Aurélien Fleurot, edited by Ugo Pascolo 4:45 p.m., March 11, 2022

From Saturday, a train specially made available to Ukrainian refugees in transit in France will run daily between Paris and Barcelona.

The railway company is adapting its system, in conjunction with the Red Cross, in view of the growing influx of Ukrainians in recent days in Parisian stations. 

A special train for Ukrainian refugees.

Until then, Ukrainian refugees were offered a free ticket to board TGV or Intercités trains to travel in France.

But faced with the growing influx of people who have fled Ukraine, the SNCF is adapting its system and running a TGV specially for them on Saturday, between Paris and Barcelona.

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Accompanying refugees in transit

An operation that will mobilize all the Parisian stations, starting with the Gare de l'Est since many arrive from Germany.

A large majority of Ukrainian refugees are in transit, either to another French city or, in most cases, to another country.

Spain and Portugal are among the destinations that come back often.

And for good reason, a strong Ukrainian community is set up in Lisbon, for example, to welcome women, children and the elderly.

This is what Manon Guérin, who coordinates this system at Gare de Lyon, observes: "We welcome between 300 and 500 refugees every day at Gare de Lyon. In collaboration with the Red Cross, which will support them for an accommodation solution or for administrative procedures. And we are opening an additional train from tomorrow, every day, to transport as many refugees as possible to Spain". 

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Russian-speaking volunteers 

At the station, many SNCF railway workers volunteered to help set up the support system.

And Russian-speaking volunteers have also spontaneously organized themselves via social networks to take turns and come and translate for Ukrainian refugees.