Hundreds of TGV Passengers Stranded for Hours Near Lyon After Electrical Failure
Lyon, May 25 – Several hundred passengers found themselves stranded for hours near Lyon (Rhône) on Sunday evening, May 25, 2026, due to a power outage on the LGV Sud-Est high-speed line. The incident, caused by a broken catenary, severely disrupted TGV traffic during the busy Pentecost weekend return.
Two TGVs Immobilized, Air Conditioning Affected
Two TGV trains were immobilized on the high-speed line north of Lyon. The power cut not only halted the trains but also disabled the air conditioning on board, leading to uncomfortable conditions for passengers. One of the affected TGVs was traveling from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Nice, while the other was en route from Lille (Nord) to Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).
To alleviate the situation, train doors were opened to allow for ventilation and to enable passengers to disembark. Gendarmes on site distributed additional bottles of water to the stranded travelers.
Evacuation and Resumption of Service
According to information from actu.fr, a diesel locomotive was dispatched to evacuate the Lille-Marseille train from the breakdown zone. Around 8:30 PM, passengers heading to Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) were eventually asked to re-board their TGV, as power had been restored to that train, as reported by BFMTV.
Disruptions and Alternative Routes
Other trains on the LGV Sud-Est line were still operating but were forced to bypass the affected section by using alternative routes for Paris-Province bound services. Traffic in the opposite direction, towards Paris, remained unaffected, according to SNCF.
This incident follows other recent disruptions on French rail networks. Just last week, passengers on a Marseille-Paris TGV experienced a difficult night after a fatal accident near Mâcon. Additionally, a TGV collided with a heavy goods vehicle at a level crossing in Pas-de-Calais, resulting in the death of the train driver.
This latest event highlights the challenges faced by the French rail system, particularly during peak travel periods. Authorities are investigating the cause of the catenary rupture.
