Wildfires disrupt holiday traffic on the A6 and the Paris-Lyon TGV corridor

Fontainebleau – 14 July 2026: Several fires in and near the Fontainebleau region have significantly disrupted the start of the summer travel season in France. The A6 motorway south of Paris and the high-speed line between Paris and Lyon were particularly affected. For travelers on National Day, this meant diversions, train cancellations and, in some cases, long waits at stations.

According to motorway operator APRR, the A6 was closed in both directions on Sunday, 12 July, due to a major forest fire in the Fontainebleau area. The closure remained in place on the evening of 13 July. Mandatory exits and alternative routes were set up for vehicles heading towards Paris and Lyon. The fire thus compounded an already heavily congested holiday traffic situation in the greater Paris area.

Rail traffic on France’s most important north-south connection also came under pressure. Another fire near Sens in the Yonne department caused further disruptions on the LGV Sud-Est on Monday, 13 July. The line connects Paris with Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Geneva and several international destinations, among others. Some trains were diverted onto conventional rail lines to allow firefighters to operate and the infrastructure to be inspected.

The consequences were particularly apparent at Paris Gare de Lyon. Several services recorded significant delays; according to media reports, some travelers had journeys lasting up to four hours longer than planned. Even greater delays had been reported on the line the previous day. TGV INOUI, OUIGO and international high-speed trains on the Paris-Southeast corridor were affected.

SNCF Réseau and emergency services had to check whether tracks, overhead lines, signalling systems or safety equipment had been damaged after the fires. Such inspections are necessary before high-speed services can resume normal operations. Diverting trains via slower routes further extends journey times and can affect the entire day’s timetable.

The disruptions occurred during a travel period that traditionally sees high traffic volumes. The state traffic forecast service Bison Futé had expected increased traffic on Tuesday, 14 July, in several regions, including Île-de-France. The additional restrictions caused by the fires therefore intensified the strain on holidaymakers, commuters and freight transport.

Travelers should check the current status of their service or route before departure and allow sufficient extra time. For the affected sections, a full return to normal operations depends on the fire situation, safety inspections and the reopening of transport routes by the responsible operators.