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The so-called ‘train marshals’ will have a similar role to ‘sky marshals’ - plainclothes security guards armed with guns whose job is to protect commercial airliners from skyjacking.

Thousands of railway security guards are already allowed on trains on the national service, SNCF, carrying truncheons and handcuffs but a bill has finally been passed to arm them with guns.

But the new decree under the Savary law would allow train marshals to carry similar firearms to the ones carried by regular police officers, and will also allow them to patrol undercover.