Last year we had an episode on the train when we forgot to validate our tickets leaving Paris for Brest! Where in heaven's name does one find the gizmo where you validate before boarding the train? We seem to miss this everytime! The conductor was very nice and only said, "English?" We said yes. He then said, "no fees for non-validation, but if you were French, there was going to be a 20 euro fine per person." He smiled and walked away after seeing our tickets.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
76 posts
Okay, the little "machines a' compostage" are Yellow (almost always)! They stand on a little pedestal on the floor about 3 feet tall.
You can usually find one at the approach to each platform. They really are small, so it's very easy to miss them. (You have to be looking for it). There "is" a sign on each platform , but in French of course! It reads something like "Il faut composter les billets avant access du trains." Loosely translated, "You better punch the ticket BEFORE you get on on the train! Here is a link to some pictures of the actual machines. This will give you a chance to know what you are looking for. If not yellow, then maybe orange or gray, like the new ones, but they are almost always yellow. http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1020&bih=563&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=%22composteur+sncf+%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= The "validation" is called "Compostage" in French. Ticket is "billet." Notice each little yellow machine in the photos reads: "Compostage de billets" Happy Travels, Bon Voyage et noublier pas le compostage de vos billets!
Posted by
back in the Americas
678 posts
We just got back from France and used the train as our primary means of transportation. In the stations we used, the ticket validation machines were at the doors right as you exit the station proper to step out onto the platform.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
Some of those look like hand sanitizers!
Posted by
Reston, VA, USA
809 posts
A few years ago, my sister and I made the same mistake of not validating. Oops! There were 2 conductors checking people's tickets; since my French was better than hers, I got scolded in French by one conductor, while she got the scolding in English from the other one... . I just apologized profusely and talked about how long since I had been in France... I didn't even realize that we escaped a fine!
Posted by
OP
XXX
1170 posts
Thanks for the responses. Joe, I printed up your post to remind me what to look for and read the link. I wish they would put these things in a very prominent location!
Posted by
Stoughton, Wisconsin, USA
53 posts
After years of hopping on a train with a rail pass, I didn't think about the point to point single ticket needing validation. I should have remembered that the pass is validated at the beginning, and a single ticket would need validation sometime, too. I stamp all my tickets now!