Automated safety systems quickly detected the absence of the driver, halting the train and averting a potential disaster for the hundreds aboard. Rejony’s body was discovered along the tracks, and authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
A respected and experienced professional with 27 years at SNCF, France’s national rail company, Rejony was reportedly dealing with personal difficulties and depression, according to *La Parisien*.
The tragedy sparked outrage after Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot made comments some viewed as insensitive, suggesting the situation could have been worse had the driver attempted to derail the train. Rail unions and opposition politicians criticized the lack of condolences or acknowledgment of the human tragedy.
The rail union SUD-Rail condemned the minister’s remarks as devoid of empathy, while MPs Sarah Legrain and Berenger Cernon called for more compassion. Tabarot, newly appointed just days earlier, defended himself, emphasizing that he recognized the case as a deeply human tragedy. The incident has reignited calls for greater mental health support for rail workers.
🇫🇷🕊️DRAME – Bruno Rejony, conducteur de #TGV, à mis fin à ses jours ce mardi en sautant du train qu’il conduisait. pic.twitter.com/ODKQhuAYRq
— Actu React Info (@actureact_info) December 25, 2024
