RATP calls it the biggest reform to rider expectations since the contactless card
PARIS – The RATP has unveiled a new punctuality measurement system under which a train will now be considered on time as long as it eventually arrives at the stated platform, regardless of which calendar week that happens to fall in. A spokesperson called it the most important reform to rider expectations since the introduction of the contactless Navigo card.
A New Number, A Happier Number
Under the old measurement, punctuality on several lines sat at consistently disappointing levels. Under the new measurement, the figure has jumped to 96.8 percent, which officials say proves the network was never actually the problem, only the way punctuality happened to be measured until now.
A train running four hours late will now count as punctual provided it isn’t formally cancelled. A cancelled train, meanwhile, simply won’t be counted at all, which mechanically improves every quarterly report going forward without a single additional train being added to the timetable.
Riders React With Mixed Enthusiasm
At Chatelet, several commuters expressed confusion about the announcement. One rider said she had been waiting on the platform for over an hour and still had no idea whether her train counted as delayed, since the display had shown the same message all morning: train approaching.
A spokesperson explained that this wording had been deliberately chosen for its timelessness, sparing staff the need to update the display too frequently, which the RATP says also contributes meaningfully to its broader sustainability targets.
The Alternative Would Have Cost More
Internally, the RATP is said to have considered actually funding more trains, more staff and more maintenance. That option was reportedly abandoned after an internal review found it would be considerably more expensive than simply changing the definition of the word delay.
A new loyalty scheme is being introduced instead, offering riders who experience delays of over ninety minutes a voucher redeemable exclusively toward the purchase of a new annual pass.
What Comes Next
For next year, the RATP has already flagged plans to revisit the definition of the word train itself, in the interest of what officials describe as greater operational flexibility. Details will be shared in due course, once the relevant press release has been finalised.
International Attention
Transport officials abroad are reportedly watching closely. A spokesperson for a European rail association said several member states were already exploring similar redefinitions of punctuality, particularly given comparable structural pressures on their own networks.
Critics of the French model warn that a purely linguistic fix will eventually run into its own limits once riders begin questioning the new definition themselves. The RATP has so far appeared unbothered by that possibility, pointing to ongoing communication efforts designed to help riders adjust to the new understanding of punctuality.
More reporting of this kind is available at Bohiney Magazine and at our British sister publication The London Prat.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/
