In this period of soaring oil prices, more and more people are thinking about public transportation. It would be more economical and more practical. More economical, that’s for sure, and especially much less polluting for our dear planet. But more practical? It depends on the day!
Today, we tested for you a journey on the TER train on the Mandelieu-La Napoule-Vintimille line. The goal: to arrive at Nice-Ville station at 2:00 PM. The means: the 1:01 PM train from Carnolès, which is normally supposed to arrive in Nice at 1:35 PM.
We therefore arrive at the small Carnolès station around 12:50 PM. In the distance, we see a train about to depart towards Nice. Unfortunately, we arrive too late to catch it. But no worries, since we will take the one at 1:01 PM as indicated on the schedule and on the PACA region’s TER website. At 1:05 PM we begin to worry, especially since, on the display board, our train does not appear. Instead, there is a train at 1:22 PM. We go to inquire with the charming lady at the ticket counter. She tells us that the 1:01 PM train has long been replaced by another one at 12:52 PM, but the SNCF did not want to redo the schedules. It costs too much. (“And is it too expensive to change the schedule on the internet too?”) We return to the platform to inform other people waiting for the 1:01 PM train that it no longer exists. People take it quite well. It seems to surprise no one. Everyone then waits for the next one at 1:22 PM. We should be in time. The arrival at Nice Ville is scheduled for 1:56 PM. Luckily, we had allowed extra time.
At 1:27 PM, still nothing. No information. Then, a message appears on the display board: 20 minutes delay. We will never know the reason. In the meantime, we chat with Jeanne. At 75 years old, she has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly with SNCF. And yet! She worked there, just like her husband and her son, who is still a railwayman. “It’s really not normal! They are too often late. I understand when the train comes from far away. But this one only has two stations to go between Vintimille and here. What annoys me is that nobody comes to inform us. In the past, there was a nice gentleman who stayed at the station even to eat. Today, they stay locked in their cage and it’s often closed!”
At 1:47 PM, the train finally arrives. We try to open the doors but only manage to do so by two people pushing hard. An elderly person alone wouldn’t be able to manage.
The journey goes well until Eze. And there, the train does not start again. All passengers patiently wait. They are accustomed to longer than usual stops. But after 10 minutes, people start to wonder what is going on. All in the same boat, passengers exchange their unpleasant experiences with SNCF. Melissa starts a conversation. In 2003, the summer of the heatwave, she took the train from Biarritz to Nice to return from vacation. And it was a nightmare! “The air conditioning wasn’t working. It was unbearably hot. Plus, we could only open the windows by 2 or 3 centimeters. Everyone was climbing on the backrests of the seats to get some air. Children and babies wouldn’t stop crying and shouting… It was unbelievable! We asked the conductors to turn on the air conditioning, but to no avail. And it didn’t stop there. Arriving at Marseille station, we were stuck for at least 40 minutes in the middle of the tracks, unable to open the doors and without any explanation. When we finally arrived on the platform, everyone rushed out to get some air. As a result, a 13-hour journey instead of 12 and not the slightest explanation or apology from the SNCF staff. On arrival in Nice, I made a request for a refund. Normally, they are supposed to refund for delays beyond 20 minutes. But I did not win the case.”
After this story and a quarter of an hour of waiting at Eze, we decide to go see the driver. He coldly orders us to board the train again. Several people come to ask for explanations. The driver then informs us that there is a problem with a level crossing and that we are all asked to wait patiently inside the train. After 20 minutes of stop, the train finally departs. Marie-Paule has been taking the train for 15 years already and she has had enough. “I take it every day between Nice and Monaco. When it’s not delays, it’s strikes or cancellations. Fortunately, my boss is understanding. But I know people who have lost their job because of SNCF. Those who are on probation or who have bosses who are not at all tolerant. And this has been going on for 15 years. It hasn’t improved. There are often people who petition on the 8 AM train and there are articles in the newspapers, but see the result. The major problem is that they have no sense of communication. Communication level is zero. We’ve reached a point where no one will complain when there is a 20-minute delay because it’s become so normal.” Another person speaks up: “And it’s happened several times that a train is announced with a 20-minute delay, then 50, only to be then canceled! All without any information! And let’s not even talk about the price. It’s still way too high. Especially for students who pay a more expensive subscription than employees. Where’s the logic when you know that a student doesn’t have a salary by definition?”
Temperaments finally calm down when we arrive at Nice Ville at 2:36 PM. What a journey!
Let’s be sporting. It must be acknowledged that it doesn’t always happen like this. And the train is still faster than taking your car and losing hours in traffic jams or trying to find a parking spot. But an effort would be welcome.
