French culture minister Rachida Dati has made an announcement at the Gare de Lyon that double-basses will be permitted in future to travel on TGV trains. Under these conditions:
• Double basses transported on board in a soft cover must not exceed 1.95 m, cover included.
• The spaces suitable for accommodating double basses are located in 1st class in double-decker TGVs and in 2nd class in single-decker TGVs, and only one double bass can be accommodated per train for safety reasons. If a double bass is already on board, the musician will be repositioned on the next train.
• Musicians reserve and occupy seats located near their instrument. It is recommended to book in advance and to favor trains running during off-peak periods (except Friday afternoons and Sunday afternoons for example and to favor trains between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays).
Anticipation of travel and communication between the musician and the conductor are essential for the success of the system. Musicians are therefore invited to report in advance to the conductor before boarding the train to ensure that a suitable location is available.
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