A quarter of train times to change
Another large shake-up of train timetabling is coming in 2013, plus delays due to extensive renovations
A QUARTER of train times are set to change next year in another upheaval after major disruption already this year.
The changes are mainly due to works on lines, with the west and south-west expected to be the areas most affected by delays.
This year 85% of train times changed – in a “normal” one it is about 10%, says the SNCF. The high number expected again for the coming year is due mainly to ongoing programmes over several years to renovate and modernise lines.
The SNCF says it will have a dedicated website in place with information about changes, from Thursday. A link will be accessible at SNCF, a spokesman said. They will affect both local and long-distance services.
The major changes this year were due to a massive programme of works by 2015, the opening of a Rhine-Rhône TGV service and a new system of more regular departure times called cadencement.
Major renovations of tracks costing €2billion are also planned for 2013, including 1,000 sites (of which 300 will be worked on simultaneously in certain weeks in May and October).
Aquitaine and Poitou-Charentes will be the regions most affected by this, starting from December 9 with work to create a TGV service between Tours and Bordeaux (this work will lengthen the journey time between Paris and Bordeaux by 15 minutes until 2017).
The SNCF says the new information site will include text and films explaining the changes, the work that will be done and the impact it will have.
