The SNCF publicly announced its plan after an accusation of bedbug invasion in its TGVs.
After the bedbug scandal in Parisian cinemas, it is the SNCF’s turn to be suspected of an invasion on its trains. After being able to observe several little creatures resembling bedbugs during a TGV trip from the Gare de l’Est in Paris, a traveler published a photo before changing carriages and directly questioning the SNCF on his X account: “could these be bedbugs in your trains @SNCFVoyageurs, @SNCFConnect?”
If this beast in the photo really looks like a bedbug, the SNCF reacted quickly. “To date, we have not had any confirmed presence of bedbugs in our TGVs in recent months” the company tried to reassure on Wednesday September 20, 2023. It specifies remaining “particularly vigilant by taking each report seriously” . Faced with the resurgence of bedbugs in public spaces and French cities, the SNCF has mainly detailed its anti-bedbug plan and published the list of its actions in this area.
First of all, the SNCF ensures that it carries out preventive treatment every 60 days maximum in its trains. It targets bedbugs but also cockroaches and ants. Specific traps and anti-pest gels are also placed in technical areas, not accessible to travelers. Products can also be sprayed and accompanied with diatom powder. What happens if bed bugs are found? The train is then specifically treated in depth and checked every week. If the invasion is more serious, the train is excluded from service and placed in maintenance to undergo shock treatment accompanied by regular checks. What reassures its travelers? The stakes are high for the company a few days before the start of the reservation period for the end-of-year holidays.
If you take a train where there are bedbugs on the seats, the main risk is that you will be bitten. These bites can cause itching, redness and sometimes allergic reactions. Additionally, there is a danger of carrying these parasites into your home. Once introduced into your home, they can infest your furniture, mattresses and other nooks and crannies, making their eradication complex and expensive. Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but their presence can cause stress, sleep disturbances and considerable long-term discomfort.
