A signaling failure interrupted rail traffic in the southeast for an hour. In Nice, delays are expected, while the SNCF app remains unusable due to an issue related to the American operator Cloudflare.
Train traffic was interrupted between 1:55 PM and 2:55 PM near the Marseille Saint-Charles station. TGV, TER, and Intercités were affected. SNCF specifies that this signaling failure is not related to the global Cloudflare incident. Traffic is gradually resuming since a few minutes ago.
In Nice, no precise information has been communicated. But delays are already announced on the line towards Marseille. Travelers should expect disruptions in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the app and the SNCF Connect website has been unusable since the beginning of the afternoon. Users cannot check schedules or book tickets unless they go to the ticket office. The cause has been identified: the American provider Cloudflare.
Cloudflare at the Heart of a Global Outage
On its site, Cloudflare mentions a “problem affecting several users” causing “numerous 500 errors.” The company, based in San Francisco, is one of the largest Internet networks. It is present in 125 countries.
Cloudflare offers companies an “array of network services that enhance their security while improving the performance and reliability of their essential Internet properties.” Nearly 20% of websites use its solutions.
The incident also affects institutional sites. Those of the Élysée and the Council of Europe are inaccessible. Online services of several companies are also disrupted.
In the mid-afternoon, Cloudflare stated on its blog that it had identified the problem. The company claims to continue “working to restore service for customers.” By 3:30 PM, some sites like X or Canva were accessible again. The situation is expected to stabilize in the coming hours.
Consequences for Travelers
Disruptions on the SNCF network add to the global outage. Travelers must deal with delays and an app out of service. SNCF advises checking information directly at the station.
The signaling failure highlighted the fragility of digital infrastructures. Even though SNCF ensures that the incident is not related to Cloudflare, the unavailability of its app complicates travel management.
Users are urged to be cautious. Trains are running again, but schedules remain uncertain. Delays towards Marseille are confirmed.
Cloudflare secures thousands of sites worldwide. The incident underscored the importance of this provider in the functioning of the Internet. Institutional and commercial services were affected. Users experienced access difficulties to major platforms.
The outage illustrates companies’ dependency on digital infrastructures. It also reminds that local disruptions, like those of the SNCF, can compound with global incidents.
In Nice, potential disruptions are expected on the line towards Marseille. Delays are expected to reduce over the hours. The SNCF app remains unavailable, but a return to normal is expected within the next few minutes.
