More than 1,000 trains will be in operation on Monday (archives). - G. VARELA / 20 MINUTES

  • More than 6 TER out of 10 will drive on Monday in the Grand-Est, with one place in two neutralized as a health precaution.
  • Masks will be distributed to travelers.
  • Certain trains will be reserved for subscribers and nursing staff.

To accompany the deconfinement, Monday, May 11, rail traffic will resume partially in the Grand-Est, with more than 1,000 trains put into circulation. "We wanted traffic on all TER lines, with more than 60% of trains in Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine and Alsace, announced this Wednesday David Valence, vice-president (MR) of the Grand-Est region delegate mobility. We asked SNCF to take over everywhere in the region, so as not to widen territorial inequalities and for the sake of social justice. "

According to the elected official, the Grand-Est has "the strongest transport plan in France" to support the resumption of activity. But we will still be far from a return to normal, the SNCF encouraging those who can to continue teleworking, or, failing this, to avoid peak hours (6 a.m. - 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.). With one seat out of two neutralized in all trains, passenger capacity remains limited.

Trains reserved for subscribers and carers

Between 37% and 42% of the supply of seats in the train before the pandemic will be provided on Monday, according to the SNCF. On June 1, the public company expects to find between 63% and 68% of its regional offer. In the meantime, to avoid saturation, "24 sensitive trains on the Grand-Est will be reserved Monday for subscribers and nursing staff," said Stéphanie Dommange, regional director of TER Grand-Est SNCF Voyageurs. It will not be possible to purchase tickets for these trains without proof. "Customers who had a subscription in March or April will be able to access it," it said.

From Monday, the list of "sensitive trains" will be reviewed each evening depending on the number of visitors. Users will be able to consult these figures as well as the list of trains concerned for the following day, each evening on the SNCF website.

200,000 masks distributed the first week

In terms of health, users must prepare from Monday for an "obligation to wear a mask in stations and trains," warns Béatrice Leloup, territorial director of Grand-Est stations. “SNCF agents, with the support of the police”, will be responsible for a “pedagogy and verbalization” mission at the entrance to the 24 main stations in Grand-Est.

As of Monday, 200,000 surgical masks purchased by the region will be distributed free of charge, half of which at the entrance to the largest stations. 50,000 masks will be given at the counters, and the remaining 50,000 by the controllers.

"The oars are cleaned every day"

In the larger stations, hydroalcoholic gel distribution terminals will be installed. The week of May 18, 130,000 cloth masks, ordered by the region from a Vosges company, will be distributed. In addition, masks and gel can be purchased at relay points and distributors.

In the stations, posters and announcements will remind the barrier measures, with a watchword: "By train, all responsible". A cleaning and disinfection effort is planned, and also concerns the trains. "Every day, all contact points are cleaned: handles, toilets, shelves, grab bars", lists Stéphanie Dommange.

Commercial gestures

"Subscribers will be able to travel with their March or April subscription without going back to the counter, and direct debit subscribers will travel free in May," said the regional director. The validity of Primo and Presto cards will be extended by two months.

"There will be no automatic impact on the price of TER tickets" of the shortfall due to confinement, promises David Valence. "We believe in public transport, the risk would be to accelerate the ecological disaster," added the elected official.

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