Kissing on train platforms was once discouraged in France

Transportation Marriage & Relationships Historical/Repealed

The Short Answer

PARTIALLY TRUE (HISTORICAL)! SNCF enacted regulations in 1910 discouraging prolonged farewells on platforms due to train delays. Some stations had "no kissing" signage and designated "kissing zones."

The Full Story

SNCF (French railways) enacted regulations in 1910 discouraging prolonged farewells on platforms. The concern was train delays caused by couples saying goodbye. Some stations did have "no kissing" signage, and some created designated "kissing zones" (zone de bisous).

What's FALSE/Outdated:

This was never a criminal law—it was railway company policy
It is not enforced today
You won't be arrested for kissing at Gare du Nord

This is a real historical railway regulation, but calling it "illegal" overstates it. It was about platform management, not criminal law.

Common Misconceptions

The claim is often cited as a formal 1910 law, but it likely originated as an April Fools' Day article in Le Figaro. While railway officials did discourage platform kissing to prevent delays, there is no evidence of a formal enforceable statute. The modern "kissing zones" at some stations are real but voluntary.

Actual Legal Text

The widely cited 1910 French ban on kissing at railway platforms appears to trace back to a humorous article published in Le Figaro on April 1, 1910. While SNCF railway authorities did discourage lingering farewells that delayed train departures, no formal statute or regulation has been located in French legal databases. Some modern French stations have introduced designated "kissing zones" (zones de bisous) as a practical compromise.