RATP. This unbearable scourge which causes repeated delays in the metro in Paris has exploded

The punctuality of metro trains remains a hot topic for the RATP. If during the Paris Olympics, the situation seemed to have clearly improved, the subject has since made users complain again, especially those of lines 8, 13 and 3. In an interview with Figarothe boss of the Régie, Jean Castex points out in particular the problem of “abandoned packages”, a real daily scourge on trains and on station platforms.

“A decline in passenger attention”

According to Jean Castex, their number has exploded in recent years. “Their number has increased by 260% since 2019, partly due to the decline in passenger attention, captured by smartphones,” he explains. In 2023, 325 packages were abandoned compared to 190 for the year 2022

The CEO of RATP, reappointed in October 2024 for a five-year term, indicates that he has “doubled the teams of dogs who come to ensure that the package is not trapped”. But, for lack of other weapons, he “also and above all appeals to the civic-mindedness of passengers”. Wishful thinking?

In recent years, the number of voice announcements has increased in stations, and the RATP regularly communicates with users without the trend reversing. Except during the Olympics…

During the Games, we had as many staff as in normal periods, and 2.5 times fewer passengers, recalls Jean Castex. And we had more law enforcement available, so that problems with people on the tracks or abandoned packages were resolved more quickly. It was an exceptional situation.”

To improve train punctuality, Jean Castex is also counting on the work that will be undertaken on lines 3, 3bis, 7, 7bis, 8, 10, 12 and 13. He also indicates that he is fighting against absenteeism which is even higher than the level of 2019. “My goal is to return to the pre-Covid level”.

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