SNCF has changed its baggage policy on board TGV InOui since February 15. The French National Railway Company now requires a maximum of two large pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage per person, a spokesperson for the railway group announced on Thursday February 22.
Travelers, who until now had the obligation “to be able to carry all of [their] luggage themselves and at once”, will now have the right to take two suitcases or bags of a size of 70cm × 90cm × 50cm maximum and a smaller bag of 30cm × 40cm × 15cm.
The information, revealed by Le Figaro on Wednesday, provoked numerous negative reactions on social networks. Especially since the measure was deployed last Thursday, on the eve of a strike which canceled one in two mainline trains during a school holiday weekend in part of the country.
Fines of 50 euros
“The baggage policy remains the same as before,” an SNCF spokesperson insisted to Agence France-Presse, “but the rules were not always clear and there could be abuses, therefore. we will have more precise and objective rules,” he added. Until now, the clearly decreed baggage restrictions only concerned the TGV Ouigo, low-cost trains, without a bar car and where the ticket is not refundable. “Our customers but also our agents find themselves faced either with safety problems on board (falling suitcases) or with traffic difficulties,” also defended the SNCF.
In the event of non-compliance, a fine of 50 euros is imposed. Several special bags are still authorized to be passed as bulky bags, such as strollers, scooters, musical instruments or even skis, snowboards and bicycles stored and folded in a bag. SNCF gives users until September 15 to familiarize themselves with this measure before issuing fines.