The Covid-19 epidemic is disrupting train traffic in several regions of France, report several locals from France Bleu. School transport is also affected in Moselle where there is a shortage of 177 drivers.
Brittany region
Several TERs were deleted early Monday, January 3 morning in the Brittany region, reports France Bleu Breizh Izel, in Ille-et-Vilaine, in Morbihan and in Finistère. Several trains on the Lorient-Quimper line were notably affected. Several drivers have tested positive for Covid-19 or are in contact, and therefore unavailable, specifies France Bleu. SNCF indicates that it will adapt its transport plan in the Brittany region from Wednesday to cope with the evolution of the health situation.
Center-Val-de-Loire
Traffic is also disrupted in the Loiret this week. Between Monday January 3 and January 7, the SNCF will reduce the number of trains on the Paris-Orléans-Tours axis, due to the increase in the number of Covid-19 contaminations and contact cases among the staff of the railway company. The B and X axis between Vierzon and Bourges, the Q axis between Paris-Austerlitz and Orléans and the J axis which connects Orléans and Limoges, via Vierzon are concerned.
Hauts-de-France
In the Hauts-de-France region, 10% of trains are being canceled, SNCF told franceinfo. The disturbances should last at least the whole week. SNCF is reviewing its transport plan for the start of the school year. This represents 110 daily connections that will not be provided, sometimes with cuts at peak times, reports France Bleu Nord.
Normandy
The Normandy region must also adapt its train offer due to the Covid-19 and the new national teleworking instructions. SNCF estimates that it will lose 30% of travelers this week. Its transport offer is reduced on intra-regional lines but 100% of connections are provided to Paris.
Great East
On the TER Grand Est network, the transport plan will be adapted from day to day, indicates France Bleu Alsace, which advises to consult the traffic forecasts regularly on the SNCF website.
In Strasbourg, the company CTS, which provides transport for the agglomeration, must adapt its transport plan, indicates France Bleu Alsace. The number of Covid cases and contact cases among drivers has exploded: 160 drivers will be absent on Monday, and of this number, between 60 and 70 are sick with Covid or contact cases. It is necessary to envisage a reduced offer of 10% compared to the normal one.
The epidemic also disrupted school transport Monday morning. According to the President of the Grand Est Region Jean Rottner, there is a shortage of 177 bus drivers in Moselle. Some school lines will be changed. Families and schools have been warned, he explained on Twitter.