Red faces in France because of “too wide” trains
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at 19:47 by wishbone.
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AMcWhirterParticipantFrance’s rail network and operating firm SNCF are supposed to be the pride of Europe … so how did they get it so wrong with their new trains ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27497727
According to the BBC, 2,000 new trains (costing Euros 20.5 billion) are too wide for many regional platforms.
Modifications will cost tens of millions of Euros.
21 May 2014
at 10:28
JohnHarperParticipantI liked the comment from the transport minister that this mistake was the product of separating the company operating the tracks from the company operating the trains. It’s a wonder it hasn’t happened here.
21 May 2014
at 12:12
Charles-PParticipantWhat makes this story all the more embarrassing was the repeated attempts by Alstom (the train manufacturer) to try and prevent it only to be told their advice was not required. Here in Switzerland the story was covered on the breakfast TV and the CEO of Alstom was interviewed. He said they raised it in meetings, by email and in a number of phone calls but the instructions were never changed.
21 May 2014
at 13:27
TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantConsidering they are spending €15bn on new trains – having to fork out a few quid to modernize platforms isn’t that big an issue. More that they didn’t listen to Alstom (if that is factually correct) and do something about it a little bit sooner than when they are ready to run.
21 May 2014
at 13:35
AMcWhirterParticipantIf this wasn’t embarassing enough, SNCF has just announced it will go on strike at 20.00hrs tonight until 08.00 on Friday morning.
Please note that Eurostar may not be affected greatly as it’s a separate division. If you intend using Eurostar during this period, I would suggest you check directly with the operator.
http://help.loco2.com/article/164-strike-action-in-france-21-22nd-may
21 May 2014
at 13:51
AnthonyDunnParticipantTo paraphrase Captain Renault, I am shocked, shocked to hear that there is to be public transport strike in France.
But if it’s because they are only able to retire at 56 on a final salary pension with free first class rail travel for life, then they clearly have a just cause for complaint after being regaled for two hours by a Greek harbour master who was being made to work on beyond 50….
It went a long way towards explaining why the entire Greek economy subsequently imploded.
21 May 2014
at 14:36
christopheLParticipant@Charles-P
Despite I’m living and working in France I won’t retire at 56, my pension won’t be calculated on my final salary, I won’t travel first class for the rest of my life and my working week is far longer than 37 hours.
You should update your knowledge about France especially about strikes in France.21 May 2014
at 14:46
AnthonyDunnParticipantChristophe,
It might be that my knowledge of French employment law is a bit rusty – I was last there in February – but does not the “trente-cinq” working hours rule still apply? That’s what a friend who deals with inter alia employment law for a US multi-national was saying recently – because they were still trying to find a workaround to this particular piece of French legislation.
21 May 2014
at 15:12
christopheLParticipantAs France is the 4th country in the world in terms of foreign direct investments, should we say that the financial and business community is mainly composed by mad people ?
21 May 2014
at 20:26 -
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