France’s infrastructure ahead of new heatwave: Rail inspects fleets, authorities urge protective measures

Paris – 02.07.2026: France is preparing this week for another heatwave. According to Météo‑France, temperatures are rising significantly in several regions. Transport operators, labor inspectorates and health authorities have therefore expanded their measures to limit disruptions and protect staff and travelers.

The national railway SNCF has announced that it will carry out additional maintenance and inspection rounds on particularly stressed lines. Technicians are closely checking overhead lines, switches and air conditioning systems; in some cases trainsets are being taken out of service as a precaution to cool, maintain and keep them ready for the upcoming holiday travel weekends. This can lead to short‑notice changes to timetables. The railway points out that preventive interventions are intended to reduce disruptions on peak days and increase safety.

Heat affects not only rail traffic. On highways and departmental roads, soft asphalt can give way under intense sunlight, particularly on heavily used sections, ramps and roundabouts. Road authorities are monitoring road surfaces and bridge bearings more closely to detect deformations or cracks early. Steel structures and historic buildings are also being inspected more frequently in some locations, as materials expand at high temperatures and can create stresses.

For employers, the regional services for work, employment and solidarity (DREETS) remind them of obligations to assess risks and to adapt work processes during extreme heat. Recommended measures include shifting working hours to cooler periods at the edges of the day, additional breaks, shaded areas, sufficient drinking water and personal protective equipment. Special attention is being paid to emergency services, construction crews, road maintenance workers and transport staff who work outdoors or in overheated vehicles.

Santé publique France calls on the public to drink consistently, schedule physical exertion for mornings and evenings, and keep apartments shaded during the day. Older people, those with preexisting conditions, young children and people living alone are considered particularly vulnerable. In overheated means of transport, travelers should, if possible, move to air‑conditioned areas and inform staff if they feel unwell. Prefectures are coordinating information chains, pointing to municipal cooling centers and strengthening hotlines during sustained heat.

Based on the experiences from June episodes, preventive temporary suspensions of individual trains sometimes led to reduced capacity. Authorities and operators emphasize, however, that planned maintenance reduces outages during peak travel periods. Travelers are asked to check connections shortly before departure in operators’ apps and on their websites and to allow extra travel time. For road users: adjust speed, keep greater distances and use alternative routes when the traffic control center issues warnings.