An uneasy start for RER D commuters this Tuesday morning. Since 6 a.m., no trains have run between Melun (Seine-et-Marne, 77) and Corbeil-Essonnes (Essonne, 91), because a tree is blocking the tracks near Saint-Fargeau in Seine-et-Marne. The SNCF expects service to resume at 9 a.m., though there is no guarantee on the exact timetable.
On this southern branch of the line, the disruption is cutting service to a large portion of the area’s stations during rush hour. The affected stations are Melun, Vosves, Boissise-le-Roi, Ponthierry-Pringy, Saint-Fargeau, Le Coudray-Montceaux, Le Plessis-Chenet, Villabé, Essonnes-Robinson and Corbeil-Essonnes.
The cause is as banal as it is disruptive: a tree has ended up across the tracks, blocking them. Contacted, the SNCF says an operation is underway to remove it, with the involvement of catenary technicians, the specialists who maintain the overhead lines that power the trains.
Their presence suggests the incident may have affected, or at least threatened, the line's electrical installations. It is not yet known how this tree ended up on the tracks. No storm has swept through the area in recent hours, which makes the episode all the more surprising.
The service is set to resume at 9 a.m. according to SNCF. As is often the case in such situations, the timetable remains an estimate: everything depends on the time needed to remove the tree, check the condition of the catenary and tracks, and then restart services in both directions. A full return to normal could still take some time after reopening, as the trains settle back into their positions and passenger flow.
To follow live updates, the simplest option is to check the traffic information page for Line D on Transilien, as well as the Île-de-France Mobilités website and the Île-de-France Mobilités app, which recalculate routes in real time. The Line D X account also relays messages throughout the morning.
While awaiting service to resume, it’s wise to plan ahead. From Melun, the Transilien Line R can get you to Paris Gare de Lyon via the Combs-la-Ville route or via Moret, depending on the trains. It’s the most efficient option for travelers who absolutely need to reach the capital this morning.
For shorter, local trips between Ponthierry, Saint-Fargeau or Villabé, the departmental bus network steps in, with journey times noticeably longer during rush hour. Motorists face the usual congestion on the N7 and N104, already busy in normal times and inevitably heavier on mornings with rail disruptions.
If you’re running late for work, consider keeping a screenshot of the traffic information message. SNCF also offers a downloadable attestation de retard, handy for explaining a late arrival.
