The CFL (Luxembourg's railways) has reported that, following a SNCF strike, the rail offer on line 90 Luxembourg - France was severely degraded on Monday this week, 23 April 2018, so that only 40 of the 110 daily TER trains were able to circulate.
The majority of these movements were provided by the CFL in order to allow, despite the strike of the SNCF, a maximum of cross-border customers to reach their final destination by train. However, because of technical problems on the train TER 88753 at 17:16 to Metz, consisting of two railcars, the CFL had to split this train and only the first passengers could leave.
This reduced composition, the SNCF strike and the rush hour all resulted in an exceptional influx aboard this train, so that the controller could no longer access it. However, according to the safety provisions in force, the train driver is not allowed to leave without the controller being on board. In order to guarantee that the train could start under the appropriate safety conditions, the driver and the controller informed the passengers on the train of the current situation, and asked via the announcement system if some passengers would accept on a voluntary base to get off the train in question and to take the next train, which would start shortly thereafter and which would provide a sufficiently high seating capacity.
Despite several attempts by the CFL staff to unblock the situation, no customer responded to the invitation so that the train remained stationary in Luxembourg station. The situation on board degenerated and the driver was attacked by some passengers, requiring an intervention of the Grand Ducal Police.
Although understanding the difficulties and inconveniences that the SNCF strike and this exceptional technical problem, the CFL insisted on the necessity, for the safety of all, to respect the instructions and the information of its staff for the main purpose of allowing everyone to make a trip in the best conditions of safety and comfort possible.
