Rail traffic across France faced significant delays after a train driver died by suicide while on duty, according to the national rail operator, SNCF.
The incident, which occurred on Christmas Eve, caused severe disruptions to high-speed train services (TGV) between Paris and southeastern France, leaving around 3,000 passengers stranded.
Delays of up to five hours were reported for approximately 10 trains on Tuesday, with disruptions spilling over into Wednesday.
The Melun prosecutor’s office, southeast of Paris, reported that the driver is believed to have leapt from the moving train. His body was later found near the tracks.
The train’s automatic emergency system was triggered by the absence of a driver, bringing it to a halt.
SNCF confirmed the tragic event, stating the driver “took his own life while the train was in motion.”
The operator emphasized that the safety of passengers and other train services was not compromised.
An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. As of Wednesday, train operations were gradually returning to normal, though SNCF warned of potential residual delays.