Faced with the hassle of trains, Nicolas, a border worker in Luxembourg, took a radical decision
Through Ninon Oget
Published on
For a year, Nicolas has taken the train to reinforce Uckange (Mosel) to Luxembourg City. A daily commute to work.
So the disturbances on the railway line, this border worker knows: “The trains have always been loaded but not like for 2-3 months”.
This problem, added in particular to that of delays, led Nicolas to decide to stop paying for your subscription since November 2022.
“Hard to get to work”
It all began with summer work “It was really misery to get to work. And they have been extended until December with really longer journeys,” says Nicolas.
But for the latter, there was a milestone after the All Saints holidays: “Suddenly there were a lot of people with less space in the station car parks, more people waiting for the train and definitely less seat on trains. The road is dead, almost 2 hours to get to Luxembourg City, especially since I don’t have a place in a society”.
The problem of overcrowded trains
To avoid rush hour and take a train in “correct” conditions, Nicolas explains that he had to advance his alarm clock: “By this I mean sitting or standing, without being glued to each other. I’m in my thirties so don’t worry, I can make the effort”.
Except that Nicolas is not the only one to have had this idea so “we found ourselves stuck like sardines at 6:15. We add trains in simple composition at rush hour and already full at Uckange or sometimes these trains canceled at 6am with proof that means nothing: the famous ‘difficulties of operation’. We add to it strike movements for no reason ”.
The trains are actually packed, people stay in the station because they can’t get in. It’s every day, really. The controllers cannot physically move in the en route train, it is impossible.
These controllers, Nicolas complains: “ [Ils] work in difficult conditions with heavily loaded trains and increasingly tense people. One day it will blow up, and it will be too late “.
Trains “always late”
In addition to this problem of trains overloaded with passengers, Nicolas deplores trains that do not leave on time: “The the trains are always late. Small delays of around ten minutes but it starts to count at the end of the month”.
Next, he has 15 minutes to pick up his children from the nanny: “If I arrive after 6 p.m., I have to pay overtime. It’s also 5 euros here and there and it starts to count at the end of the month”.
“So I no longer pay my subscription”
With all these problematic problems, Nicolas therefore decided to drop his season ticket: “Like other colleagues, I didn’t take over a train season ticket out of annoyance. I no longer pay for my subscription. It’s not that expensive (60 euros), but I don’t pay for it anymore. It compensates a little for my costs due to delays and hassles”.
And when asked if he takes single tickets at times to travel, the answer is “no”.
As for the controlshe says that no one asked him for a ticket “since September 12, I remember, it was just before my birthday”.
Job change required
These numerous disturbances make Nicolas consider questioning his situation as a cross-border worker: “I had given myself 2 years to see if it is viable with family life to work in Luxembourg. If it’s always a mess like that, I think I will look to change jobs “.
And as for his subscription, he plans to pay again if the SNCF allows him to arrive on time every day. “I also challenge SNCF officials to take a trip with us in the morning between 6 and 8 a.m., we’re going to have a good laugh,” he says.
Was this article helpful to you? Know that you can follow Actu Luxembourg in space My News . In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.