Rail services across France will be severely disrupted on Wednesday, June 10th, with multiple trains cancelled as unions stage a coordinated strike. Here’s what it means if you’re planning on travelling.
The strike has been called by four French rail unions as a 24-hour strike on Wednesday in a dispute over pay, conditions and company reorganisation.
A disrupted service (traffic perturbé) should be expected nationwide, and there may be some knock-on disruption on Thursday.
SNCF’s strike timetable shows that one third of TGV (high speed train) services will be cancelled on Wednesday.
On services that do run, passengers should expect delays, cancellations and crowded services.
In a statement, SNCF said that affected passengers are being contacted directly. “All passengers are being contacted in the event of a train cancellation and are entitled to a refund or the option to book another train free of charge,” the company said.
Regional Intercité trains are expected to face more significant disruption, with only half the normal services running.
Meanwhile the local TER services are expected to be ‘severely disrupted’, with details being released on a regional level – find the latest on each region here
Services on the Eurostar will also be affected with the company expecting severe disruption – six trains are cancelled on Wednesday with one service on Tuesday evening and one on Thursday morning also cancelled. Anyone with a trip booked should check with the company that their train is still running.
The strike does not affect services on the Paris Metro, bus or tram network, since this is not operated by SNCF, but there will be disruption on the suburban RER services, including RER B, which connects Paris to its two main airports;
- RER A – no disruption expected
- RER B – between half and two thirds of normal services running
- RER C – one third of normal services running
- RER D – between half and one third of normal services running
- RER E – one third of services running
On the Transilien rail services in the greater Paris region, severe disruption is also expected;
- Line H – one third of normal services. Between Pontoise and Creil, only one fifth or normal services
- Line J – half normal services
- Line K – half normal services
- Line L – half normal services
- Line N – one third of normal services, traffic severely disrupted
- Line P – one third of normal services, traffic severely disrupted. Replacement bus service from Gare de l’Est
- Line R – services between Gare de Lyon and Montargis services only at peak times (between 4.45am and 11am then between 4pm and 8pm), half of normal servives. Between Gare de Lyon and Monterau via Moret services only between 5.30am and 8.30am, then 4.40pm and 9.45pm, half normal services
- Line U – one third of normal services
- Line V – two thirds of normal services
Public transport networks in other cities are not impacted.
Travellers are advised to check their journey details in advance and allow extra time for travel as the strike action affects services across the country.
