Pontchâteau Train Station Ticket Office Closed for Radon Mitigation, Reopening Date Uncertain
Pontchâteau, Loire-Atlantique – the ticket office at Pontchâteau train station is temporarily closed as SNCF Gares & Connexions addresses elevated levels of radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, within the station building. The closure, which began recently, has sparked concerns from the CGT railway union about the potential for permanent closure of the ticket office, following a previous alert in November 2021.
Radon is present in the soil of the Pontchâtelain region and can accumulate in basements and enclosed spaces.SNCF initiated assessments of radon concentration levels in its buildings, and testing at the Pontchâteau station prompted the temporary closure of the ticket counter.
“Exposure thresholds are reduced as they are passing through and in transit,” explained a CGT railway worker, who expressed frustration that the issue wasn’t anticipated. “Closing temporarily without having an end date for the work is not a good sign… The scale of this work and its costs should not be a pretext for closing the Pontchâteau station ticket office permanently,” the union representative added.
SNCF Gares & Connexions plans to implement ventilation improvements during the first half of December to mitigate the radon levels. While an internet user posting on the Useful Pontchâteau Facebook page indicated a scheduled completion date of December 22, 2025, SNCF has neither confirmed nor refuted this date.
“That no plans for permanent closure or modification of the organization or schedules for Pontchâteau station are in progress,” SNCF stated.
The CGT union is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, November 25 at 6:30 p.m. to educate the public about radon and its health implications. Free radon measuring kits will be provided to webinar attendees. Registration is available via email at [email protected].