Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – January 10, 2026 – Storm Goretti damaged train lines in Normandy overnight from January 8-9, halting services across key routes, including Paris-Normandy corridors. Partial traffic resumed on Saturday, with full restoration expected between January 10 and January 11 on most lines. Specific routes like Caen-Granville-Rennes and Rouen-Le Havre remain affected until Sunday or later.
- Storm Goretti Brings Severe Winds to Normandy Region
- Restoration Efforts Focus on Priority Lines
- Specific Lines Facing Extended Disruptions
- Regional Impacts Beyond the Rail Network
- Power and Infrastructure Recovery Underway
- Lessons from Prior Storms Shape Response
- Economic Toll on Local Transport and Trade
SNCF suspended operations from 17:00 on January 8 due to fallen trees, debris, and overhead line failures amid winds up to 140 km/h. Maintenance teams cleared tracks and repaired infrastructure overnight, enabling limited services by Saturday morning. Passengers received flexible refund and exchange options for cancelled trains.[context]
SNCF Nomad Train, responsible for Normandy regional services, provided an official traffic update as repairs progressed. SNCF NOMAD TRAIN (@train_nomad) in X post,
🟠 Tempête GORETTI – Info trafic Normandie
🚆 La circulation est en grande partie rétablie sur l’ensemble du réseau.
⚠️ Quelques suppressions restent possibles.🚧 Lignes encore impactées :
🔴 Caen–Granville–Rennes | Rouen–Le Havre | Caen–Cherbourg : reprise prévue le dimanche… https://t.co/VsTzgh8c9p— SNCF NOMAD TRAIN (@train_nomad) January 10, 2026
Storm Goretti Brings Severe Winds to Normandy Region
Météo-France issued red alerts for Manche and orange warnings across 32 départements, including Normandy, for gusts reaching 140 km/h. The storm cut power to 380,000 households in Normandy and Brittany, with trees toppling onto rail lines. No injuries reported from rail incidents, though civil protection services logged 28 storm-related cases region-wide.
SNCF halted all TER services in Calvados, Orne, and Seine-Maritime by 22:00 on January 8, affecting Paris-Lisieux-Caen-Cherbourg and Paris-Granville routes. High-speed TGV and Eurostar imposed speed restrictions, causing knock-on delays to Paris. Ports in Cherbourg and Saint-Malo suspended ferries, while autoroutes A13 and A84 closed temporarily.
Restoration Efforts Focus on Priority Lines
Teams prioritised Paris-Rouen-Le Havre and Caen-Lisieux lines, restoring partial service by Saturday with reduced timetables. Replacement buses operated where tracks stayed unusable, though black ice warnings limited road options. Full inspections continued for electrification and signalling before complete reopenings.
SNCF apps delivered real-time alerts, urging checks before station visits. EDF confirmed that two Flamanville nuclear reactors tripped offline due to line damage, although critical supplies were maintained. Regional prefectures coordinated clearances, lifting most alerts by Saturday.
Specific Lines Facing Extended Disruptions
Caen-Granville-Rennes, Rouen-Le Havre, and Caen-Cherbourg lines awaited Sunday resumption after ballast shifts and catenary repairs. Bréauté-Fécamp projected a full return by Tuesday, January 13, due to coastal exposure. Paris-Normandy skeleton services ran at 50% capacity midday Saturday.
No derailments occurred, crediting automated halts and weather protocols. Deauville and Caen airports noted crosswind delays but stayed operational. Freight from Le Havre port rerouted via lorries amid rail gaps.
Regional Impacts Beyond the Rail Network
Normandy businesses faced 24-48 hour freight delays, prompting remote work advisories. Schools closed in Seine-Maritime and Calvados through Friday. Brittany TER lines added speed curbs and cancellations, paralleling Normandy halts.
National Rail in England, dealing with parallel disruptions, confirmed clearance of Storm Goretti effects. National Rail (@nationalrailenq) said in X post,
“CLEARED: #StormGoretti #StormGorettiEMR – Disruption caused by Storm Goretti and yellow weather warnings for snow and ice has now ended.”
✅CLEARED: #StormGoretti #StormGorettiEMR – Disruption caused by Storm Goretti and yellow weather warnings for snow and ice has now ended.
— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) January 10, 2026
Power and Infrastructure Recovery Underway
National Grid affiliates restored 80% power by Saturday noon, targeting full coverage overnight. Météo-France extended snow-ice cautions into the weekend for persistent black ice risks. Emergency calls exceeded 500 for debris and minor flooding.
Normandy council released emergency funds for swift rail fixes. The Transport Ministry pledged national aid for coastal reinforcements. Insurance firms fast-tracked claims for households and operators.
Lessons from Prior Storms Shape Response
Storm Goretti mirrored Ciarán’s 2023 path, which closed Normandy rails for days.[context] Post-2024 upgrades cut recovery from 72 to 36 hours. SNCF’s €2 billion invested in track hardening and digital monitoring proved effective.[context]
Annual multi-hazard drills facilitated coordinated shutdowns. EU-backed green corridors incorporated Goretti data for future designs. UK-France rail shared post-event protocols.
Economic Toll on Local Transport and Trade
Le Havre shipments delayed hit regional GDP, with SMEs claiming government aid. Tourism to Mont-Saint-Michel and Côte Fleurie bookings deferred.[context] Courier firms reported parcel backlogs from autoroute blocks.
SNCF processed refunds pre-departure via purchase channels. Stockpiled materials halve clearance times versus prior storms. Chambers of commerce tallied millions in daily connectivity losses.
