France's SNCF cancels one-third of Intercités trains during heatwave holiday weekend

SNCF Voyageurs plans to maintain normal TGV services for the busy July 14th holiday weekend, with 3,700 trains scheduled. However, the company will cancel one-third of its Intercités trains due to the age of its rolling stock. These cancellations will affect routes such as Paris-Clermont, Paris-Limoges-Toulouse, and the Marseille-Toulouse "transversale sud."

Despite the disruptions, all Intercités night trains are expected to run. For affected daytime services, SNCF is arranging replacement bus services and adding capacity to some trains by extending them from seven to 12-14 carriages. The company reported that 93% of Paris-Clermont and 91% of Paris-Limoges-Toulouse passengers were transported on Friday.

Regional TER trains are generally expected to operate as scheduled, though minor adjustments may occur in regions experiencing the highest temperatures to ensure the safety and preservation of equipment. The Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, also noted that railway disruptions can be linked to ongoing wildfires, leading to service suspensions near affected areas.