Computer failure blocks French rail ticket sales

PARIS, July 15 (AFP) – Services at railway ticket counters throughout France were paralysed Thursday due to a computer outage, the national rail network, SNCF, said.  

An SNCF spokesman said it was not clear when the outage, which began Thursday morning, would be fixed. However, the company said rail traffic was not affected.  

All French railway stations are affected by the outage which occurred during the height of the tourist season.  

The problem affected the sale of tickets at station counters, but those not bought on the internet or through machines.