Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00It's a new rule introduced by France's main railway company SNCF.
00:05Travellers will have to be mindful of the number and size of their luggage or they could
00:09face fines of up to 150 euros.
00:12Put into effect this Monday, the new regulations took certain travellers by surprise as they
00:17turned up to the station.
00:19I think it's a bit unfair that we're paying for extra luggage when, in itself, there's
00:24plenty of room on the train.
00:26It's more about making money, making a bit more profit.
00:34I don't think it's because it gets in the way or takes too much space.
00:38On the contrary, it's been going on for years.
00:40It's always been like this.
00:41We know exactly how things work.
00:43All that increases is for profit.
00:45Each passenger will be allowed a maximum of two big suitcases measuring no more than 90
00:50centimetres in height and one piece of hand luggage.
00:53Anyone carrying musical instruments, scooters, prams, skis or surfboards can only bring one
01:00big suitcase and one piece of hand luggage.
01:02Those who do not respect this rule will be fined 50 euros per extra suitcase and 150
01:08euros if the baggage is dangerous or causing any inconvenience on the train.
01:13On its website, the SNCF asks each passenger to bring only as much as they can carry.
01:19You can travel with two large pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage, which correspond
01:24to what you can carry yourself in one go.
01:27Trains have become more popular in recent years, often becoming saturated during the
01:32holiday season.
01:33Despite mixed reactions to the new rules, the SNCF claims that its new luggage allowance
01:38remains very lax compared to that of airplanes.