Lyon, February 17 – Just days after the grand inauguration of its extension, Lyon’s T6 tram line experienced a major technical incident this Tuesday morning, leading to significant service disruptions. The tram line, which connects Lyon and Villeurbanne, is currently operating only between Gare de Villeurbanne and Debourg, with all stations from Grandclément to La Doua – Gaston Berger being out of service in both directions.
Catenary Failure Halts T6 Tram Service
The incident, which occurred around 7:00 AM, has been attributed to a fallen catenary. According to a witness, the catenary snapped and fell to the ground near the intersection of Cours Tolstoï and Rue Paul-Verlaine in Villeurbanne. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
TCL (Transports en Commun Lyonnais) confirmed the incident, stating, “At the Verlaine / Tolstoï crossroads in Villeurbanne, the T6 tramway’s electrical line – which also powers the TB11 trambus and the C23 trolleybus – was damaged, causing a tram’s pantograph to fall to the ground. This pantograph connects the tram to the overhead contact lines.”
Emergency Services on Site, Restoration Efforts Underway
The affected tram and its pantograph have been evacuated from the scene. Intervention teams are currently on-site, working to determine the exact cause of the problem and to restore normal service on the T6 line. Initially, service resumption was estimated for 11:00 AM, but this has since been pushed back to 6:00 PM.
To mitigate the impact on commuters, TCL has deployed replacement bus services. These buses are currently operating between Gare de Villeurbanne and Geneviève-de-Gaulle, serving the affected stations.
Impact on Commuters and Public Transport Network
The disruption comes just after the T6 line’s extension was celebrated on Saturday, aiming to improve connectivity between various parts of Lyon and Villeurbanne. The incident highlights the fragility of new infrastructure and the potential for technical issues to cause widespread inconvenience for daily commuters.
The T6 line is a crucial part of Lyon’s public transport network, and its partial closure has undoubtedly affected thousands of passengers. Commuters are advised to check the TCL website and social media channels for the latest updates on service restoration and alternative travel arrangements.
This event underscores the importance of robust maintenance and rapid response protocols for urban transit systems, especially for newly operational lines. The full extent of the damage to the electrical infrastructure and the timeline for complete repair will be critical in determining the long-term impact on the T6 line’s reliability.
Source: actu.fr
