Railway Rift: Paris-Clermont Train Users Call for Modernization as Commuting Woes Continue

As the current Paris-Clermont railway line struggles with unpredictable travel times and outdated trains, commuters are calling for improvements. The collective of Clermont-Paris train users seized the opportunity to meet with President Emmanuel Macron during his speech at La Sorbonne on April 24, urging him to modernize the line. Their petition, which was launched last year and has gathered over 12,000 signatures, aims to reduce travel time between Paris and Clermont-Ferrand to 2 hours and 30 minutes.

SNCF’s announcement that delays in delivering new trains to replace outdated ones will not be expected until 2027 only adds to the frustration of commuters like Louise, who regularly take the train for work. The collective highlights that it takes less time to travel to Strasbourg or Lyon, cities farther from Paris than Clermont-Ferrand. This call for improvement comes as SNCF implemented a 40 million euro emergency plan following a serious incident in January that left passengers stranded overnight on the train. However, the collective believes that these measures do not address the overall issues with the railway line. They are hopeful for a meeting with President Macron to discuss ways to modernize and improve the Paris-Clermont railway line.