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

[whole diary]

[stuving]

An e-mail was sent to several media organisations yesterday claiming responsibility for these attacks, so some of its content now been made public. Obviously the timing means its source might have nothing to do with whoever did it, and one report describes it as more a message of support.

The wording, as often in such cases, comes from a particular dialect of agit-prop, here ultraleft/anarchist. It starts by saying its from a "delagation inattendue", which I take to mean an uninvited delegation to the Olympics. It criticises the games as "a celebration of nationalism, a huge staged dramatisation of the subjection of peoples by states".

Official word is that the investigators think they will know who they are looking for soon. I imagine that's based on evidence found at the sites, especially of the failed attack, rather than any incoherent message.

[TonyK]

The senders of those messages may or may not be the perpetrators of the sabotage. If they are not, they certainly wouldn't be the first to try to take credit for someone else's handiwork. The terrorist group who committed the many outrageous murders in Moscow last March were most annoyed at the Kremlin government's attempts to attribute the attack to Ukraine. I hope the French investigators sort this one out quickly and accurately before it encourages copycat attacks.

Now - does anyone know the French for "saboteur"?

[broadgage]

Now - does anyone know the French for "saboteur"?

Freedom fighter ? patriot ?

[TaplowGreen]

Now - does anyone know the French for "saboteur"?

Freedom fighter ? patriot ?

............always be wary of an overhead shot..........

[Western Pathfinder]

 One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist .

[stuving]

Last night a proper suspect was arrested -according to AFP and their friends in the police. Mind you, quite why anyone would be daft enough to be driving around at that time of the morning with wire cutters, SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) keys, and the kind of literature that gets you identified as a left-wing extremist is a puzzle.

There were also a number of vandalism/sabotage cases on fibre-optic links of telecoms companies, taking out several of their services locally. There was one similar on Friday morning too, with a claim from one of the left/anarchist splinter groups (groupuscules) that have always been a French speciality.

[TonyK]

Last night a proper suspect was arrested -according to AFP and their friends in the police. Mind you, quite why anyone would be daft enough to be driving around at that time of the morning with wire cutters, SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) keys, and the kind of literature that gets you identified as a left-wing extremist is a puzzle.
 

My thoughts too, on the literature matter. Maybe he was hoping to radicalise the cops who came for him, and hadn't thought the idea through completely.

Now - does anyone know the French for "saboteur"?

I knew already, just a little tease. The term derives from the French sabot, a wooden clog worn by aggrieved workers, who implemented early forms of industrial action by messing things up. They didn't use the clogs to damage anything, as walking home with one bare foot was uncomfortable, but the name stuck. So I understand, others may know better.

[stuving]

Now - does anyone know the French for "saboteur"?

I knew already, just a little tease. The term derives from the French sabot, a wooden clog worn by aggrieved workers, who implemented early forms of industrial action by messing things up. They didn't use the clogs to damage anything, as walking home with one bare foot was uncomfortable, but the name stuck. So I understand, others may know better.

My little dictionnaire étymologique probably does know better; certainly it knows different. The verb saboter once meant something like to clog (in this sense) - to stamp, make a loud noise, or shake. But now it means roughly to bodge: to work shoddily or carelessly, damaging the work or machines. So sabotage (as the verbal noun) can only be done by the workers themselves, which probably was its main sense when first applied to industrial workers of a Luddite tendency.

Of course it may turn out that this has been done by very left-wing railway workers: there certainly are some - whole unionsful of them - in France.

[TonyK]

My little dictionnaire étymologique probably does know better; certainly it knows different. The verb saboter once meant something like to clog (in this sense) - to stamp, make a loud noise, or shake. But now it means roughly to bodge: to work shoddily or carelessly, damaging the work or machines. So sabotage (as the verbal noun) can only be done by the workers themselves, which probably was its main sense when first applied to industrial workers of a Luddite tendency.

Of course it may turn out that this has been done by very left-wing railway workers: there certainly are some - whole unionsful of them - in France.

I am obliged - I don't own such a detailed reference work. I did understand that the word saboter derived from the word sabot, in much the same way that there is a link between the use of the English clog as verb or noun. It's all fascinating, if slightly off thread.

[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 - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))'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.