Amid his recent speech on Europe at La Sorbonne, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his desire to lead France and Europe towards a modern future. Seizing this opportunity, the collective of Clermont-Paris train users has petitioned for a meeting with the President to address the problems facing the Paris-Clermont railway line and bring it into the 21st century.
The group’s petition, launched last year, has received over 12,000 signatures from frustrated passengers like Louise who deal with unpredictable arrival times on the train. Comparing travel times to other cities like Strasbourg and Lyon, which are further away from Paris than Clermont-Ferrand, the collective highlights the need for improvements to the railway line. This plea comes at a time when delays in the delivery of new “Oxygène” trains, scheduled to replace the outdated Intercités, have caused frustration among commuters. The first trainset is not set to arrive until 2027.
Following a serious incident in January where passengers were stranded overnight on the train, SNCF implemented an emergency plan in February. Although an emergency locomotive was added in Nevers in March, it does not address the underlying problems facing the Paris-Clermont railway line. The collective, led by spokesperson Stéphanie Picard, hopes to secure a meeting with Élysée Palace to further discuss these issues and find solutions that will improve travel times and commuters’ experience on this important railway line.
