Train Strike Leaves 94 People, Including Children, Stranded in Vendée Without Accommodation

On Facebook, the guide Patrick Recolleau started this Thursday March 30 a call for help for a group of 94 peoplestuck in Vendee.

“I was their guide for a week, I just left them and they are without a solution”

“We are 82 CE2-CM2 students and 12 adults stranded in Vendée”, explains madam braudteacher at the Immaculée Conception school in Villeurbanne in the Rhône.

Arrived by train on Monday for a school trip to the holiday center Ternélia The Wind from the Seain Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (Vendée), they learned some news which spoiled the end of the stay, because of the strikes.

“Wednesday April 29, in the evening, the SNCF sent us an email to tell us that the train we were to take to return to Lyon on Friday March 31 was canceled”.

Absence de solutions

The teachers then ask the SNCF to find a solution, but to no avail. “At first they offered us other trains, but in the end they were full”. Then they asked carriers to take us by coach, but it was impossible because the time was too short for so many people,” she continues.

Finally, a train is offered at 4:30 a.m., Friday, March 31, at Nantesto return to Lyon.

“The concern is that no coach could transport us to Nantes during the night, and there is no TER”.

Without accommodation from Friday to Saturday

The Brisseau carrier (Brem-sur-Mer) then offered its services for a departure on Saturday April 1st. But there too, a problem arises.

“We don’t have a way to find accommodation because we have to leave the rooms at the holiday center since people are arriving behind us”.

Ternélia Le Vent du Large is still trying to find a solution, this Thursday, March 30. “The firefighters who arrive and replace us do not need all the accommodation, so they try to place at least 4 children per remaining room. But for the moment, nothing is validated”.

A salty note

“The quote for the carrier is 6000 euros, and besides, it can only carry 87 people. For the remaining 5 people, you must rent a car, so additional costs. Parents will be happy to pay 100 euros more when we arrive,” adds Ms. Braud.

The group of 94 people is therefore still looking for a way to find accommodation on the night of Friday March 31 to Saturday April 1. “We were advised to call the MFR, but that won’t solve the concern about the cost of the trip, because it’s not even sure that the SNCF will reimburse us”.

To help or contact them: 06 86 02 79 60.

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