2023-06-06 22:14:31
Rain, snow, ice, storm, heat wave… So many climatic hazards, coupled with human hazards – the famous “passenger incidents” – which regularly cause delays for trains. When they arrive more than one hour behind the scheduled time at the destination station, travelers can request compensation of 25% of the ticket price, and even 50% if the delay is more than two hours.
Be careful, however: from this Wednesday, June 7, delays due to “exceptional circumstances” – that is to say situations completely independent of the railway company – will no longer be eligible for these refunds, instituted a text European. Substantial savings on the line for railway companies? Not at the SNCF.
“SNCF Voyageurs will continue to outsell European regulations on the main lines (TGV and Intercités), the railway company boasts. We will continue to compensate travelers as today, including for exceptional external causes, continues a spokesperson for the company. There is no change there. “Better: the SNCF applies compensation from 30 minutes late (except on OuiGo) and will continue to do so, where European regulations set the threshold from 60 minutes.
“A decision favorable to travellers”
For once, the National Federation of Transport User Associations (Fnaut) applauds. “We are very satisfied with this decision favorable to travellers, rejoices Marc Debrincat, the general secretary of Fnaut. Demonstrations by nurses, peasants, wild boars, whatever, and all other exceptional circumstances that cause delays will continue to be compensated. »
Annoyance, on the other hand, against the text which made the European regulation applicable in French law. “The government has retained most of the possible exceptions,” sighs Michel Quidort, vice-president of Fnaut. From a more global and European point of view, Fnaut also deplores this desire “to align rail law with that of air transport, while a rail company, whose argument is that of reliability, is not subject to the vagaries of the weather like an airline”.
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