CONTROVERSIAL new plans are being introduced in a European country which bans kids from certain train carriages.
Rail operator SNCF has unveiled a new ‘Optimum’ carriage on its high-speed Inoui trains where during the week, there’s a ban on children.
One French rail company has banned children in its ‘Optimum’ classCredit: Alamy
The carriage also has reclining seats, Wi-Fi and chargersCredit: SNCF
It’s described it as a “high-quality travel experience” and is generally for commuters who want quiet before heading into the office.
Optimum class is a dedicated first class carriage, with reclining seats, individual power outlets, reading lights, free and winged headrests.
Online details add that “to ensure maximum comfort in the dedicated space, children are not permitted”.
The carriage will always be at the end of the which will stop passengers from walking through the Optimum dedicated area so it will remain quiet.
The ticket also includes use of TGV INOUI lounges in stations which have high performing Wi-Fi, drinks, an entertainment portal as well as newspapers and magazines.
The Optimum carriage is only available on SNCF’s main Inoui brand of express trains, which run across and into and Luxembourg.
And the ticket is also only an option from Monday to Friday – during the weekends every carriage is open to passengers of all ages.
And tickets don’t come cheap, A one-way journey from to taking just over two hours is regularly priced at €56 (£48.63).
But with Optimum tickets it’s €180 (£156.31).
Not everyone is onboard with the decision though.
On the French outlet, BFM , the French high commissioner for children, Sarah El Hairy, described the child-free ban as “shocking”.
The podcast Les Adultes de demain also said that “a red line has been crossed” and the the company shouldn’t be excluding children.
In its response to criticism, SNCF pointed out that the Optimum carriage forms less than 8 per cent of the total capacity of a TGV InOui train.
The ticket also includes access to TGV INOUI lounges before departureCredit: SNCF
While this may be a first for rail, it isn’t for the skies as some airlines have introduced dedicated child-free zones in recent years.
has ‘Only Adult’ zones for over the age of 16 on flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao.
has its own ‘Scoot-in-Silence’ section which is is a child-free zone for those 12 and under in the forward economy cabin of Scoot’s 787 Dreamliner.
And has a “Quiet Zone” on certain long-haul flights which is a, child-free area for passengers aged 12 – usually this area is in the first seven rows of economy class.
is another airline that has under-12-free zones.
For more, here’s a .
Plus, take a look .
Rail company SNCF has banned children on certain carriages on its high-speed Inoui trainsCredit: Alamy
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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