A few trains continue to circulate across France, with stressed passengers and controllers inside the cars.
- Train traffic is greatly reduced during confinement
- A journalist from Le Point carried out a report in one of the few TGVs in circulation
- He noted concern and stress among passengers and railway staff
On the platforms, a few rare people wait for the trains which continue to circulate. To be able to travel, it is essential to be in possession of a derogatory or professional travel certificate for people “having an urgent need to work”. A line is reserved for medical or military personnel “which benefits from free access to the InOui and Intercités TGVs in circulation“, specifies the SNCF at Point who made a report in a train.
stressed people
In the trains, the atmosphere is heavy. Not easy to respect social distancing in the wagons, note the article put online by the magazine. In the train, the latter relays a scene where a young woman, late, ends up sitting next to a man who explains to her that he prefers her to sit elsewhere, “I believe it is forbidden”, he adds through his mask. In the wagons, the smell of hydroalcoholic gel perfumes the spaces. The SNCF has indicated that its trains are regularly disinfected, you can never be too careful.
On the side of the controllers, movements through the train are much rarer, even non-existent. There is no more ticket control on board. “We avoid traveling so as not to transmit the Covidtestifies one of them. We have been in contact with a lot of people since January, about 1,000 people a day and withdrawal rights have been exercised.” In the wagons, people are on the alert. “There is almost only that, stressed peopleconfirms a captain. It groped in the company as everywhere. My colleague and I don’t work anymore because there are hardly any more trains, so we work every other day so that everyone can work.”
The return nature
Continuing to keep trains running is imperative. “We have been defending public service for a long time, if there is an opportunity to show that we care about it, it is good today”, case an agent. Connections have been canceled and to compensate for their absence some VTC cars continue their activity. Another proof of the change imposed by confinement, nature has regained its rights. “You know, behind the station, the deer came back”laughingly notes the train driver.
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