Comments on: Is this a Bug or an Issue?

By: Chris J

Chris J — Mon, 26 May 2014 20:54:30 +0000

As I understand it, SNCF made a conscious decision five years ago to specify new trains compliant with TSIs, rather than legacy French standards – with an eye to the future. Under the interoperability directive, it is the infrastructure manager’s responsibility to ensure its network is TSI compliant, and publish any non-conformances in its Network Statement. Of course, under the French model, RFF is dependent for its asset data on its maintenance contractor – SNCF.

However, the need to make the offending platforms TSI compliant also improves accessibility under TSI PRM. That work began several months – if not years – before the story was ‘discovered’ by – or leaked to – the media. But it gave the transport minster an ideal opportunity for grandstanding a few weeks before the French parliament debates the reform package which effectively rejects European policy in favour of reintegrating SNCF under a single state-owned group.

Whether that reform will help the regions who ordered the new trains in their quest to improve customer service remains to be seen.

By: John P.

John P. — Wed, 21 May 2014 23:46:37 +0000

So it’s caused because the rail & train operators are separate companies? Nah, it wouldn’t happen here. Would it?

Oh well, at least they don’t have to worry about mixing imperial & metric units.
Or maybe it is a cunning scheme by the French government to create work in the construction industry.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Wed, 21 May 2014 16:13:00 +0000

Bizarre, isn’t it?

Many years ago, London Underground bought some trains that were fractionally too big for the tunnels.

By: The Other Tim Hall

The Other Tim Hall — Wed, 21 May 2014 16:03:28 +0000

Not knowing your loading gauge? Unforgiveable.