SNCF disruptions at Paris Gare de Lyon on Monday, October 27: TGV traffic restored this evening

Arson on the Lyon-Valence TGV line has paralyzed the Gare de Lyon station in Paris on Monday, October 27, 2025. Dozens of trains to the southeast have been canceled. Minister Philippe Tabarot has announced a return to normal service by 9 p.m.

On Monday, October 27, 2025, rail traffic remains severely disrupted at Gare de Lyon in Paris's 12th arrondissement after a cable fire on the TGV line between Lyon and Avignon. Although the sabotage took place hundreds of kilometers from the capital, in the commune of Alixan en Drôme, the repercussions are being felt in France's second-largest train station. However, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has announced that traffic will be back to near normal from 9 p.m. tonight.

The incident that occurred during the night caused significant damage to the railway infrastructure. Sixteen cables need to be replaced over a length of 25 meters. "Sixteen cables need to be replaced," explained Frédéric Guichard, director of operations for SNCF Réseau's Southeast division, speaking to BFMTV at midday. Each of these cables contains dozens of others. "All line communication networks have been cut," he added. This sabotage is reminiscent of the massive disruptions that affected the French rail network during previous incidents. The SNCF is mobilizing its teams, who will work through the night at the vandalized site to ensure a return to normal service by Tuesday morning.

Travelers heading to the south of France have had a difficult time since this morning. From the early hours of the day, all trains to the southeast were canceled. Marseille, Nice, Montpellier, Avignon: the main southern destinations have become inaccessible from the Gare de Lyon. In total, the ministry reports disruptions affecting around 100 TGV trains, ranging from simple delays to outright cancellations. All rail companies are affected by this situation: SNCF, Trenitalia, and Renfe must manage the impact of this sabotage on their services.

What is the traffic situation this Monday evening?

The system is slowly getting back on track. "A few moments ago, a train began running again on the Southeast high-speed line," announced Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot late this afternoon. This is good news for the thousands of passengers who have been stranded or delayed since this morning. The SNCF also stated that 70% of trains are expected to run at reduced speed in both directions (Paris-Marseille-Paris). For diverted trains that are running, the expected delays this evening will be 1 hour on average, compared to the 2.5 hours previously announced.

The minister promises "near-normal service from 9 p.m. and tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, completely normal service." Passengers can check the SNCF Connect app to track their journey in real time. However, the Department of Transportation recommends that travelers check before going to the station.

How much does the SNCF's malicious behavior cost?

These malicious acts are becoming increasingly costly for the SNCF. "In total, in 2024, malicious acts and intrusions caused more than 800,000 minutes of delays and impacted nearly 40,000 trains," according to SNCF Réseau. Faced with this resurgence, the railway company is accelerating its investments in security. Budgets have almost doubled between 2023 and 2024, rising from €17.8 million to €35.1 million, according to the 2024 security report.

These figures illustrate the scale of the phenomenon and the challenges faced by the transport company in protecting its infrastructure. The fire in Alixan is unfortunately one of a series of acts of vandalism that regularly affect the French rail network. An investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of this malicious act and identify those responsible.

This complicated situation comes at a time when many travelers had planned to travel to the south of France at the beginning of this week during the All Saints' Day holidays. Connections to the Mediterranean, which are very popular at this time of year, were severely disrupted throughout the day. The Gare de Lyon, usually bustling with a constant flow of passengers heading southeast, looked very different with its deserted platforms and display boards saturated with cancellations.

In short, if you were planning to take a train southeast from Paris on Monday evening or Tuesday, the situation should finally improve. We still recommend that you check the status of your train before going to the station. SNCF teams are working through the night to ensure a complete return to normal service by tomorrow morning.