Paris metro faces rising danger from train surfing stunts

The dangerous practice of ‘train surfing’—climbing onto the roofs of moving metro trains to film content for social media—has resurfaced in Paris, causing alarm among commuters and authorities. A recent incident occurred on September 10 on Metro Line 6 near the Bir-Hakeim bridge, where a man was filmed walking on top of a train more than 10 meters above the ground. The driver was forced to stop the train and cut electricity to the line to ensure safety.

Authorities and transport unions have expressed deep concern over the difficulty of preventing these stunts. While some stations have implemented physical barriers like spikes and fencing, individuals continue to find ways to access the tracks, often by climbing station roofs before jumping onto moving vehicles. Bastien Berthier of the FO-RATP union noted that the physical constraints of tunnels make such actions potentially fatal.

Ile-de-France Mobilités has officially condemned the practice, describing it as ‘totally irresponsible.’ Despite increased sanctions, the phenomenon remains difficult to curb as the drive for social media visibility continues to fuel the risk-taking behavior.