"At the beginning of January, SNCF launched the new Optimum Plus class on selected trains, replacing the Business Premiere option. It is, at present, only available on TGV trains between Paris and Lyon. The carriages offer "a dedicated quiet space with more spacious seats and fewer passengers", according to SNCF, which added that the offering is targeted as business travellers."
". . . for maximum comfort, children are not accepted". The details of the ticket state that children under 12 are not permitted. After the controversy erupted, the operator added that children younger than 12 are "well and truly welcome" on the rest of the train, clarifying that Optimum Plus accounts for only 8 percent of the tickets on trains where it is offered."
"France's children's commissioner, Sarah El-Hairy, condemned the change, telling BFM TV: "When you give the impression that adult comfort depends on the absence of a child, it's shocking. Travelling with children is not a problem to be corrected, but a reality to be supported. "We can't say, Look out, we're having fewer children, we've got demographic problems' and send out such blunt signals." She says that she intends to meet with Jean Castex, the head of SNCF, in the next few days"
SNCF introduced Optimum Plus on selected TGV services between Paris and Lyon in early January, replacing the Business Premiere offering. Optimum Plus provides a quieter carriage with more spacious seats, fewer passengers and personalised assistance aimed at business travellers, while existing first-class and standard carriages remain unchanged. Ticket terms initially stated children under 12 are not permitted in Optimum Plus, prompting criticism. SNCF clarified that children under 12 are welcome elsewhere on the train and that Optimum Plus represents about 8% of available tickets on affected services. France's children's commissioner criticised the policy and plans to meet SNCF leadership.
Read at www.thelocal.fr
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