The 1,200 passengers on a Paris-Nantes TGV were evacuated from their train at Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) on Thursday evening due to a “strong and unpleasant smell” coming from the toilets, according to the SNCF and the prefecture.
“Passengers on TGV 8931 were evacuated from their carriage at Sablé following reports of a strong and unpleasant smell in the toilets of one of the carriages. SNCF agents called the fire brigade to carry out immediate checks,” the railway company said, specifying that “checks are underway.”
“SNCF Voyageurs teams are going to the site to organize the care of passengers,” added a spokesperson.
According to the Sarthe prefecture, 1,200 people were on board the TGV. “About ten” people showing symptoms of irritation were taken care of by firefighters, while a room was opened to welcome passengers, with the presence of police, firefighters and the Red Cross, according to the same source.
Travelers evacuated to gymnasium
“Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the irritations,” added the prefecture, without being able to give further details at this stage.
Around three hours after the train stopped, two trains were, shortly after 11 p.m., “on their way from Nantes and Angers to allow passengers to continue their journey,” said the SNCF, whose teams went “to the scene to organize the care of passengers.”
The train, which left Paris at 6:50 p.m., was stopped at the station after several passengers in car 18 reported feeling unwell, some talking about “gas in the toilets,” said a traveler on the train.
After a good time spent on the platform, the crowd of travelers, among them families, was accompanied to a gymnasium, near the station. Water was distributed to them, and the passengers were waiting shortly after 10:30 p.m. to find out what happened next, the traveler said.
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