Rail photography in France

[CrazyRupes]

Im sorry if this has come up before. I am off to Paris on Saturday and I was just wondering if there were any rules or guidlines for taking pictures of Eurostars and TGVs in France, in particular in Paris around the Gard Du Nord?
Thanks in advance for any responses

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I would be very cautious because the security level ( "plan vigipirate" ) was stepped up within the last month on account of the Mali thing.

 

[MK Tom]

Generally rail photography is fine. I had no problem photographing TGV and Eurostar sets at Lille Europe on Tuesday. SNCF staff and police walked past me without giving it a second thought. Same at Flandres. Paris may be different, but I was photographing all around Lille including the metro and both stations and I didn't run into a problem once.

 

[starrymarkb]

Am I right in thinking that the Paris Metro isn't keen on photography...

And yes with the heightened alert I'd suggest checking with the station staff when you arrive at stations before spotting/photographing. If they say yes then go ahead but I have heard of the authorities getting funny when the alert is high, if you have permission from the staff then you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[gazthomas]

I've had no issues ever in Gare Du Nord. Make sure you keep your flash off and others have already said, if in doubt ask staff first.

 

[CrazyRupes]

Thanks for the replies

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Am I right in thinking that the Paris Metro isn't keen on photography...

Yes; it is in fact stated on their T&Cs poster on all platforms, somewhere in the small print ( and there's masses of it! ) that photography is not permitted without the permission of "La Regie".

But you just try getting permission.... it's impossible!

 

[MK Tom]

That doesn't apply to anything operated by SNCF though.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Always ask to be safe - the larger stations often have a patrolling "chef du gare" (Station Manager) around who can be identified by a white cap. They are invariably helpfull in my experience and especially when you use the word "chef" in adressing them. The level of security is indeed high in Paris stations , with armed military on high visibility patrols - a bit of a change to our BTP (even the armed BTP who you see at St Pancras and so on !)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That doesn't apply to anything operated by SNCF though.

That is right, but the RER has some joint SNCF / RATP operations and the RATP rules tend to take priority on these parts of the system.

 

[alexdodds]

Yes; it is in fact stated on their T&Cs poster on all platforms, somewhere in the small print ( and there's masses of it! ) that photography is not permitted without the permission of "La Regie".

But you just try getting permission.... it's impossible!

Without permission is it easier to photo/video on the Paris Metro than e.g. LU.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

True - at least depending on how alert the CCTV guys are.

It helps if you photograph the back end of a Metro train though... drivers have been known to call in the uniforms upon sight of a camera aimed at their train.

 

[ACL]

Thanks for the good info. Appreciated.