Holidaymakers react to Montparnasse train station chaos

With Montparnasse station in chaos after signal failures led to delays for thousands of holidaymakers, many took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
Since Sunday thousands of holidaymakers at Montparnasse train station in Paris have experienced travel chaos after an electrical fault led to several days of massive delays and cancellations.
And with Montparnasse providing links to the west and south west of France - popular destinations during the summer period - people were not too happy about hanging around the French capital for longer than necessary on one of the busiest weekends of the summer.
Many of the train services, including the TGV service (train à grand vitesse), were disrupted as a result of signal failures caused by the electrical problems, leaving holidaymakers angry and frustrated.
On Tuesday, there was finally some good news for train users as things started to get back to normal with the station opening its doors at 6am after closing Monday night to allow engineers to identify the source of the problems.
But while France's national train company SNCF said the exact source of the fault had been identified, disruptions were set to continue until Wednesday.
Unsurprisingly many train users have taken to Twitter to vent their frustration.
What a massive failure of @sncf #Montparnasse .Worst railway and communication experience ever. Waiting two days and now not able to sit ?
— Jenneke van Pijpen (@Jennekevanp) August 1, 2017
Many of the reactions expressed irritation at the way SNCF was handling the chaos with one holidaymaker mocking the announcements from the train company, "SNCF invites you to delay your summer holidays until November. Thank you." (see below).
#Montparnasse La @sncf vous invite à reporter vos vacances d'été au mois de novembre. Merci.
— Flyer (@worldfflyer) July 30, 2017
One train user tweeted a photo of an SNCF sign saying, "Punctuality is our priority" with the words, "The biggest joke of the day".
La plus grosse blague de la journée #montparnasse #Austerlitz @SNCF pic.twitter.com/XVGmSVshfk
— Alexfootix (@alexfootix) July 30, 2017
Others tweeted photos of holidaymakers caught in the middle of the disruptions.
Entre pannes et travaux sur les réseaux #SNCF #RATP ,bienvenue(#Montparnasse) à #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Iz9WLzisA6
— Sylvere Leger (@SylvereLeger) August 1, 2017
"Between failures and works on the network, welcome."
But some managed to find humour in the situation.
"The TGV carpet is so comfortable!" tweeted one train user (see below).
Ultra confort la moquette du TGV ! #sncf #Montparnasse pic.twitter.com/InhLbIF0md
— Fanny Laison (@FannyLaison) July 30, 2017
While another person tweeted a photo of someone in an interview process, writing: "SNCF job interview" with the interviewee saying, "Sorry I'm late" and the person interviewing saying, "You're hired".
Les équipes de la SNCF font passer des entretiens d'embauche... désolé pour la gêne occasionnée #montparnasse ?? pic.twitter.com/NmSjyZF9AP
— Edgar People (@EdgarPeople) July 30, 2017
Comments
See Also
What a massive failure of @sncf #Montparnasse .Worst railway and communication experience ever. Waiting two days and now not able to sit ?
— Jenneke van Pijpen (@Jennekevanp) August 1, 2017
#Montparnasse La @sncf vous invite à reporter vos vacances d'été au mois de novembre. Merci.
— Flyer (@worldfflyer) July 30, 2017
La plus grosse blague de la journée #montparnasse #Austerlitz @SNCF pic.twitter.com/XVGmSVshfk
— Alexfootix (@alexfootix) July 30, 2017
Entre pannes et travaux sur les réseaux #SNCF #RATP ,bienvenue(#Montparnasse) à #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Iz9WLzisA6
— Sylvere Leger (@SylvereLeger) August 1, 2017
"Between failures and works on the network, welcome."
But some managed to find humour in the situation.
"The TGV carpet is so comfortable!" tweeted one train user (see below).
Ultra confort la moquette du TGV ! #sncf #Montparnasse pic.twitter.com/InhLbIF0md
— Fanny Laison (@FannyLaison) July 30, 2017
While another person tweeted a photo of someone in an interview process, writing: "SNCF job interview" with the interviewee saying, "Sorry I'm late" and the person interviewing saying, "You're hired".
Les équipes de la SNCF font passer des entretiens d'embauche... désolé pour la gêne occasionnée #montparnasse ?? pic.twitter.com/NmSjyZF9AP
— Edgar People (@EdgarPeople) July 30, 2017
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.