snowed-in Paris

Just like my astronomy colleague from Brighton, I do wonder why so little snow on the ground creates so much havoc on the transportation network. RER trains have been crawling at a snail-like pace, buses cancelled and trams inoperative for the past few days. I presume this is because there is no degree of freedom left in the way those public transportation systems are operated. They are bursting at every possible seam for lack of sufficient investment in material and people, and, as a result, cannot handle any event that would require any extra manpower (like running the trains all night long to keep the rails free from snow and ice…) The electricity company EDF has started relying on its (young) retirees in cases of major crises and I think the rail companies should do the same.