Modernization works on the railway cause a total interruption of train traffic from or to the south of the region. Construction is due to be completed by 4 p.m. Sunday.
This is a major construction site which blocks part of the SNCF traffic at Poitiers station. All trains from or to the south of the region are at a standstill until Sunday. In question, a construction site on a portion of a hundred meters on which the track is changed. The rails, sleepers and ballast are removed. This project is intended to improve passenger comfort and train safety, as explained by Sylvain Galland (deputy director of the SNCF Poitou-Charentes works and maintenance unit):“We lay the rails as flat as possible, you have to be careful about how you attach the rails. The objective is that the adjustment from one rail to the other is as clean as possible for comfort passengers and for the safety of the train which passes here at 100 km/h”.
The work is entirely financed by SCNF Réseau for a total budget of 900,000 euros.
Trains replaced by buses
Since this Saturday morning, SCNF network agents have been working continuously to impact traffic as little as possible. They will work non-stop for 35 hours to redo everything and restore the track to the trains. It must be said that the TGV traffic is interrupted, only the TER have been replaced by buses. And it does not suit all passengers. “JI had to take a TGV which brought me to Niort at 2 p.m. But here, I’m going to take a bus at 4 p.m. to arrive home at 6 p.m. explains a slightly exasperated passenger. Another is looking for her bus”instead of taking the TER, I take a bus that takes two hours and then I have another TER to take, and I hope we won’t be late”. Another more fatalist returns to Saint-Maixent “en car it’s a bit long, but it does, it’s ok” he explains.
Everything should be back to normal on Sunday at 4 p.m.
