially benefiting both the industry and lifestyle of the French populace.
