SHARE
COPY LINK

TRAVELLING TO FRANCE

These are the ‘best and worst’ train stations in France (according to passengers)

France's national rail operator has gathered together years of reviews from train passengers to come up with a list of the best and worst French train stations, according to those who use them. Here's a look at the results.

These are the 'best and worst' train stations in France (according to passengers)
Photo: AFP
If you're someone who has spent a lot of time travelling around France by train, no doubt you have some strong opinions about which rail stations are the country's worst. 
 
And now you can see whether other people agree with you.
 
For the new SNCF 'satisfaction barometer' the rails operator has used years worth of reviews on topics such as toilet cleanliness, information, safety, transfers, the quality of the time spent at the station and the shops and services available, to see how the country's rail passengers rate French train stations. 
 
And while overall the results were positive, certain stations didn't make the grade. 
 
READ ALSO:

Photo: AFP

When all the scores were combined, Paris Gare du Nord, once dubbed the 'squalor pit of Europe' and Gare de Nice-Riquier left rail passengers the least satisfied. 
 
Train users considered Gare du Nord to be “ugly, dirty and unsafe” but the good news is that a major renovation is set to overhall the station by 2024.
 
And during summer 2018, train users blocked the tracks at Gare de Nice-Riquier to voice their “exasperation” with the “regularly delayed” services. 
 
Despite this when passengers were asked, “What score for satisfaction would you give to this station today?” it was the train station in Rennes, the capital of Brittany in north west France, which users gave the lowest mark, scoring just 5.96 out of 10 overall. 
 
This could be down to the fact that the station has been undergoing renovations for the past four years, with users complaining particularly about the difficulty of finding your way around. 
 
 
 
Rennes was followed by Montpellier station in the south of France, with a rating of 6.4 and Liseux station in Normandy (6.5). 
 
However, not all stations were rated negatively by users. 
 
When combining the stations most appreciated by SNCF users, it was the small rural station of Meuse in north east France that scored highest, with 8.2 out of 10. 
 
This was followed by Belfort-Montbéliard in eastern France, Gare de Morlaix in Brittany, Lorient station in Brittany and Gare de Poitiers in western France. 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

TRAVEL NEWS

Travel in Europe: UK to scrap all Covid travel rules

The UK is set to scrap all Covid-19 travel restrictions in what the government described as a "landmark moment".

Travel in Europe: UK to scrap all Covid travel rules

Testing is no longer required for vaccinated travellers, but the UK government has announced that it will scrap all Covid-19 travel rules on Friday, March 18th.

“As one of the first major economies to remove all its remaining Covid-19 travel restrictions, this is a landmark moment for passengers and the travel and aviation sector,” said the Government in a press release. 

From 4am on March 18th:

  • Passengers going to the UK will no longer be required to fill out a Passenger Locator Form before travel;
  • Passengers who are not vaccinated will not be required to take a pre-departure Covid test, or a Day 2 test following arrival. Fully vaccinated travellers are already exempt from having to do this;
  • Hotel quarantine for travellers coming from ‘red list’ countries, of which there are currently none, will also be scrapped by the end of the month. 

“We will continue monitoring and tracking potential new variants, and keep a reserve of measures which can be rapidly deployed if needed to keep us safe,” said UK Health Minister Sajid Javid. 

The UK has lifted all Covid-related rules including mask rules and mandatory self-isolation if you test positive for Covid.

Some European countries still have Covid restrictions in place for unvaccinated people coming from the UK. 

Until March 18th

Until the new rules come into effect, all travellers are required to fill out a passenger locator form. 

Unvaccinated travellers are also required to take pre-departure test and a test on or before Day 2 following their arrival. 

The UK border officers will recognise proof of vaccination provided with an EU Covid Certificate.

For the UK “fully vaccinated” means 14 days after your final dose of a EMA/FDA or Swiss approved vaccine (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson). 

After a period of confusion, the UK government says that it will accept mixed doses administered in the EU (eg one dose of AstraZeneca and one of Pfizer).

However people who have only had a single dose after previously recovering from Covid – which is standard practice in some European countries – are not accepted as vaccinated by the UK.

SHOW COMMENTS