https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Rail users in south western and central France have sounded the alarm bell amid fears they will lose crucial regional train lines. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260204/we-live-here-fears-grow-in-south-western-france-over-loss-of-train-lines Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:21:59 +0100 we-live-here-fears-grow-in-south-western-france-over-loss-of-train-lines The European Commission wants to make rail trips between major European cities faster and easier for international travellers, and has launched a new strategy with this aim in mind. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251127/how-rail-journeys-across-europe-could-be-made-faster-in-the-coming-years Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:54:24 +0100 how-rail-journeys-across-europe-could-be-made-faster-in-the-coming-years Over the pitch-black fields of central France, a drone arcs into the night sky, its infrared camera scanning a railway line below. The mission: deter thieves who strip copper cables from train tracks -- a crime that costs millions and disrupts traffic. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251124/france-deploys-drones-to-fight-copper-cable-theft-on-railways Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:21:44 +0100 france-deploys-drones-to-fight-copper-cable-theft-on-railways A petition circulating online calling for the creation of separate, women-only carriages on the Paris Metro and RER trains has garnered thousands of signatures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251105/we-want-protection-petition-demands-women-only-carriages-on-paris-transport Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:04:17 +0100 we-want-protection-petition-demands-women-only-carriages-on-paris-transport There are various different types of tickets, passes, apps and cards for Paris' public transport system - here's how they work and the best options for visitors. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221006/tourists-and-locals-paris-metro-tickets-passes-and-apps-explained Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:47:28 +0200 tourists-and-locals-paris-metro-tickets-passes-and-apps-explained Summer in Paris can be hot and sticky, and nowhere more so than on the city's public transport network - but which are the coolest lines and which should you avoid at all costs? https://www.thelocal.fr/20190723/heatwave-which-metro-lines-have-air-con-and-which-are-hotter-than-hell Tue, 23 Jul 2019 10:16:05 +0200 heatwave-which-metro-lines-have-air-con-and-which-are-hotter-than-hell Public transport in the southern French city of Nice is almost completed halted on Thursday due to strike action. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250603/no-trams-or-buses-nice-public-transport-halted-for-strike Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:38:38 +0200 no-trams-or-buses-nice-public-transport-halted-for-strike Construction on the controversial A69 autoroute in south-west France is set to resume next month, in the latest development in the long-running legal battle that makes this France's most contested road. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250528/work-on-controversial-autoroute-in-south-west-france-to-resume-after-court-stay Wed, 28 May 2025 18:46:49 +0200 work-on-controversial-autoroute-in-south-west-france-to-resume-after-court-stay A Paris woman has told how she was fined €150 for attempting to transport a 'too large' plant on the Paris Metro system. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250506/paris-woman-fined-e150-for-taking-too-large-plant-on-the-metro Tue, 06 May 2025 13:00:15 +0200 paris-woman-fined-e150-for-taking-too-large-plant-on-the-metro People looking to get around the Paris region can now book a city taxi, with a guaranteed fare, via the Uber app. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250325/uber-in-paris-launches-taxi-reservations-in-app Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:40:12 +0100 uber-in-paris-launches-taxi-reservations-in-app Environmentalists are celebrating after the construction of a controversial motorway linking the city of Toulouse and the town of Castres in south-west France was halted by the courts. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250227/court-orders-halt-of-work-on-controversial-autoroute-in-south-west-france Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:55:34 +0100 court-orders-halt-of-work-on-controversial-autoroute-in-south-west-france EU states on Thursday cleared Bulgaria and Romania to become full members of the borderless Schengen zone from the start of next year. How will this historic decision impact Europe’s borderless travel zone and the EU economy? https://www.thelocal.fr/20241211/what-romania-and-bulgarias-full-schengen-membership-means-for-europe Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:07:36 +0100 what-romania-and-bulgarias-full-schengen-membership-means-for-europe People using public transport in France could be asked to provide proof of their address from January 2025 as French authorities crack down on fraudulent travel. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241211/france-to-require-proof-of-address-to-travel-on-public-transport-in-2025 Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:20:32 +0100 france-to-require-proof-of-address-to-travel-on-public-transport-in-2025 In a few weeks, Paris regional transport authorities will change their pricing and ticketing system for the Metro, RER trains, trams, and buses. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240918/paris-unveils-sweeping-transport-price-changes-for-2025 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:07:23 +0200 paris-unveils-sweeping-transport-price-changes-for-2025 A recent update to SNCF Voyageurs' general terms and conditions of sale requires passengers to take their seats within 15 minutes of departure, or risk losing it. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240918/revealed-the-15-minute-rule-on-french-trains Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:21:47 +0200 revealed-the-15-minute-rule-on-french-trains Disability rights groups and leaders from the Paris region have signed a pact promising to make the Paris Metro accessible for people with disabilities - here's what they're actually agreeing to and how long this could take. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240910/explained-what-is-paris-plan-to-make-metro-fully-accessible-for-people-with-disabilities Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:15:52 +0200 explained-what-is-paris-plan-to-make-metro-fully-accessible-for-people-with-disabilities The end of the Paris Paralympics will signal transport changes in the capital city, from Metro ticket prices to road restrictions lifted and possible drop in the ring road speed limit. Here’s what’s changing for travel in the French capital this autumn. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240903/what-are-the-key-post-olympics-transport-changes-in-paris Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:06:55 +0200 what-are-the-key-post-olympics-transport-changes-in-paris Electric scooters and e-bicycles are an increasingly common sight on the streets of French towns and cities, but many users are unaware of the rules surrounding third-party insurance. Here is what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240905/do-i-need-to-be-insured-in-france-to-ride-an-electric-scooter-or-e-bike Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:14:16 +0200 do-i-need-to-be-insured-in-france-to-ride-an-electric-scooter-or-e-bike Clermont-Ferrand is considering extending its free public transport offering from weekends to the full week - joining a growing list of local authorities offering free services in a bid to cut pollution and stimulate local economies. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210611/where-in-france-can-you-travel-on-public-transport-for-free Fri, 11 Jun 2021 18:18:36 +0200 where-in-france-can-you-travel-on-public-transport-for-free The price of a single Paris Metro ticket will drop back down to its usual price on Monday once the Paralympic Games come to an end on Sunday, transport chiefs have confirmed. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240902/price-of-paris-metro-ticket-to-be-cut-after-paralympics Mon, 02 Sep 2024 18:51:03 +0200 price-of-paris-metro-ticket-to-be-cut-after-paralympics