Police to curb rudeness on trains

Paris: France’s state-owned railway operator is to deploy almost 3,000 inspectors with tough new powers to eradicate bad manners on trains.

SNCF employees are being ordered to tackle the number of complaints about rude or unruly passengers that have risen by 25 per cent this year.

Travellers have complained about people spitting on and insulting ticket inspectors, putting feet on seats, pulling emergency alarms without reason, speaking loudly on mobile phones and playing music and damaging train interiors. SNCF’s boss Guillaume Pepy said a “line has been crossed” in “uncouth behaviour and delinquency” blighting the lives of many of the four million people who use his company’s trains every day.

“Impolite behaviour generates a feeling of anxiety and discomfort,” said Pepy.

To stamp it out, 2,700 inspectors will impose an array of tougher fines. Passengers caught with their feet on seats will pay euros 45 (Dh172); those who smoke will be fined euros 68 and anyone pulling the emergency brake without reason can expect to pay between euros 165 and euros 700.

Similar punishments have been introduced in Britain, where London’s rail and Tube passengers who put feet on seats or play music too loudly face pounds 50 (euros 61) on-the-spot fines. Under draft plans, more serious offenders may also be sent on “citizenship courses” to be taught good manners, while 500 new “politeness mediators” will be trained to deal with unruly youths.

Another 460 staff will raise awareness among 220,000 schoolchildren next year. A special national hotline will be launched for victims of bad behaviour.

With a growing number of commuters turning up to work in tears or taking sick leave after a bad train experience, a special club of “businesses against impoliteness” has been launched. “Our aim is to record bad behaviour we’re all victims of and to understand the general malaise of our staff and our customers,” said president Stephane Volant.

The scheme comes days after a mayor introduced new rules to oblige visitors to respect “social norms” by saying “please”, “thank you” and “goodbye” to town hall staff or face being thrown out.

Gerard Plee, mayor of Lheraule, northern France, population 163, said no French law obliged people to be polite so he took the matter into hand. Visitors are greeted by a sign to the “eternally discontented, grudge-bearers, the persecuted and other moaners” informing them that anyone who “manifestly and voluntarily” fails to respect the rules of common courtesy will be “asked to leave the premises”.