Teaching manners on French trains: can we have it here?

[John Ashworth]

They're teaching manners on board French trains. Can we have it here please?

In a startling initiative, the French state-owned railway SNCF is sending out 3,000 inspectors to travel on trains and teach unruly passengers some manners. They’re to keep their eyes peeled for the hooliganish behaviour that’s risen by 25 per cent in a year among the four million French men and women who travel by train every day: spitting, being rude to ticket checkers, spitting at ticket checkers, damaging seats, putting their feet on seats, playing music too loudly, lighting cigarettes, talking loudly on mobiles, and pulling the emergency brake cord for larks.

Frankly, I expected better of the French. I thought their misbehaviour would be more subtle...