450 passengers on a Paris-Bordeaux train were stranded on Friday evening in the middle of the track near Joué-lès-Tours, in Indre-et-Loire, after a tree fell on a catenary, reports France Blue Touraine. They arrived in Bordeaux seven hours late.

The electrical system of their TGV was damaged after a tree fell around 4 p.m. Its pantographs, the arms that connect the train to the electrical system, were damaged, and the SNCF had no other way than to saw them off.

Because of this stupid tree stopped for more than 3 hours south of Tours! Good responsiveness from the crew and the friendly leaders of the@SNCF.Intervention of @sdis37. pic.twitter.com/r9qm5t9bWY

—Dominique Bussereau (@Dbussereau) April 8, 2022

The intervention, in the middle of storm Diego, lasted several times, until an emergency train came to pick up the travelers around 9:30 p.m. They did not leave Saint-Pierre-des-Corps until 11 p.m. and arrived in Bordeaux around 1 a.m., about seven hours after the scheduled time.

The SNCF claims to have done its utmost in the not obvious conditions of the storm. The travelers were able to be supplied with water and food, and also provided support for the staff on board on social networks. Former Minister Dominique Bussereau, stuck on the train, paid tribute to SNCF staff “very helpful”.

Night transhipment and on the way with a very helpful sncf staff pic.twitter.com/oRQIZIuW9W

—Dominique Bussereau (@Dbussereau) April 8, 2022