Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said Tuesday that he wanted an "orderly" return of the million inhabitants of the Paris agglomeration who "exiled" to the provinces for containment.
To read also: Édouard Philippe details a deconfinement under conditions
"A certain number of these Parisians, who are temporarily exiled, are now making reservations (for train tickets) to return," observed Jean-Baptiste Djebbari on France 5. "The idea is of course to bring them back in an orderly fashion, if they physically need to go to work or if they are willing to put their children back in school, ” he noted. "We will organize in the coming days the return of those who want it," knowing that the number of trains will remain very limited and that the SNCF will continue not to sell more than half of the seats, added the secretary of state. "We will preserve (...) these restrictions so as to avoid the phenomena of spread of the virus between regions" during the post-containment period between May 11 and June 2, said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
"Discourage travel between departments"
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on Tuesday that interdepartmental or interregional travel would remain reduced after May 11 "solely for compelling professional or family reasons" . "We will continue to reduce the offer, to require a compulsory reservation on all trains - TGV or not -, to discourage travel between departments," noted the Prime Minister, adding that certificates would still be necessary for the journeys exceeding 100 kilometers. "Ascension Thursday will be a great holiday, but I am making it clear to the French that this is not the time to leave their department to go on weekends ," he also warned.