Travel chaos in Switzerland: 81-year-old lady pays fine due to nickname

Travel chaos in Switzerland: 81-year-old lady pays fine due to nickname

An exciting episode in rail traffic shows how important the correct identification is when buying a ticket and when traveling. The incident, which occurred on June 18 during a train journey from Freiburg im Breisgau to Vienna, is now causing discussions about the regulations of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and their handling of travelers.

A misleading name leads to a fine

An 81-year-old German, who had given the nickname "Heidi" on her ticket, was asked to pay a penalty of CHF 252 (approx. 258 euros) because this name did not match her official ID name "Heidemarie". The incident occurred after Basel's passing when an SBB employee checked the ticket and the identity card of the couple.

reactions of the fellow travelers and the need for empathy

The behavior of the SBB employee met with incomprehension among other travelers. A fellow traveler affected by the situation saw the shame of the older lady and ultimately took on the fine to avoid further trouble for the couple. "Everyone found it," said the train guest, who was watching the unfortunate episode.

The responsibility of the railway company and the handling of passengers

The SBB later commented on the incident. A spokesman emphasized that it was not the intention of the controller to treat the couple unfairly and apologized for the inconvenience. Despite the agreement after the switch to Zurich, in which the couple could continue to travel to Vienna without any problems, a smoke remains after taste. The 81-year-old stated that she could no longer enjoy the rest of her trip.

The importance of correct identification

The incident raises questions about the identification practices of railway companies. "If identification is not clearly possible due to a short name, the date of birth usually helps," said SBB. This is noted on the Swiss e-tickets, which could possibly avoid such unpleasant situations in the future.

Community support against bureaucracy

The couple made contact with the SBB after the incident and hopes that the helpful fellow traveler will get his money back. The incident initiated the discussion how important it is to show empathy and understanding in stressful situations. It is a strong example of how the community can come together to help in misunderstandings. The reactions of the passengers show that people often pull together to combat wrongly.

- Nag