Thousands trapped on French trains after electrical trouble

 

Thousands of passengers were trapped overnight on high-speed TGV trains halted by electrical problems in southwestern France, some pleading for water, food or fresh air.

Frustrated travelers raised attention to their plight on social networks, posting images of children sleeping on floors and describing the challenge of staying masked for as much as 20 hours.

Several people were evacuated for medical reasons, broadcaster France-Info reported Monday.

National rail authority SNCF announced problems on multiple routes starting Sunday afternoon, including a “major electrical supply failure” that required extensive repair efforts. At least three trains, connecting Bordeaux with the cities of Dax, Hendaye and Tarbes, were apparently stuck on tracks into the night, with knock-on effects on other routes.

Some passengers remained trapped on the trains late Monday morning.

Traffic isn’t expected to return to normal until Tuesday morning, the junior minister for transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, said on BFM television.

SNCF will reimburse all passengers three times the cost of their tickets and is distributing 4,000 masks, water and food, Djebbari said. He said 60 kilometers of track suffered damage to high-power overhead cables.

The problems come as millions of French people are preparing to return to work and school this week, and many returned Sunday by train from August vacations.