A closer look
French national railway regulations technically require anyone traveling with a live snail on a high-speed TGV train to purchase a separate ticket for their slimy companion. This bizarre policy falls under a broader rule introduced by SNCF stating that any animal weighing less than six kilograms must travel in a bag or basket and requires a specific fare, which currently costs around seven euros. In 2008, a ticket inspector literally fined a passenger because their pet snails did not possess valid travel documents, proving that French bureaucracy will not spare you just because your pet lacks a central nervous system. It is deeply inspiring to realize that while global infrastructure crumbles and wealth inequality skyrockets, there is at least one European transit authority bravely ensuring that mollusks pay their fair share of transportation taxes. Thank goodness the trains are safe from the devastating economic impact of freeloading gastropods trying to sneak their way into Paris
