French Railway Company's 'No Kids' Section Sparks Fury
A French railway company has faced a heated debate after introducing a new child-free section in its premium carriages, sparking accusations of discrimination against passengers under 12. The new section, called Optimum, is designed for "frequent travellers, often business travellers, who want to enjoy greater comfort." However, the state-owned organisation's decision has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it discriminates against families with young children.
The Optimum section promises "Exclusive comfort in a fully dedicated first-class carriage, with seating arrangements designed to preserve your privacy, for a calm journey, ideal for working or relaxing." But the key to a calm journey is a "no kids" policy. Children are not permitted in this section, and the railway explains that this is to ensure maximum comfort for the dedicated space. The carriage is strategically located at the end of the train to prevent other passengers from walking through the Optimum area.
However, the French high commissioner for children, Sarah El Haïry, has denounced the "no kids" ban as "shocking." She believes that travelling with children is not a problem to be fixed but a reality to be supported. Ms El Haïry has proposed more family-friendly options and is set to meet with the SNCF group chief executive to discuss the child ban. The railway firm has responded to the social media backlash, clarifying that the Optimum offer occupies less than 8% of the space on a TGV Inoui and only from Monday to Friday, leaving 92% of the seats available to everyone, including children, on weekends.
The controversy comes as the SNCF faces competition from Italian state rail firm Trenitalia on the prime Paris-Lyon route. Trenitalia offers an Area de Silenzio, which "allows passengers calm, without any noise." However, it remains silent on whether children are banned from this space, leaving room for interpretation and further debate.
