Press release

In compliance with article 26 of the decree of August 6th, 2010 as concerning the certification of train drivers, and its subsequent modifications connected to the transposition of European Directive 2007/59/CE amended, train drivers on the French network must have a B1 level in French. This principle is addressed in section 2.4.1 of the French Rail Network Statement 2020.

Until now, on the 8 French-German border sections, it was agreed the German would be used as alternative for the language of communication.

As requested by the railway undertakings and having carefully examined the issue and its consequences for all parties, SNCF Réseau confirms the extension of linguistic tolerance until the date expected for the first of two following events achievement:

• the 1st day of the annual service 2022 (in December 2021); or
• the date on which the language pilot on progress will be implemented under the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulation 2019/554.

By the way:

• on 7 border sections (Sarreguemines - Hanweiler Bad Rilchingen, Wissembourg - Winden, Lauterbourg - Wörth, Strasbourg - Kehl, Apach - Perl, Forbach - Saarbrücken Hbf, Bantzenheim - Neuenbourg), German language will be authorised as alternative; and 
• on the border section (Bouzonville - Hemmersdorf), French will be the single language authorised 

for communication between traffic managers and drivers.

The corresponding local operating instructions (« CLE ») will be modified accordingly by SNCF Réseau.