TGV Driver Commits Suicide by Jumping from Train at 300 km/h

On the evening of December 24, 2024, a TGV driver committed suicide by jumping from a train traveling at full speed on the Paris-Lyon line.

Christmas Eve 2024 will be remembered by thousands of passengers on the TGV Paris-Saint-Étienne route, whose journeys were disrupted by a human tragedy. Around 7:30 p.m., the driver of TGV No. 6689 (departed at 7 p.m. from Gare de Lyon in Paris) ended his life by jumping from the cockpit while the train was moving at approximately 300 km/h, in the town of Moisenay, Seine-et-Marne.

According to the Melun prosecutor’s office handling the investigation, initial findings confirm a suicide. The driver reportedly left his position before jumping from the moving train. His lifeless body was shortly thereafter found by the gendarmes. This tragedy triggered an automatic stop of the train thanks to an advanced safety system, the Vacma (Vigilance Automatique de Contrôle du Maintien d’Appui). This device allows the train to be immobilized in case of prolonged lack of response from the driver, such as during a fainting spell, for example.

A tragic and unexpected act

This tragic incident caused a prolonged paralysis of the rail corridor between Paris and Lyon, one of the busiest in France. Around ten TGVs were immobilized, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers. Trains had to be rerouted on conventional lines, causing average delays of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The last travelers arrived at Gare de Lyon around 1 a.m., some with delays of over six hours.

In a statement issued on December 25, 2024, SNCF expressed deep sorrow over this tragedy. “The entire railway family is mourning and very affected by this terrible event,” it reads. The rail operator also announced compensation measures for impacted travelers, including full refunds for those experiencing delays of more than three hours.

To minimize the impact on passengers, the SNCF arranged taxis to transport travelers upon arrival. Traffic on the Paris-Lyon line gradually resumed Wednesday morning, though some delays persisted.

A call for better prevention

This tragedy reignites the debate over the working conditions of train drivers. Isolated in their cabs and subject to demanding schedules, they may suffer from stress and isolation. SNCF may be called upon to strengthen its psychological support systems to prevent such desperate acts.

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