Toulouse Matabiau

The XIX century building is gorgeous, canopy included. However it is currently under refurbishment for adaptations prior to the Rugby world cup next September which make it a nigjtmare to be there. There is a Monoprix supermarket in case you need to buy something before boarding the train

Horrible place. Very crowded and disorganized. No real security force despite security cameras "for show". It's a challenge to read the confusing train schedules posted in the waiting room. Beware: Organized theft rings operate inside and out to target unsuspecting travelers. My friend/travel companion was robbed by two young, well-dressed women of her passport and wallet with credit cards and money. And we are highly experienced, vigilant travelers. But apparently not vigilant enough. Stay away.

The premises looks really good, the latest renovations render very well. I need irony to describe the hygiene however: the place is so modern they have an airborne cleaning crew in the diner… Also there still aren’t any elevators to access the platforms. If you are in luck and have time to spend you can ask the service people, if they have time as well they will form a group and take you through the “backstage”.

SNCF is as good in terms of comfort and puctuality, as it is bad in customer service. There are no available customer service/information workers after 19, despite heavy traffic even after this time. The SNCF phone says to press "#" for English, but then loops endlessly in french menu. I had a simple, yet very important matter: I left my bag in a train. I figured it out 5 minutes after the train left. I spent another 20 to find an employee, to then be recommended to catch up with that train and complain on the terminus station. 90 minutes of waiting, 2+ hours of ride to then find out that in Bordeaux there are NO EMPLOYEES responsible for anything, except for security and that I need to leave because they are closing station at night. With no availible hotels after midnight, I had to wait for 8 hours for lost&found to open, just to find out that I had to fill a declaration, and to fill a declaration I would need a french phone number and they do not accept foreign numbers! They told me there was no alternative way to fill the declaration and that I have to go to police. 15 hours of my lifetime, 50 euro for reasons, and a sleepless night outside the rail terminal wasted and a trip to police which I could have done in original city without a pointless trip. Now, I am unfortunate and stupid enough, so I had similar matter in my home country: I figured out the bag was left 15 minutes after depature. I found an employee in 2 minutes. Then he called to station manager of station bag was left at. In 30 minutes I got a confirmation that the bag was secure and I can get it back with an ID. All in all it took half an hour and most importantly, it was efficient. I got my staff back. In France I spent a day off my life, to get nothing back.

Signage needs improving ( difficult if in a hurry for quick train change) they are now in the process of installing lifts and more stairs between platforms, personally escalators need to be added to all medium/ major stations throughout France