Criticized by the unions, the Ouigo TGVs do not suffer from any major problems, assures management, which only recognizes hygiene problems on certain trains and promises measures in this area.
Alert on Ouigo trains, the low-cost TGV of the SNCF. The unions are sounding the alarm regarding their reliability in terms of safety but also the hygiene of these low-cost trains, whose toilets are sometimes blocked and where the cars can harbor cockroaches and bedbugs.
Faced with accusations from unions about hygiene conditions, the general director of Ouigo Jérôme Laffon recognizes “problems” and promises a strengthening of cleaning operations:
“We are going to strengthen cleaning operations at the dock and improve the service on board, in circulation,” he assures several media including RMC.
Cockroaches in “fairly rare” cases
Jérôme Laffon assures that there have been no cases of bedbugs and explains that reports of the presence of cockroaches, “quite rare, two per month, to a fault”, are immediately dealt with.
“From now on, there is a systematic passage at the platform (we go from 4 to 6 people in the stations), and we are going to provide the cleaners on board with new tools. One person in circulation is enough,” continues Jérôme Laffon.
On the safety aspect, the general director of Ouigo assures that the rules now are the same as for all TGVs. “It is completely wrong to consider that trains make travelers and agents feel unsafe.”
Charles Matin's guest: Ouigo, “wrecks” on our tracks? – 07/01
“Under no circumstances do we do low-cost quality”
A trade unionist from the SNCF assured this Tuesday on RMC that an axle problem last November required a safety intervention: “If the train had been left in circulation with the axle in this state, the risk would be that there is a breakage of the axle and that the train collapses and derails.
A false accusation for the CEO of Ouigo who tackles “a lack of knowledge of the file”: “There is a confusion concerning different events. There is a detailed ignorance of the file”.
Every year, Ouigo trains transport 25 million passengers: “Ouigo is in balance but in no case are we offering low-cost quality”, concludes Jérôme Laffon, who assures that the number of Ouigo trains will increase from 38 to 50 by early 2027.
Guillaume Dussourt with Victor Joanin
