Hundreds of train passengers travelling from Paris to Nice were forced to endure a four-hour delay on the tracks, with no air conditioning available inside the carriages. The train departed Paris at 2:10 pm but came to an abrupt halt in the French countryside, just north of Lyon, in Civrieux-D'Azergues.
After being trapped in the stifling carriages for approximately two hours, passengers exited the train, seeking refuge in the shade near the tracks. The disruption was caused by a power supply issue, though it remains unclear whether this was linked to the ongoing heatwave in France.
Staff from the French railway operator SNCF allowed passengers to disembark as outside temperatures soared above 30°C. Police and train personnel attempted to reassure passengers once they had left the train.
One passenger told France TV: 'Even just getting off the train and being outside is better. Because inside was unbearable.' Others noted that the conditions were particularly difficult for vulnerable passengers, such as the elderly and children.
Another female passenger explained: 'There was a woman with a baby covered in sweat.' Reports indicate that passengers were stuck for four hours before rescue teams arrived to assist.
Le20h-France Télévisions shared video footage on X, prompting users to express their frustration at the impact of the heatwave on travel in France. One wrote: 'The French downgrade is going to end up in the history books… how is it that in a country like France, the train isn’t air-conditioned in 2026?' Another added: 'Again and again!!!!! This is unacceptable....It's always the same problems with SNCF!' A third chimed in: 'This country is becoming a disgrace, and especially its public transportation. We're constantly facing increasingly major breakdowns while the price keeps rising! With transportation that's getting dirtier and dirtier!'
Transport in France has been widely affected as a result of the heatwave. Weather agency Meteo-France said that France recorded the highest temperatures for a May day ever. Temperatures reached as high as 37°C in some parts of the country.
Climatologist Christophe Cassou told Le Monde: 'This is an unprecedented event with a one in 1,000 chance of happening at this time of year.' With a rise in the number of Brits travelling to France by rail, many could be affected by the ongoing impact of the heatwave.
More than 12 million journeys take place between London and Paris on the Eurostar each year, and with rising fears surrounding the jet fuel crisis, this summer could see even higher tourist levels than usual. Amid recent news about fuel shortages, digital ticket booking platform TrainPal revealed a sharp increase in UK travellers purchasing Eurostar tickets and train tickets across Europe.
TrainPal's commercial director of Europe, Alvaro Ungurean, said they have seen a 98 per cent increase in UK residents booking train tickets in France year on year since last April, and a 25 per cent rise in the sales of Eurostar tickets. The Daily Mail has contacted SNCF for comment.
