SNCF cancels Intercités services over the weekend of July 11 and 12 due to a heatwave

Paris – 10/07/2026: SNCF is cancelling numerous Intercités trains for the weekend of 11 and 12 July 2026. The company cites the ongoing heat and the risks it poses to passengers and infrastructure as the reason for this decision. Some long-distance connections are therefore being withdrawn from service as a precaution, while TGV and Ouigo services are expected to continue operating as a priority depending on availability.

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According to SNCF Voyageurs and infrastructure company SNCF Réseau, the group is responding to two main risks: on the one hand, high temperatures on the rails and in the surrounding environment can promote track expansion, deformation, and material fatigue. On the other hand, the risk of air-conditioning failures increases in older carriages. Particularly sensitive sections will be closely monitored; if necessary, speeds will be reduced or services temporarily suspended.

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SNCF continuously publishes cancellations on the SNCF Connect app and on its information pages. The selection is based on risk analyses by the infrastructure manager: factors assessed include ballast condition, the age of overhead lines, the load caused by freight and passenger traffic, and forecasts of peak air and rail temperatures. Where sensors or previous inspections have shown increased vulnerability, trains are cancelled as a priority.

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The Ministry of Transport had already called for coordinated prevention measures in rail traffic at the end of June. Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that temporary service changes were acceptable if they served safety purposes. SNCF also refers passengers to services at the affected stations, including water distribution, enhanced customer information and, where applicable, replacement buses, insofar as these can be arranged at short notice. However, capacity remains limited, particularly on interregional routes.

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SNCF recommends that passengers check their bookings again on the day of departure, allow extra time, and use the rebooking or refund rules. Customers holding Flex or Semi-Flex fares can generally change their journey free of charge; for reserved Intercités services, the company says it offers accommodating solutions in the event of cancellation. Those who absolutely need to travel should consider alternative routes, for example via TGV corridors with available seats.

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The context of the measure is the increasing frequency of extreme heat events in France. Rail operators are therefore adapting their seasonal operating processes, for example through temperature-dependent speed concepts, targeted maintenance at critical points, and the modernization of air-conditioning systems. SNCF emphasizes that these are preventive measures intended to ensure safe operations during exceptional weather events and avoid subsequent damage to infrastructure and rolling stock.

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