They had planned everything, except this. This Saturday, June 28, several Union Bordeaux-Bègles supporters were unable to attend the Top 14 final at the Stade de France because a TGV train was immobilized for more than three hours between Bordeaux and Paris. A breakdown on the tracks forced the train to turn around, leaving disappointed... and angry fans on the platform. Departing as scheduled at 15:46 p.m. from Saint-Jean station, the TGV was supposed to reach Paris in two hours. But the journey was cut short after only fifteen minutes: the train stopped in the open countryside, near Saint-André-de-Cubzac, with no other information than that of a technical problem. It would take until 19:30 p.m. for the convoy to restart. Unpleasant surprise: it set off in the opposite direction and returned to Bordeaux. The SNCF reported a breakdown between Ambarès and Laruscade.
Frustrated and resigned supporters
On the train, the atmosphere quickly became tense. "I was supposed to meet my friends at the Stade de France. I had my toddler looked after for that," said one supporter. Another, Lucas, was furious: "I had calculated right after work. This train allowed me to arrive right in time for the pre-match. We watched the hours go by without anything happening." Transferred to another train to Paris, some travelers preferred to give up. Lucas chose to stop at a Bordeaux bar to watch the match, since he couldn't cheer on his team at the stadium. "Next year, I'll take an extra day, or I'll do it differently. But I'll be there." Many had made the trip to support the UBB, between the nine chartered buses, the cars, the planes, and the crowded trains. On the Paris-Bordeaux line, the 22 TGV trains scheduled for the return trip on Sunday were already full the previous Monday. While some supporters managed to get through the event despite everything, others will only take away immense frustration... and a good lesson for next time.
