Original Source: www.ladepeche.fr
The catastrophic journey of train 3348, trapped between Caen and Paris Saint-Lazare, unfolded against the backdrop of Storm Caetano, wreaking havoc across the region. With winds howling through the night and trees crashing down like fallen soldiers, railway services faced unprecedented disruptions. The bizarre twist featuring wild boars added an element of surprise to an already chaotic situation, exemplifying the unexpected challenges faced by modern transport systems amid nature’s fury. This incident not only highlights the vulnerability of public transport to extreme weather but also the stories that emerge from shared adversity amongst passengers.
On a tempestuous evening, commuters found themselves in an unexpected odyssey aboard train 3348, a journey from Caen to Paris devolving into a saga of misfortune. Departing at 19:07 on 24 November, the train, momentarily unperturbed, was soon halted by nature’s wrath as storm-driven debris littered the tracks, prompting a cascade of calamities. As wind howled and rain lashed, passengers were left to stew in the confines of their carriage for nearly nine hours.
After three long hours of waiting, power seemingly restored, hope flickered back to life. Yet, just 8 minutes into the train’s second attempt to glide towards Paris, disaster struck again. A quartet of wild boars made an unplanned appearance, colliding catastrophically with the train, igniting panic and sparks as an electrical fire flared ominously in the front carriage. What was meant to be a move towards home morphed into an unprecedented plight.
Describing their vessel as ‘cursed’, beleaguered passengers eventually disembarked from the abandoned train, only to be corralled into another, which finally promised passage to the city of lights. As they approached Paris at 4 AM, the clock betrayed the promise of a swift journey, rendering their travels a torturous tale to tell. For many, the night was spent uncomfortably stranded at Lisieux station, surrounded by the echoes of others lamenting their stormy plight.
As dawn broke and the storm continued to wreak havoc, fallen trees disrupted further rail services, casting a shadow over morning travel. The chaos contributed to a symphony of delays that echoed through Paris Saint-Lazare, with weary faces reflecting frustration tempered only by wild stories of unexpected encounters with nature, reminding all that some journeys can be as treacherous as they are unforgettable.
