Susie takes on the SNCF

In April and May of 2005 we went to Amsterdam to visit Nick and family. We were away for about four weeks. To break up our visit, we arranged to spend a few days in Paris. At Nick’s suggestion we used the high speed train between Amsterdam and Paris. We had accommodation in a small B&B situated near the “Arc de Triomphe”. In Paris we did a few of the usual tourist things - The Arc, the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, etc.

As was my usual habit while travelling, I like to visit any available aviation museums. So, in Paris, I wanted to visit the “Musée de l’air et de l’espace” at Le Bourget airfield. Susie was happy enough to go along with my wishes. So we purchased tickets on the “Metro” to go from Paris Gare du Nord to Le Bourget. Descending to the underground Metro line, we boarded a train to Charles De Gaulle airport assuming it would stop at Le Bourget. It did stop at Villepinte, Parc Expo, and Stade de France, but sailed straight past Le Bourget without stopping. Naturally, we were a bit dismayed by this event, and were talking about what to do with a fellow traveller, a friendly man who spoke English fluently and who had lived in Sydney for a while.

At this point a team of about three Societe Nationale des Chemin de Fer (SNCF) inspectors entered the cabin. Our friend explained that it was probably best that we did not antagonise these men. I think he described them as thugs. I certainly formed the impression that, by physical appearance, they had been recruited from the French Foreign Legion or the French international Rugby team forward row, having fairly heavy physiques – barrel chests and no necks.

Anyway the railway police proceeded to issue us with 50 Euro fines for travelling without a valid ticket and, since we paid on the spot, issued receipts. Susie was quite upset at this turn of events and expressed her thoughts to the police, but in a sufficiently restrained manner to avoid being arrested. There were a couple of French ladies in the same compartment who had made the same mistake as us. And the older one was reduced to tears by the attitude of the railway police. So, without any choice, we proceeded to Charles de Gaulle airport and then, after a wait, boarded a stopping all stations train to take us back to Le Bourget.

At Le Bourget station we alighted and crossed over to the other side of the track using a foot bridge. There was a bus parking area there and there were a number of bus drivers hanging around wait to take their buses out when required to by the time table.

The bus drivers were very friendly, in complete contrast to the railway police. We asked which bus went to the Le Bourget Aviation museum. They said there wasn’t a direct bus route to where we wanted to go but pointed to a bus that went reasonably close. We spoke to the driver of this bus and he very kindly said that he would take us to the museum entrance even though, strictly, it wasn’t on his route. We went around the very interesting museum exhibits including one of the prototype Concordes used for flight tests.

After our museum visit we returned to the central Paris Nord. By this time Susie was becoming very cross regarding the treatment we had received at the hands of the SNCF inspectors and she marched up to the information desk at Paris Nord with the intention of venting her spleen on the poor lady at the counter. I expressed my grave doubts as to whether tongue lashing the information desk lady would have any positive effect but this had no influence. Susie would not be deterred, and told the information desk lady what she thought of the Inspectors fines and how this was no way for France to treat Australian tourists who had made a simple error. The information desk lady noted Susie’s attitude and remained very cool under fire, noting Susie’s complaint and recording her details, address etc. I thought that that would be the end of the matter.

After returning to Australia and virtually forgetting our encounter with the SNCF inspectors we were very surprised to receive a letter from the SNCF offering to refund the 50 Euros that Susie had paid. Translated to English the letter says:-

Madam,

By your letter received in our service on November 23, 2005, you request the reimbursement of your notice of regularisation.

I understand the situation that was yours, and I regret the image you had of the company, so please accept the apology of SNCF for the inconvenience you encountered.

I inform you that a bank check in the amount of 50 euros will be sent to you within a maximum period of 60 days.

I beg you to believe, Madam, to the expression of my feelings the best.

Chrystele MAROIS, Team Leader

The letter indicates that we had written a letter to the SNCF which they received on the 23rd of November, but I think that this date is probably when they received Susie’s complaint through their internal mail.

Anyway Susie was happy enough to receive their letter.

Having previously expressed my opinion that Susie’s complaint would disappear into an SNCF black hole, never to emerge, I had injudiciously stated that I would eat humble pie if proved wrong. So when the letter arrived to honour my word, I purchased an upmarket meat pie from the Mt Beauty Bakery, took it home and, while Susie took a photograph to record the event, consumed the pie.