"When he makes a joke, and then he passes for fucking a plum, that must be funny," jokes Éric, listening to the last traveler announcement launched by Mehdi, the day's on-board supervisor on his Paris train. -Caen.
At only 23 years old, this young SNCF employee already has "a certain notoriety" on the Normandy lines.
“It happens that customers recognize me thanks to my voice on the Deauville beach”, assures with a big smile the one who sows good humor as they approach the terminus.
Valves on the weather, the wearing of the compulsory mask, the defective coffee machine or even the destination, the controller “can add a touch of humor everywhere as long as it is well dosed”.
Proud of his 6 years of theater and improvisation behind him, Mehdi knows how to put a smile on travelers' faces, even when they are late.
To do this, "you just have to adapt to the mood of the customers, gauge the atmosphere in the train", he proclaims.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize to you, today we are unable to offer you our Spa, swimming pool, hammam, jacuzzi service", he brags at the microphone of his cabin, while indicating the existence of a hot drink machine available to everyone in a car 4. “It's refreshing!
“, rejoices Céline, installed in the family square, for whom the announcements of Mehdi allow to spend” a pleasant moment even when we got up early “.
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“With the Covid and the war in Ukraine, daily life is heavy for morale, concedes Mehdi.
So, if we put a little positive in our messages, they will be better listened to, people will be more attentive to regulatory information”.
"Unintentionally, it creates a link between people," notes François, convinced by this new type of ad.
“It's so surprising that you say to yourself: hey, there's a man on the train, not just machines!
".