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No trains until sometime summer 2024 between Lyon and Turin / Milan

Edited title Oct 10 2023 to reflect that authorities said it will be *several months -- sometime next Summer --before the rail line between Modane and Italy re-opens.

There was a landslide yesterday that has put a halt to trains between Chambery and Modane, which means that no trains can run between France and Italy on that route (nor are buses able to make a substitute drive because the road is shut down too).

This will be at least for the "next few weeks."

Even if you don't read French, you might take a look at the following article, which includes video that a bystander captured of the landslide (scroll down a bit in the article to get to the video. There are also a couple of tweets with more information / photos / diagrams). It's pretty easy to see why nothing can get by!

In addition, 18-wheelers are forbidden from using the Frejus Tunnel (I guess for caution regarding réverbérations) although I guess private vehicles can still use the tunnel (I don't know about big motorhomes).

A pain for anyone who was hoping to do Paris-Turin, Paris -Milan or Lyon-Turin or Lyon-Milan (or vice versa) these next few days. I am glad my husband came back from visiting his mother one week ago today !

Plus de train entre la France et l’Italie jusqu’à au moins mercredi après un éboulement en Savoie, le tunnel du Fréjus fermé aux poids lourds https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/plus-de-train-entre-la-france-et-litalie-apres-un-eboulement-impressionnant-la43-partiellement-fermee-27-08-2023-FDLPLXJCQ5BVPKDSIXE3XIKPEU.php?xtor=AD-366 - via Le Parisien

8/30: I have edited the title to reflect, as JoLui pointed out, that today SNCF said it will be at least several weeks, rather than several days, before rail service is restored.

Posted by
14741 posts

Oh my! That video is something else, isn’t it!!

Posted by
7304 posts

Wow! Impressive.
An alternative rail route to Milan (not very good for Turin), for people unable or unwilling to find flights, would be to go through Switzerland: Paris-Geneva or Lausanne-Milan.
From Paris, it does not take much longer (+1 hr usually), it is more scenic, but it is more expensive.
From Lyon, the time penalty is worse, but it is viable as well.

Posted by
10206 posts

Balso makes the good point that there are workarounds for this. Just not on this line ! Thanks Balso !

Posted by
21159 posts

Problem is, right now, there is construction on the rail line between Domodossola and Milan, so there is a rail replacement bus service operating there now. Add in the closure of the Gotthard Base Tunnel to passenger traffic and it is the perfect storm.
Revenge of the Alps!

Posted by
7304 posts

Oh I was not aware of that Simplon construction...
Gotta fly, then! Only possible from Paris though, not from Lyon...

Posted by
10206 posts

Today authorities said that while they had first estimated the volume of rock / debris that fell on Sunday at about 700 cubic meters, they have determined now that it was somewhere around 10,000 cubic meters !!!!

And some more fell today.

This isn't going to be back operational any time soon.

Posted by
10629 posts

After today's rain, this evening newscast reported even more instability.

Posted by
2332 posts

An SNCF official has announced that train traffic will probably not resume for several weeks

Posted by
21159 posts

The construction on the Domodossola-Milan line should be complete by September 11.

Posted by
2 posts

Oh no!!! We fly into Lyon on Sept. 14/23 then have train tickets from Lyon to Milan for Sept. 17/23. Does anyone have any suggestions on alternate forms of transportation? After watching the video it looks like the road may be closed as well.

Posted by
21159 posts

Go Lyon to Geneva to Brig to Milan. Adds about 3 hours to the journey time.

Posted by
10206 posts

The two roads - the local and the autoroute -- are definitely closed as well.

From what I read today, the autoroute will probably be the first thing to re-open. But right now I don't have any idea when. Maybe things will become clearer over the next few days.

Posted by
2 posts

Update as of Sept. 2/23 according to SNFC…..they don’t expect the line from Lyon to Milan to be open until November.

Posted by
2 posts

So how about on the Italian side? Are there any trains at all running from Turin to Milan?

Posted by
21159 posts

Trains from Torino to Milano are very frequent.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks, Sam--I wondered if the closure of the Lyons--Milan line, which goes through Torino, had disrupted that service.

Posted by
10206 posts

No - there is no problem in Italy. The landslide happened in France.

Trains between Turin and Milan are fine.

Posted by
1 posts

Has their been any update on this? I've just had an email saying that my train was canceled from Lyon-Milan on the 27th of Nov. but I cannot find anything that says that this is something that will still be an issue by then. Is there something I am missing on English-language websites? I appreciate any assistance.

Posted by
2332 posts

Following the landslide, the latest official announcement is that all train connections between France and Italy are interrupted at least until the end of spring 2024.

Posted by
2500 posts

@cmoore4099: If you still have a ticket for a trip on that route you should be aware of your rights as a passenger. SNCF itself will not inform you of that but in case of a cancellation you have three options:

  • A full refund.
  • Travel at another date
  • Travel via another route at the railways' expense.

This is based on European regulations, that SNCF themselves have hidden somewhere on their site: https://www.sncf-connect.com/statics/cgv/droits-voyageurs-ferroviaires-en.pdf

A more user friendly version is here: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/rail/index_en.htm#cancelled

SNCF has been quick offering people refunds, because they know that people do not know their rights, and once someone has accepted the refund they are off the hook. You should however insist that they transport you, even if that means that they need to organise a taxi for you to drive you from Chambery to Italy... But I would in stead offer they replace your ticket for one valid via Switzerland.