Aug 10, 2026, 11:34 AMAnd I’ve crossed back into France
Where for the first time in a month on this trip, small pieces of paper with a name on them have powers to prevent terrorism
- Aug 10, 2026, 11:34 AM
Replies
- Aug 10, 2026, 11:41 AM
We’ve also just been warned our dogs have to be muzzled
One presumes dog owners know this and they don’t need to tell 800 non dog transporters that?
Aug 10, 2026, 11:48 AM@jon I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of warnings like that during our Roanne to Genève trip (with two bikes).
And no ticket checks, probably because the first train to Lyon was fully occupied and maybe because the second train to Genève was delayed for almost 30 minutes because of a fallen tree (due to drought?) near the border?
Ajinkya Dahaleajinkyapdahale@mstdn.socialAug 10, 2026, 11:49 AM@jon personally, I'd take new (and mildly amusing) announcements over repetitions of the same thing.
Of course when this itself is repeated...
Charles Fultonmackensen@higheredweb.socialAug 10, 2026, 11:50 AM@jon my biggest pet peeve with Amtrak is the minutes-long announcements from conductors (especially on the long-distance services) covering various behaviors. They're not even standard boilerplate; everyone has their own variation.
On a recent trip, one coach attendant actually listed most of the stops the train would be making over the next 24 hours. I have no idea what he thought he was accomplishing.
Watiwati@piaille.frAug 10, 2026, 11:57 AM@jon from all my time spent in French TGVs I can assure you dog owners either don't know or knowingly ignore this rule. I'd say 1 out of 5 dogs I see on the train wear muzzle or are in their carrier bag as instructed...
- Aug 10, 2026, 11:58 AM
@wati But is telling them in an announcement going to help? Surely staff can tell the 1 or 2 dog owners this directly?
Corentincorentin@masto.bikeAug 11, 2026, 8:46 AM@jon This announcement is... a recommendation from the SNCF Mediator in her latest annual report (presumably they received multiple complaints from dog owners who were not aware of the rules/thought they were not clear)
- Aug 11, 2026, 8:48 AM
@corentin Agh damn it. Typical SNCF response to a problem - assume that announcing it over and over to everyone solves it. It DOESN'T.
There are so few dogs, comparatively. SNCF staff need to speak to dog owners.
- Corentincorentin@masto.bikeAug 11, 2026, 9:18 AM
@jon The mediator is independent from SNCF, it's just the French mentality I fear (but I totally agree with you!)
Markus FinkZnexhf_Svax@social.cologneAug 10, 2026, 11:45 AM@jon shape shifter - 30 minutes ago german, now french
Sewer Pirouette ⒶWouter_Pieterse@todon.euAug 10, 2026, 11:46 AM@jon seems little effort. I hope you wrote a name down - you can use mine if you prefer to stay a bit anonymous
- Aug 10, 2026, 11:47 AM
@Wouter_Pieterse That's actually illegal, and you can be subjected to a fine. They say you have to put mobile number too, and that is a privacy scandal, but the actual law says only name, so that is what is on mine.
(I have had this argument with numerous SNCF staff over the years)
- Sewer Pirouette ⒶWouter_Pieterse@todon.euAug 10, 2026, 11:53 AM
@jon 🫠
Dieuhllizi@hespere.deAug 10, 2026, 11:51 AM@jon We didn't have any on our recent trip. I'm very glad we didn't get shot.
Raph Vraphv@social.edu.nlAug 10, 2026, 12:06 PM@jon that's the same country that believes that not knowing your platform in advance also prevents terrorism, right?
- Aug 10, 2026, 12:15 PM
@raphv I think that is more to make the life of SNCF staff easy tbh
Aug 10, 2026, 12:15 PM@jon A bit like Spain, where you have to have your luggage scanned to go on certain trains. Unless you get on the same train at a station that doesn't have a luggage scanner
Aug 10, 2026, 1:21 PM@jon I hate having to have obvious labels on luggage. I'm usually travelling alone and I don't want to make it easy for some scumbag to stalk me
- Aug 10, 2026, 1:27 PM
@vla22 Right, exactly this. And that SNCF keeps *saying* you have to put a mobile number is a scandal. Name only is all you're obliged to put (which is bad enough)
Adampseudomonas@mastodon.socialAug 10, 2026, 2:44 PM- Aug 10, 2026, 2:47 PM
@pseudomonas @vla22 Name is French law. Every rail operator has to do it. Some are more obsessive about it than others!
