Train Delays: Passengers Sing Protest Over Cancellations | TER 42

Taking the train is synonymous with stress for users of the TER 42 line between Le Verdon and Bordeaux, in Gironde. Every day, trains are canceled or delayed. A problem which is only getting worse and which complicates the lives of these Médocans. To make themselves heard, they even created a song.

“It’s a disaster”. Frédérique Couvido weighs her words. This user of the TER 42 line can no longer stand the delays and cancellations of trains on the TER 42 line, which leaves Verdon and goes to Bordeaux. Like her, there are more than 2,000 subscribers who use this service almost daily.

“There is really a big problem, it would be good for people to think about us”exclaims Frédérique Couvidou. The user assures that it has even gotten worse since September. On the social network Facebook, a group was created called “TER 42 users”. Every day, we can read publications related to hardships experienced by travelers.

If users are at the end of their tether, the delays, which range from five minutes to several hours, as well as the cancellations are due to several factors. First of all, line 42 is single track. This means that trains cannot pass each other except in stations.

This slows down traffic and creates a snowball effect. “It’s a special case, if there was a double track it would simplify things”assures Frédérique Couvido. Work is planned in the coming years to “create more places for trains to pass each other”declares Renaud Lagrave, vice-president of the region in charge of mobility.

It dates from Methuselah, there are small repairs here and there, but everything would have to be redone.

Frédérique Couvido

User of the TER 42 line

Furthermore, the network and equipment are aging and therefore fragile. “The rolling stock is old and faulty”notes Frédérique Couvido. “It’s true that in recent weeks trains have been canceled due to equipment in difficulty”recognizes Renaud Lagrave, who nevertheless assures that 62 trains are being completely renovated, including those which will go on the Médoc line.

“I can confirm that it is dilapidated, but the network belongs to the State, and there is a real difficulty in financing the work”notes Renaud Lagrave. If work is necessary, it is their financing that poses a problem today. The vice-president has already warned of the need for more financial resources from the State to the SNCF. “In France, the State pays 53 euros per inhabitant per year to the SNCF to maintain the network, in other European countries, it is 112, 114 and sometimes even 120 euros”laments Renaud Lagrave.

We have a real difficulty financing the work.

Renaud Lagrave

Vice-president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in charge of mobility

To compensate for train cancellations, the SNCF regularly sets up replacement buses. “It takes three hours,” sighs Frédérique Couvido. This explains that the establishment of these shuttles is not “effective”. Tired of experiencing the unreliability of the TER 42 line, some users have decided to fend for themselves and abandon the train. “The TER is more ecological, but many are turning away from it”says Frédérique Couvido. A Whatsapp group is even being created to organize carpooling.

A few months before the next municipal elections, the user is sounding the alarm. “It would be good if our elected officials did not forget usshe proclaims. All the mayors and all the elected officials must mobilize, they will ask us to vote for them so it would be good for them to move a little.”

I asked the SNCF to repair all this as soon as possible.

Renaud Lagrave

Vice-president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in charge of mobility

“We don’t forget anyone”shade Renaud Lagrave. The vice-president of the Region in charge of mobility ensures that he closely monitors the SNCF so that “the service is provided as best as possible”. “We are putting pressure on the SNCF so that there are better regularities, and fewer cuts”argues the elected official.

Users no longer have patience. After launching a petition, calling on the president of the region Alain Rousset and taking action numerous times, they recently created a song to denounce the hell they are experiencing with the TER 42 line. The title, entitled “The 6:43 a.m. train”resumes their daily struggles, as we can hear in the chorus: “TER 42, lazy official! You sleep at the depot, nonchalant and cruel king. Bordeaux–Médoc, you make us dream, But we must travel on foot!”