TGV passenger fined for not having wheelchair

[DeverseSam]

I am not the passenger but I saw this on Linkedin. TGV passenger was fined for not having a wheelchair while sitting in a seat in the wheelchair area. He is disabled so seems to have the right to sit there.

What would be the thinking here from SNCF perspective?

I am attaching a photo of the fine, showing 24 + 70 euro for the violation, and 50 filing fee

 

[StephenHunter]

What sort of disability did he have?

 

[PupCuff]

I think the full details of the post would be needed for anyone on here to offer any meaningful suggestions or advice, but as the penalty fare seems to have been issued for a first class journey, the obvious initial question would be did the person have a first class ticket?

 

[eastwestdivide]

Exactly - the bit at the top "Infraction - surclassement" means (I think) that the infraction was for being in the wrong class

 

[Bletchleyite]

Exactly - the bit at the top "Infraction - surclassement" means (I think) that the infraction was for being in the wrong class

Good spot. A "surclassement" is what SBB call a first class upgrade supplement in the French speaking part of the country.

Looks like it might be a situation similar to some of the TransPennine Express units (forget which) where wheelchair space is only provided in First Class, with a wheelchair user and their companion getting a free upgrade. The argument is presumably that if the chair isn't needed and they were sat in a random seat the upgrade is not justified, though it might be that they also needed an accessible toilet so this is perhaps overstepping the mark a little.

As the TGV is a reservation-only service one would expect a wheelchair user to be reserved into a specific space, anyway.

 

[signed]

The rule for wheelchair users is that you pay 2nd class rate for the wheelchair spots in 1st class.

So not having the wheelchair would indeed, according to the rules, trigger the fact that you're in 1st without the correct permission to be in

 

[DeverseSam]

What sort of disability did he have?

Paraplegia. He is a motocross athlete with his own website, his name is Axel Alletru.

 

[StephenHunter]

Paraplegia. He is a motocross athlete with his own website, his name is Axel Alletru.

His website

Winning was Axel Allétru's fuel. World champion in BMX and motocross, he fell during a Grand Prix in 2010 and became paraplegic at just 20 years old. His doctors expected him to end his days in a wheelchair. However, two and a half years later, thanks to intensive efforts and mental techniques, he walked again.

However, his social media suggests that he would have difficulty walking for a sustained period. He's got reasonable grounds to challenge this, I would say.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The rule for wheelchair users is that you pay 2nd class rate for the wheelchair spots in 1st class.

So not having the wheelchair would indeed, according to the rules, trigger the fact that you're in 1st without the correct permission to be in

Presumably the discount is for the fact that you don't get the first class seat but rather sit in your wheelchair?

Are there wheelchair spaces in 2nd?

 

[signed]

Are there wheelchair spaces in 2nd?

On TGV no, only in 1st

you don't get the first class seat but rather sit in your wheelchair?

There is a seat at the wheelchair spaces, presumably for companions

https://www.seat61.com/reference/trainseatplans/TGV-duplex-oceane.pdf

Car 1/11 Seat 15 and 14, on the above seat plans, are around the wheelchair spaces

 

[Bletchleyite]

On TGV no, only in 1st

There is a seat at the wheelchair spaces, presumably for companions

https://www.seat61.com/reference/trainseatplans/TGV-duplex-oceane.pdf

Car 1/11 Seat 15 and 14, on the above seat plans, are around the wheelchair spaces

Thanks. Seems a rather unfair penalty in that case.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Looks like it might be a situation similar to some of the TransPennine Express units (forget which) where wheelchair space is only provided in First Class

GWR 5-coach IETs too.