French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

The Crewroom for non-FS related stuff, fun and general chat.

Moderators: Guru's, The Ministry

Post Reply
User avatar
Garry Russell
The Ministry
Posts: 27180
Joined: 29 Jan 2005, 00:53
Location: On the other side of the wall

French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by Garry Russell »

Garry

Image

"In the world of virtual reality things are not always what they seem."

rohan
Trident
Trident
Posts: 362
Joined: 05 Apr 2008, 12:15

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by rohan »

If I understand this report correctly, the space between the platforms at older stations is narrower and the new trains are "too fat", yet the platforms with problems are being widened ...

:doh:

User avatar
Tako_Kichi
Concorde
Concorde
Posts: 1490
Joined: 12 Oct 2007, 19:39
Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit)

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by Tako_Kichi »

rohan wrote:If I understand this report correctly, the space between the platforms at older stations is narrower and the new trains are "too fat", yet the platforms with problems are being widened ...

:doh:
I think this is either bad grammar on the part of the reporter/copy writer or a misunderstanding of information provided. I think the real situation is that the problem stations will have the gap between the platforms made wider so the fatter trains will fit without hitting the platform walls.

When I first moved over here I thought it was odd that the railway stations didn't have platforms and you accessed the trains via stairs (built into each carriage) from ground level but I guess if you then introduce wider trains it makes no difference to the stations as there are no platforms to hit.
Larry

User avatar
Garry Russell
The Ministry
Posts: 27180
Joined: 29 Jan 2005, 00:53
Location: On the other side of the wall

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by Garry Russell »

Good point Larry...with steps not platforms, this just couldn't happen.

Also makes it easier to get off if the train has to stop anywhere in an emergency or breakdown.

No gap to mind either.
Garry

Image

"In the world of virtual reality things are not always what they seem."

User avatar
VEGAS
Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
Posts: 3993
Joined: 15 Sep 2005, 22:41
Location: probably lost on the moors

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by VEGAS »

The French have one of the most successful rail infrastructures in the world. :)

On a par with the Japanese. Safe, efficient and incredibly fast.

Hopefully they'll sort this hiccup out 'toot suite' without too much damage to their reputation.
Image I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.Image

User avatar
TSR2
The Ministry
Posts: 15783
Joined: 17 Jun 2004, 14:32
Location: North Tyneside, UK
Contact:

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by TSR2 »

The problem is that SNCF was split up several years ago under instruction from Brussels. This was a bitter pill to swallow for a rail network that was all of the above, and most Frenchmen were very unhappy about it. Most would argue this this little faux pas is a result of the enforced break up by Brussels of something that worked very well.
Ben.:tunes:

ImageImageImage

rohan
Trident
Trident
Posts: 362
Joined: 05 Apr 2008, 12:15

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by rohan »

Tako_Kichi wrote:... and you accessed the trains via stairs (built into each carriage) from ground level ...
Doesn't this lead to an issue for those passengers who have some sort of mobility problem ? Do some carriages, for example, have some sort of lift for wheelchair users ?
Garry Russell wrote:... No gap to mind either.
Hope the gap doesn't become extinct if people stop minding it ...

:hide:

User avatar
Tako_Kichi
Concorde
Concorde
Posts: 1490
Joined: 12 Oct 2007, 19:39
Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit)

Re: French Rail Operator SNCF Left Red Faced

Post by Tako_Kichi »

rohan wrote:
Tako_Kichi wrote:... and you accessed the trains via stairs (built into each carriage) from ground level ...
Doesn't this lead to an issue for those passengers who have some sort of mobility problem ? Do some carriages, for example, have some sort of lift for wheelchair users ?
I just did some quick research and apparently the ground level stations have portable wheelchair lifts which raise a wheelchair up to the train corridor level so that they can roll onto the train.
Larry

Post Reply