In order to avoid the systematic deployment of demining teams, which greatly disrupts traffic, SNCF rail security will double its number of canine brigades in 2022.
“Due to a suspicious package, traffic is temporarily interrupted“. If you happen to take the train, you must have already heard this announcement. But the SNCF may have found the solution to fight against abandoned luggage, which is the main cause of train delays in France: sniffer dogs. In Île-de-France, Suge (the operational branch of SNCF rail security) will recruit 10 additional dog detection crews. These will be added to the 10 teams already working in all Ile-de-France stations managed by SNCF. A welcome doubling of the workforce as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach.explo dogs», Malinois, Labradors or Springer Spaniel, are recruited by the SNCF from a breeding farm. Before being operational, they must complete explosives detection training with their masters.
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When Suge agents spot a suspicious package thanks to video surveillance or because they are directly alerted by travellers, these dogs are called upon to carry out an inspection of the baggage in question. The interest is to intervene very quickly, in order to avoid blocking the network for too long, which is systematically the case when no dog squad is available and the deminers of the national police have to move. “When the demining intervention lasts at least 1 hour, the dogs take about 20 minutes“Explains Muriel Dugué Vossart, director of communication for SNCF rail security. If a dog marks on an object, the police headquarters can take the decision to evacuate the station. “But events rarely take this turn.explains Muriel Dugué Vossart. Most of the time, forgotten luggage, which is liable to a fine of up to 150 euros, is the result of carelessness on the part of travelers.
41,000 parcels abandoned in Île-de-France in 2021
This recruitment campaign ofexplo dogs», entirely financed by Île-de-France Mobilités, intervenes in a context of multiplication of alerts for suspicious packages. “It must be said that we are very vigilant with the Vigipirate measuresconfides Muriel Dugué Vossart. In 2021, 41,000 abandoned bags were identified by the SNCF in trains and stations in Île-de-France. This is almost seven times more than in 2018. These suspicious packages require around 40 procedures per day (one every 20 to 30 minutes) and cause major disruptions in Ile-de-France rail traffic. Nationally, SNCF estimates that 8 million travelers were affected in 2021 by the delays or cancellations of more than 9,000 trains.
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In 2016, Île-de-France rail security only had 3 dog handlers. Then the system was developed with a three-year project (from 2017 to 2019) of 6 million euros, co-financed by Île-de-France Mobilités and the SNCF. Today, explo dogs have proven themselves and the Suge has 43 canine teams throughout France. With these new recruitments in the Paris region in 2022, the SNCF wishes to arm itself for the events to come. “There will be the Rugby World Cup in 2023, followed by the Olympic Games in 2024» declares Muriel Dugué Vossart, «we will have to be ready to welcome travelers and sports enthusiasts alike. So we’re getting ready…“.