SNCF tests new anti-fraud gates

THE SNCF is testing new ticket gates to reduce the bill of €300 million it loses to fraud each year.

The gates, which themselves cost €2 million have been installed in Paris Paris-Montparnasse and Marseille-Saint-Charles stations.

They recognise traditional printed tickets and those printed from the internet or held on smartphones.

The gates will become permanent replacements for staff who are employed on an occasional basis to check tickets at certain stations before passengers can board TGV services.

The rail operator says such checks lead to 25% reduction in fraud in the areas where they are held.

Of the €300 million the company loses to fraud each year, €200 million is lost through travel on the TGV.

However the SNCF has denied that the new installations will lead to a ‘dehumanisation’ of its TGV services.

Staff will be employed at peak times to order passengers into queues for professionals, season ticket holders, disabled travellers and others.

The company has also underlined that the gates are not a security measure and do not scan passengers as they pass through.

Such security gates have been in operation since December 20, 2015 on Thalys services operating between Paris Gare du Nord and Lille.

If the experiment on the ticket-checking gates is successful is will be rolled out to other stations in Paris, Lyon, Aix, Bordeaux, Le Mans, Montpellier, Nantes, Rennes, Saint-Pierre-des-Corps and Tours.

Photo:flickr/Chris Sampson