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LIVING IN FRANCE

Why delays and cancellations on France’s rail network are the ‘worst ever’

The French rail network had a terrible year in 2018, a new report reveals, recording its worst ever level of cancellations and an increase in delays.

Published: 19 April 2019 16:13 CEST
Why delays and cancellations on France's rail network are the 'worst ever'
Three months of strikes brought chaos to the railways in 2018. Photo: AFP

France's rail network has been plagued with problems over the past year which has lead to a record low in performance, according to a new report.

The cancellation rate on the high-speed TGV network reached 6.8 percent, while of the trains that did run, 17.8 per cent arrived late, compared to 15.4 percent in 2017 and 11.7 percent in 2013, according to latest figures released by French transport services regulator the Autorité de la qualité de service en les transports (AQST).

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Many commuters were left waiting for delayed trains. Photo: AFP

The worst affected lines were the route between Paris Montparnasse and Le Mans, where 32 percent of trains were delayed, and the Marseille-Bordeaux route, where 33 percent of rail services were delayed.

The best route was the line from Paris Gare d l'Est to Nancy, where just eight percent of trains were delayed.

The problems were just as bad on the inter-city routes between cities and towns, with an overall delay rate of 17.2 per cent of trains late in 2018, compared with 14.6 per cent in 2017 and 11.1 percent in 2013.

The situation on the local and regional TER services is not as bad, with 9.6 per cent of trains late last year, compared with 9.1 per cent in 2017. 

The situation varies greatly from region to region, with a delay rate of 5.3 percent in Brittany to 13.7 percent in Occitanie.

Alain Sauvant, the president of the AQST, told French newspaper Le Figaro: “There are many reasons for these missed schedules.

“First of all, there are the external causes, ranging from industrial action and protests to the collapse of slopes by the side of rails.

“But the obsolescence of the infrastructure makes the situation far worse.”

Figures for both delays and cancellations were badly hit by strike action which lasted for three months in 2018.

To protest against the railway reform, railway workers launched a so-called a rolling two days out of every five between April 3rd and June 28th, 2018. 
 
Eight months after the end of the protests, SNCF published its annual results and estimated the loss of revenue due to the strike at €890 million.
 
There was also serious flooding the south of the country in 2018, which badly affected some routes, particularly in the Aude region.
 
French vocab
 
Billet simple – single ticket
 
Billet de retour – return ticket
 
Compostez votre billet – stamp your ticket (in the machine on the platform before you board the train)
 
Annulé – cancelled
 
Retardé – delayed
 
Une grève – a strike

 

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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