A Paris subway train was delayed on Monday morning after a woman went into labor. French authorities decided the baby deserved a reward.
RATP, the French transit authority, shared the "unannounced birth" on the subway's information screens as rescue workers tended to the mother and her newborn baby.
Baby boy born on train in suburban Paris now gets free rides until he's 25 years old. https://t.co/sZNskHSTEp— NBC New York (@NBC New York) 1529329686.0
The incident took place on the RER A line, which runs directly through the heart of the French capital.
France's busiest commute line is interrupted in Paris due to "a surprise birth of a baby" ... #Paris https://t.co/YIMeXIXkKK— QAriès (@QAriès) 1529316971.0
Despite the travel interruption, commuters were supportive of the mother, who received a "sincere congratulations" from the RATP.
"A good reason the train is late."
A good reason the train is late! https://t.co/o66Ebk52BP— Melissa Sander (@Melissa Sander) 1529317536.0
French authorities then announced that the baby would receive free subway rides until he is 25.
Lovely news from Paris: a woman gave birth on an RER train this morning. Transport authorities have offered the bab… https://t.co/Rsile0iHxn— Katy Lee (@Katy Lee) 1529318747.0
Within a couple hours, train traffic had returned to normal. Some commuters tweeted that this was the only positive thing to ever happen on the RER A line.
This is the only good thing I've ever heard about the RER, maybe ever https://t.co/QJTJ0FlRlS— Yasmeen Serhan (@Yasmeen Serhan) 1529319077.0
Others expressed their envy that the kid is going to get to ride the subway for free.
look i am not jealous of many people but i am extra-ordinarily jealous of the rer baby https://t.co/3CS5gTwXeZ— Zach 🌻👨🏼💻🏳️🌈 (@Zach 🌻👨🏼💻🏳️🌈) 1529323109.0
Maybe someone needs to give birth in an Uber...
why couldn't i have been born on the RER A, free travel until I'm 25??? yes please jk, free Uber until I'm 25? now… https://t.co/jEJKCNFc41— Ethan Gates (@Ethan Gates) 1529321672.0
"Now we know the key to giving our kids a head start in life," one user joked.
@kjalee @JeromeTaylor Now we know the key to giving our kids a head start in life— Rhain Williams (@Rhain Williams) 1529323389.0
Others took this opportunity to blast the Paris subway system, which many say is riddled with problems.
@damonwake It has been pointed out in this office that the RER A's questionable reliability also renders the gesture somewhat less generous— Katy Lee (@Katy Lee) 1529320021.0
@kjalee Yes, not so much a highway to hell (that's the RER B) as a grinding slog through the foothills of purgatory… https://t.co/eQj5uYc4m6— Damon Wake (@Damon Wake) 1529321840.0
@SiobhanDowling @Jeremy_Baker As someone who's been on the RER, also not lovely— Raj (@Raj) 1529350578.0
Can you imagine how New Yorkers would have reacted to this? We just love when our trains are delayed.
@NBCNewYork I wonder if any baby was ever born on a New York subway? 😬— Lord Q-Queen (@Lord Q-Queen) 1529355304.0
@kjalee @AngieMcCall09 If that was in this country they would most probably send the woman a BILL & a new time table for STAGECOACH!— PATRICK WILSON (@PATRICK WILSON) 1529346008.0