This Friday morning, commuters on RER A and E are facing a true ordeal. The Goretti storm has wreaked havoc on these two vital lines connecting eastern Paris to the city center, with fallen trees on the tracks causing widespread delays between several stations in Val-de-Marne. Maintenance crews have been working since dawn to clear the infrastructure and restore normal service, but passengers will need to exercise patience.
The RER E is currently experiencing a complete service suspension between Villiers-sur-Marne and Tournan in both directions. This disruption, affecting the eastern end of the line in Seine-et-Marne, is expected to last until around 10 a.m., according to early estimates from the RATP. Commuters who typically use this segment to reach Paris from eastern Île-de-France are now forced to seek alternative routes as the day begins.
The situation is most critical on the RER A. A tree has fallen onto the tracks near Champigny-sur-Marne and Saint-Maur-Créteil, two suburbs in Val-de-Marne just outside Paris. This tree fall has caused a total shutdown of traffic between Fontenay-sous-Bois and La Varenne-Chennevières, disrupting a key section of the line. The rest of the line is also severely disrupted, with cascading delays and train cancellations complicating travel for thousands of commuters.
The RATP quickly responded through its official Twitter account to inform commuters about the situation. Tree-cutting crews were on site first thing in the morning to clear the tracks and secure the area. An initial update indicated that traffic would resume between Champigny and Joinville-le-Pont around 8:30 a.m., but the overall situation remains complex and challenging.
The RATP has announced a gradual return to normal operations around 10:30 AM across all affected areas. However, the Paris transit authority remains cautious and warns that further fallen trees on the network may still require intervention throughout the day. The strong winds accompanying storm Goretti continue to pose a threat to vegetation along the railway lines.
If you usually take the RER A to commute from eastern Paris, it's highly recommended to check real-time updates on the RATP website and the Île-de-France Mobilités site before heading out. The official social media channels of the lines also provide minute-by-minute updates on the situation. For stranded travelers, alternative options such as other metro lines or buses may be considered, though these could also be crowded.
In short, this morning is shaping up to be difficult for commuters in eastern Île-de-France. We'll be keeping an eye on official updates and planning for extra travel time in case we need to head out today.
