French railways boss advises vulnerable travellers to shun trains during heatwave
French Railways Issue Warning Amid Intensifying Heatwave
PARIS, June 21 (Reuters) - The head of SNCF, the French state-owned railway operator on Sunday advised vulnerable people against taking the train during the heatwave that is expected to peak in France early next week.
SNCF's Advisory for Vulnerable Passengers
"We recommend the most vulnerable people postpone their trip or at least avoid taking the train during this heatwave," Jean Castex told reporters.
Potential Risks to Rail Travel
• Castex, a former French Prime Minister, said that incidents could not be ruled out due to the high temperatures, which he said were having a strong impact on the rail network and can deform tracks and damage overhead electrical lines.
Heatwave Warnings and Forecasts
Meteo France's Red Alert
• Weather agency Meteo France said in its latest update on Sunday that 49 departments will be placed under a red heatwave warning from noon on Monday. That is 14 more than on Sunday, with the heatwave expected to intensify and reach peaks of 42 degrees Celsius.
Outlook for the Coming Week
• "It is likely that the heatwave will continue (or even worsen in some regions) for much of next week," it added.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Dominique VidalonEditing by Louise Heavens and David Goodman)
