Sad journey for travelers and staff on board the night train Paris-Nice and Paris-Briançon which ran in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. Leaving Austerlitz station at 20:51 p.m., the Intercités 5 771, which was then travelling at about 150 km/h, hit a herd of cows shortly after 23 p.m. The latter were on the railway, between Tonnerre and Lézinnes (Yonne). The sleeper train was immediately immobilized.
According to the SNCF of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, teams were sent on site during the night "to carry out the technical diagnosis and help the on-board staff to organize the care of the 400 customers". Including staff, nearly 400 people were on the train at the time of the collision that killed at least seven animals. Several were embedded under the locomotive. And clearing the track took time.
"A tough night for all those who had to clear the tracks"
Early Wednesday morning, a train was able to stop on the adjoining track, and pick up the passengers to bring them back. He left around 8 a.m., after nearly nine hours of waiting.
Director Cyril Dion was on board. "It was a tough night for everyone who had to clear the tracks and take the best care of the passengers. Not funny for the farmer who came to retrieve the dead cows," he wrote on Twitter.
It was a tough night for all those who had to clear the tracks and take the best care of the passengers. Not funny for the farmer who came to retrieve the dead cows.
And in an indefinite time back to Paris. To maybe leave. #maviesansavion
— Cyril Dion (@cdion) June 7, 2023
According to the Yonne Republican, the driver was transported to the hospital of Tonnerre, for control examinations and a passenger, who complained of pain, was examined by the firefighters.
Passengers who did not want to take this early train to Paris had the opportunity to wait for the TGV that the SNCF had to make available to them during the day to take them to their original destinations. The company announced to all the refund of twice the price of their ticket.
