Fury over new ‘no kids’ section on French trains

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A French railway firm has confronted a backlash after providing a brand new child-free part in its premium carriages.

Beginning this month, weekday TGV trains operating to and from Paris have a brand new and unique space of first-class generally known as Optimum, which some have accused of discriminating towards passengers below 12.

SNCF, which supplies the service on its foremost Inoui model of specific trains throughout France and into Germany and Luxembourg, says the brand new class is meant for “frequent travellers, typically enterprise travellers, who need to take pleasure in higher consolation”.

The state-owned organisation guarantees: “Unique consolation in a totally devoted first-class carriage, with seating preparations designed to protect your privateness, for a peaceful journey, superb for working or enjoyable.”

The key for a peaceful journey is divulged deep within the element: “To make sure most consolation within the devoted house, kids will not be permitted.”

Stray under-12s is not going to be passing by way of the carriage both, SNCF explains: “The carriage is positioned on the finish of the prepare to forestall different passengers from strolling by way of the Optimum devoted space.”

However on the information service BFM, the French excessive commissioner for youngsters, Sarah El Haïry, denounced what she known as the “no children” ban as “surprising”.

She informed the broadcaster: “Travelling with kids will not be an issue to be mounted, however a actuality to be supported.”

Ms El Haïry proposed, as a substitute, extra family-friendly choices and stated she would meet the SNCF group chief govt, Jean Castex, to debate the kid ban.

The rail agency has now responded to social media fury concerning the “no children” coverage.

Gaëlle Babault, director of TGV Inoui Presents for SNCF, posted on the operator’s Instagram account: “Our Optimum supply occupies lower than 8 per cent of the house on a TGV Inoui and solely from Monday to Friday. Because of this 92 per cent of the opposite seats can be found to everybody – and 100 per cent on weekends.”

SNCF now faces competitors with Italian state rail agency Trenitalia on the prime Paris-Lyon route. Trenitalia affords an Space de Silenzio space that “permits passengers calm, with none noise”.

Trenitalia is silent on whether or not kids are banned from this house.

Learn extra: Six new sleeper prepare routes in 2026