The launch of a new “premium” class on high-speed trains in France has sparked a wave of criticism after the state-owned railway company SNCF confirmed that children under 12 are not allowed in a dedicated area of TGV trains. The measure, justified by the operator as a desire to offer “maximum comfort” to passengers, has been described as “shocking” by officials and children’s rights organizations.
The new Optimum Plus offer is a premium subcategory of first class, which has replaced the old Business Première on certain TGV InOui trains.
The measure does not apply to the entire first class, but only to this dedicated space, available exclusively on certain weekday journeys.
According to SNCF, the class is primarily intended for frequent travelers and business passengers who “want a calm travel experience with more privacy.”
“For maximum comfort, children are not allowed.”
However, the details of the access conditions quickly attracted attention. In the official description of the service, SNCF explicitly states that “to ensure maximum comfort in the dedicated space, children are not allowed.”
Furthermore, the Optimum Plus carriage is located at the end of the train so that other passengers—including children—do not have to pass through it.
The information provoked negative reactions in the French press and on social media, where the measure was interpreted as a form of exclusion.
The podcast Les Adultes de demain wrote that “a red line has been crossed,” accusing the company of choosing to exclude children instead of creating spaces adapted to the needs of families.
Children’s Commissioner: “It’s the wrong signal”
The criticism was also taken up at the political level. Sarah El Haïry, France’s High Commissioner for Children, described the decision as “shocking,” saying in a television interview that “giving the impression that the comfort of adults depends on the absence of children is unacceptable.”
“Traveling with children is not a problem to be eliminated, but a reality to be supported,” El Haïry said, announcing that she would discuss the issue with SNCF CEO Jean Castex.
Some commentators have linked the controversy to the broader context of declining birth rates in France. Economist Maxime Sbaihi wrote on the X platform that the SNCF’s decision reflects a cultural shift in which “the presence of children is becoming intolerable.”
SNCF’s response: only 8% of seats, only during the week
Faced with a wave of criticism, SNCF responded by pointing out that the Optimum Plus offer accounts for less than 8% of the total capacity of a TGV InOui train and is available exclusively from Monday to Friday.
Thus, according to the company, “92% of seats during the week and 100% at weekends remain accessible to all passengers.”
Gaëlle Babault, director of the TGV InOui offer at SNCF, stated on Instagram that the ban is not new, as Optimum Plus replaces the former Business Première class, which had the same access restrictions.
Company representatives added that SNCF has consistently refused requests for completely “child-free” carriages and continues to offer advantageous fares for families, dedicated children’s areas, and programs such as Junior & Compagnie, which transports approximately 300,000 children annually.
Similar practices in other countries
The controversy arises in a broader European context, where several rail operators are testing concepts of “quiet zones.”
For example, the Italian company Trenitalia offers an Area de Silenzio on certain routes, intended for passengers who prefer a calm journey, although the operator does not explicitly state whether children’s access is restricted.
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