The suicide of a train driver on the job has led to significant disruptions in France’s rail traffic, affecting thousands of passengers during the busy Christmas holiday period, the national rail operator SNCF confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident, which occurred on Christmas Eve, saw the driver take his own life while operating a high-speed train between Paris and southeastern France.
As a result, around 3,000 passengers were impacted by severe delays that began on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday.
SNCF reported that at least 10 TGV trains were delayed by up to five hours, causing major inconvenience to travelers during one of the busiest times of the year.
According to the prosecutors’ office in Melun, southeast of Paris, the driver appeared to have jumped from the moving train, leading to his death.
His body was discovered later near the tracks, prompting an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Authorities emphasized that the train’s automatic emergency system was activated after the driver’s absence, causing the train to come to a halt safely.
SNCF confirmed the details of the incident, stating that the driver had “committed suicide while the train was moving.”
While the situation was undoubtedly traumatic, the operator reassured the public that there was no threat to passenger safety during the event.
The train’s automatic system ensured that the journey did not pose any immediate danger to the travelers on board.
As news of the incident spread, SNCF worked to restore train services. On Wednesday, the company reported that traffic was “resuming progressively” with some services starting to return to normal.
However, SNCF also warned of potential delays as the network fully recovered from the disruptions. The death of the train driver has raised serious concerns regarding the mental health of workers in high-pressure, public-facing roles.
It also shed light on the increasing pressures faced by transport workers, particularly during the holiday season, which sees a surge in demand for train services.
This tragic event has prompted calls for increased attention to mental health support for railway staff and other essential workers.
The ongoing investigation by authorities will aim to uncover more details about the circumstances leading up to the driver’s suicide.
While it is clear that no passengers were harmed, the emotional toll of such a tragedy cannot be underestimated, and the event has left many questioning how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
For now, travelers who had planned to use France’s high-speed train network are urged to check the status of their services and remain patient as SNCF works to return operations to normal.
