SNCF and COVID. The railway company has adapted its transport plan on these TGVs, Intercités, regional trains (TER) and Eurostar due to the resurgence of Covid-19 and the strengthening of telework impacting train attendance. Traffic forecasts.
[Mis à jour le 20 janvier 2022 à 21h01] Faced with the effects of the 5th wave of Covid-19 (30% drop in reservations since the start of the year, particularly on weekdays due to teleworking, drivers and case-contact staff), SNCF has adapted its transport plan. “For several weeks, the whole company has been preparing for this new wave and has strengthened its monitoring and adaptation system both in the management of its infrastructures and of the trains” explains the communication department of the SNCF.
“As was the start of the Covid crisis almost two years ago, SNCF Voyageurs is constantly adapting its transport plan to the consequences of the health situation”, explains the SNCF communication department, contacted by us. Following “the effects of this 5th Covid wave”, adaptations are impacting SNCF’s TGV, TER, Intercités and Eurostar trains:
- TGV and Intercity : 90% of TGVs, 80% of Intercités (including 100% for night trains)
- International trains : the Eurostar runs at less than 10% of the planned supply.
- TER : “small-scale” adaptations are made, “since on average more than 90% of TERs continue to circulate at the national level and for the next few days.”
- Transilien : traffic slightly adapted depending on the lines depending on the health situation and the availability of SNCF agents. “We invite travelers to check their train timetable on the SNCF app before going to the station” indicates the railway company.
Another measure currently taken by the railway company, until February 15 inclusive, “the sale and service for consumption on board of food and drinks are prohibited during journeys within the metropolitan territory” according to the decree published on December 31 in the Official Journal. As a result, the railway company has closed its bar cars on the trains. Is it therefore forbidden to consume? We take stock of the health protocol and the strengthening of SNCF measures.
If Prime Minister Jean Castex has decided to ban until February 15 “the sale and services on board trains and planes to ensure that the maximum possible time spent on the train is done with the mask”, Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari nevertheless made it clear, on BFMTV, that passengers could “remove their mask” if they have “an imperative need to drink or eat”. “Because you are fragile or simply because you have this physiological need, you can take off your mask and drink or eat quickly, then put it back on right after,” he said on January 3. “On long-distance journeys, this measure will be applied with discernment, especially for young children and to allow them to quench their thirst,” also specified a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport.
Access to SNCF long-distance trains, which are TGV, Intercités and international trains departing from France, has been subject to a health pass since August 9 for adult travelers, and since September 30 for all travelers from over 12 years and two months (children under 12 are not affected by the health system).
As a reminder, the health pass requires one of these three proofs: the certificate of a negative test carried out “within less than 24 hours” in the laboratory or pharmacy, the certificate of vaccination (complete vaccination schedule ) or the certificate of natural immunity, which is the positive result of a PCR or antigenic test of more than two weeks and less than six months.
Since December 15, 2021, the health pass is conditional on the booster dose for people aged 65 and over who have not received a booster dose for 7 months, and from January 15, 2022, it will be similarly for all adults 18 years and older who have not received a booster dose for 7 months.
Since August 9, 2021 for adults and September 30, 2021 for teenagers, the health pass has been compulsory in France on trains making long journeys. Only TGV (Inoui and Ouigo), Intercités and international long-distance trains departing from France are concerned.. Urban public transport (metro and bus) is not affected, and medium-distance trains (Transilien, TER, RER), either, which are “mainly used for professional reasons”.
In stations, around the platforms or sometimes when the train arrives, the control of the health pass is entrusted to service providers because “we could not recruit thousands of railway workers at the last moment”, explained the CEO of the SNCF. Jean-Pierre Farandou. These SNCF service providers carry out random checks, possibly supported by the police, and not systematic checks, to avoid queues and train delays. On board, health pass checks, again random, are carried out by the on-board captains accompanied by rail security or law enforcement. Good to know, SNCF agents are not authorized to check the identity document with the health pass, but only the concordance of the names between the ticket and the health pass.
The director of Voyages SNCF Alain Krakovitch announced in December that the railway company was strengthening the health protocol. Sanitary pass checks now affect one in three trains. “Our challenge today is to continue to make the traveler’s journey more fluid”, announced Alain Krakovitch. To do this, the SNCF encourages travelers to present their SNCF train ticket coupled with the health pass, via the “Ready to travel” site, in order to avoid queues at the station and go directly to the gate. Also, mobile teams, identifiable by blue vests in stations at the level of the central halls, offer bracelets to travelers who present them with the health pass, with the same aim of then avoiding the queue in front of the gates. “If everyone has this pass, we will no longer need to carry out checks upstream of the gantries”, underlined the director of Voyages SNCF.
In accordance with the rules set by the government, failure to comply with the health pass obligation is subject to a ban on boarding during a dockside check and a fine of 135 euros. Travelers on long-distance trains without a health pass are liable to a fixed fine of 135 euros, but can continue their journey.
Wearing a mask remains compulsory in all SNCF trains and stations, from the age of 6. Failure to wear a mask is punishable by a fine of 135 euros.