France - railways, public transport, services and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

... first applied to industrial workers of a Luddite tendency.

That'll be me - albeit inadvertently: I just don't understand modern technology. 

[ChrisB]

From EuroNews, via MSN

France has introduced new rules regarding luggage on trains with fines for travellers who don’t comply.

Limits on the number and size of suitcases will become obligatory on France’s high-speed services in mid September.

Earlier this year, Italian operator Trenitalia also proposed stricter regulations on luggage that would have limited passengers to two items per person.

However, the proposal was contested by consumer rights groups and was withdrawn. 

What are the new luggage rules on trains in France?
In February, French national operator SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) announced new limits for the amount and size of luggage on high speed TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse) InOui and Intercité trains. 

Passengers are now limited to two large pieces of baggage measuring a maximum of 70cm x 90cm x 50cm per person plus a smaller item like a backpack or laptop case with dimensions of up to 40cm x 30cm x 15cm.
Passengers are also allowed to carry a handbag or purse. Items including pushchairs and buggies, sports equipment and musical instruments do not count towards the luggage limit.

The new regulations came into force on 15 February but without fines for noncompliance. Starting from 15 September, passengers now face a €50 fine for exceeding the allowance.

What are the existing luggage limits on French trains?
Those travelling on the TGV budget OuiGo services are already subjected to baggage regulations.

Passengers holding a standard ticket are permitted one piece of luggage measuring up to 36cm x 27cm x 15cm and one piece no bigger than 55cm x 35cm x 25cm.

Passengers can pay an extra charge to bring additional items.

Local TER trains don’t impose a luggage limit but storage space can be limited and passengers must ensure baggage is stowed safely and does not become a hazard for other travellers.

Standard and Standard Premier ticket holders on the Eurostar travelling between London and Paris are permitted two items of baggage and one handbag.

There are no weight restrictions but passengers must be able to carry and lift their suitcases without requiring assistance.

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) next, I wonder?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Earlier this year, Italian operator Trenitalia also proposed stricter regulations on luggage that would have limited passengers to two items per person

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) next, I wonder?

Only two surfboards, then.

[infoman]

In my perfect west country World,with its IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)'s and cross country units.

I would like to see in the luggage compartments images of cases be shown "up right"

so that you could get three(maybe) cases in an upright position.

Travelers who plonk there cases in the "flat"  position can cause problems later in the journey when other joining passengers

plonk their cases down in the "flat" position

How many of us have seen less able  travelers trying to get their case from "the bottom of the pack" under neath two very heavy cases?

[TaplowGreen]

Eurostar limits seem reasonable but how would GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) manage a similar system if it were to be introduced (which may not be a bad idea given the type of scenarios that infoman suggests)?

[Electric train]

Having used Trenitalia a few times in the last few years the amount of luggage and other item passenger load onto trains verges on ridiculous.  It seems almot like they are moving house.

Not only are the aisle blocked but often seats occupied by luggage and then there is the time taken to load and off load the items, with the dwell times on HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) being only 2 or 3 mins delays are inevitable not to mention the usual Italian "arguments" between the passenger and officials and other passengers.

 

[stuving]

I guess this is part of a general trend - luggage on wheels makes it possible for people to turn up with more that "as much as you can carry yourself". So unless we go back to porters and trolleys and baggage cars there will be limits.

I did wonder whether SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) would include in this revision something to resolve the issue of double basses (discussed earlier). But no - all musical instruments and surfboards are still subject to the unmeetable 90 x 130 limit. The only items not subject to this are skis, and non-folding bicycles (with reservation and paying €10). All "special" items replace one of your two big (bag/suitcase) items.

The rules for bicycles look odd to me. Whether it is folded or not, you are allowed panniers as well (presumably filled). But while for a folded bike+panniers you only get you one item of hand luggage,
if it's wheeled on you get one big item like a suitcase too. Surely it's the cycle tourer that will be taking all they need in panniers, while you might take a folded one as an extra for a "normal" trip?

[eightonedee]

As perhaps a lighter item after the gloomy posts about the resilience of Dawlish's lifts in bad weather and list of 36 scrapped/suspended rail projects - here's what SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) propose for lightly used branch lines (perhaps an alternative for the Parry People Mover)-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SUAuxuDy1k

[stuving]

As perhaps a lighter item after the gloomy posts about the resilience of Dawlish's lifts in bad weather and list of 36 scrapped/suspended rail projects - here's what SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) propose for lightly used branch lines (perhaps an alternative for the Parry People Mover)-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SUAuxuDy1k

It reminds me of the Revolution VLR (which seems to be still ongoing, though quietly). Draisy is part of a French government programme funding ideas for decarbonisation, so rather like FOAK. The manufacturing partner is Lohr, whose main business is road-rail systems (road trailers on rail flats). It started in 2022, and they plan to have prototypes running in 2027. 

[grahame]

I worry about a diddy little train with a diddly little capacity going through a breathtakingly beautiful route with spectacular tunnels and viaducts which probably cost an arm and two legs to maintain.   There may be a case for the "contraflow" train where the main service is something beefier.  As ever, I 'look local" and fancy the 07:10, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 16:30, and 18:30 Westbury to Swindon with a 159, returning at 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 15:30, 17:40 and 19:30, and Draisy on the 05:30, 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, 19:30 and 21:30, returning on the 06:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 20:30 and 22:30.   But I do suspect Draisy would be overwhelmed within the year.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Montpellier does have some previous for radical action to remove cars from the city centre, going back to the time of the long-serving and somewhat dictatorial mayor Georges Frêche.

Hmm.  We used to have one of those, in Bristol. 

[stuving]

This seems particularly shocking. I suppose strictly the element of tragedy is the same whoever is involved, but it is certainly a surprise. From france24 (and originally AFP):

Train driver's suicide causes Christmas travel delays across France

A train driver's suicide caused widespread delays on Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day in France, with some 3,000 passengers affected during the busy holiday period.

Issued on: 25/12/2024 - 17:49

The suicide by a train driver on the job has caused widespread delays in France's rail traffic, operator SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) said Wednesday.

Some 3,000 train passengers have been affected by delays in services between Paris and southeastern France that started Tuesday and spilled over into Wednesday.

Around 10 high-speed (TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse)) trains were delayed by up to five hours Tuesday after the suicide on Christmas Eve, an exceptionally busy time for travel.

The prosecutors' office in Melun, southeast of Paris, told AFP that the driver appeared to have jumped to his death from the moving train.

His body was discovered later near the tracks.

Without a driver operating the controls, the train's automatic emergency procedure kicked in, causing the train to stop, the office said.

An investigation into the circumstances of the death was ongoing.

SNCF confirmed the driver's death, saying he "committed suicide while the train was moving".

There was no threat to the safety of passengers on the train, or to services elsewhere in the network, SNCF added.

Train traffic was "resuming progressively" Wednesday, SNCF said, warning however of some possible further delays.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wow.  That is indeed shocking.  I offer my sympathy to his family and friends.