Mélina Facchin (in Strasbourg), edited by Romain Rouillard 06:22, July 09, 2022

The mask is no longer compulsory in transport since May.

But the question of his return arises at the start of the summer.

Many trains will be full over the next two months and the number of Covid contaminations is on the rise again.

Some travelers take precautions.

It's the first big weekend away on vacation.

The railway stations are full of people - the SNCF is predicting a record summer, with more than 9.5 million tickets sold - and many trains will be packed.

Therefore, the question of the mask in transport arises again.

Although it is no longer compulsory, it is strongly recommended by the government and the SNCF. 

"Until I'm officially told to put it on..."

Among travelers, interviewed at the microphone of Europe 1 at Strasbourg station, the question of the mask arises, but opinions differ.

“As long as I am not officially told to put it on, no need”, slices a young man.

"When it's hot, it's still hard to breathe with it," adds this traveler.

“Me, the Covid, I consider it today as a flu, so I do not wear the mask”, she admits.

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Other holidaymakers already have their masks on their noses from the station hall.

“And we will carry it on the train”, confirms this father.

"It's a restrictive measure, but necessary in these circumstances," he said.

A hospital doctor, on her way to her vacation home, confirms: "It is essential to wear a mask. Especially since the TGVs for the South-East are always shielded. But few people do it at the moment" , she observes.

More and more SNCF employees infected

Travelers who have lost the habit of wearing the mask, this is precisely what worries Gilles Dontenvill, federal secretary for Unsa railway.

He notes an increase in Covid cases among his colleagues, especially those in contact with the public.

“The trains will be almost all full this summer,” he recalls.

"This is what concerns us for the health of the employees, but also for the good circulation of the trains".

If the contaminations increase further among SNCF employees, this union representative fears that "adapted transport plans must be put in place following a lack of available personnel".

In the worst case, trains could be cancelled.

This is why the SNCF strongly recommends wearing a mask in trains and stations, although it is not compulsory.