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Trains cancelled across France as rail workers strike

Around 60 percent of high-speed and intercity trains were cancelled in France on Friday as rail workers begin a three-day strike.

Trains cancelled across France as rail workers strike
Photo by Geoffroy Van der Hasselt / AFP

Unions representing conductors and ticket collectors have called a strike running from Friday, December 2nd to Sunday, December 4th, which has led to major disruption across the rail network.

Overall just four in 10 of the normal services are running on the high-speed TGV, Ouigo and Intercité lines, although local TER services are not affected.

Normal traffic is set to resume on Monday, although it is expected that there will be significant knock-on disruption.

Anyone who has pre-booked tickets will receive an email or SMS if their train is cancelled, but travellers are advised to check if their train is running before going to the station. Those services that do run are likely to be extremely busy.

Refunds of 100 percent are available for anyone with tickets booked for strike days – even if their train is not cancelled – and there is also the offer of a free alteration onto any service until December 8th, said operator SNCF.

SNCF says it is running;

TGV Nord – half of normal services
TGV Est – 1 train in 3
TGV Atlantique – 1 train in 4
TGV Sud-Est – 1 train in 3
OUIGO – 1 train in 4

You can find full traffic information here.

The strike will continue on Saturday and Sunday – SNCF will publish full details on which services are running the following day at 5pm each evening. Monday’s services are also expected to see significant knock-on effects from the strike.

The strike is not affecting public transport in cities, or suburban trains such as the link between Paris and its airports. 

The TGV Lyria service, which runs between France and Switzerland, has seen some services cancelled but the Eurostar is not affected. 

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TRAVEL NEWS

The key French autoroutes to avoid during France’s long May holiday weekend

If you are planning to drive in France over the long Ascension weekend, then here are some motorways to avoid.

The key French autoroutes to avoid during France's long May holiday weekend

Workers in France have the rare opportunity this week to enjoy two back-to-back public holidays – VE Day on Wednesday and Ascension on Thursday.

As a result, French motorways will be more crowded than usual, with many people planning to take advantage of the days off to build themselves a long weekend. 

READ MORE: Travel, events, closures: What to expect over France’s double public holiday this week

In terms of traffic, roads will be particularly congested on Tuesday and Sunday, and to a lesser extent on Wednesday and Saturday, according to French traffic watchdog Bison Futé.

Here are motorways you should avoid:

The A13

As a reminder, part of the A13 motorway has been closed for works between Paris and Vaucresson, in the Hauts-de-Seine département, and it is not expected to reopen until Friday morning.

Motorists looking to get to and from Normandy from the capital region are advised to take the A14, A15 or N12 instead.

Along other parts of the motorway, there will also be slowdowns;

Wednesday – Avoid it between Orgeval and Rouen from 10 am to 5pm and between Rouen and Caen between 11am and 1pm.

Sunday – Avoid it  between Caen and Paris from 11 am to 4 pm

The A6 and A10

Heavy traffic is predicted along both motorways in the capital region on Tuesday evening, Saturday and Sunday.

The A7

Tuesday – For motorists in the Paris region, Bison Futé predicted that traffic would “remain very heavy until late in the evening”. Motorists travelling between Valence and Orange should avoid it from 5pm to 11pm.

Wednesday – Avoid it between Lyon and Orange from 11am to 5pm.

Saturday – Avoid it between Orange and Lyon from 1pm to 8pm.

Sunday – Avoid it between Salon-de-Provence and Orange from 11am to 1pm and between Orange and Lyon from 12pm to 9pm. 

The A9

Wednesday – Generally more congested than normal, be prepared.

Saturday – Avoid it between Spain and Narbonne from 12noon to 6pm

Sunday – Avoid it between Spain and Narbonne from 1pm to 6pm, and between Montpellier and Orange from 3pm to 5pm.

The A11

Tuesday – Avoid it between Angers and Nantes between 3pm to 7pm.

Sunday – Avoid it between Angers and Le Mans from 4pm to 8pm

The A25

Saturday – Avoid it between Socx and Lille, from 6pm to 9pm.

Sunday – Avoid it between Socx and Lille from 4pm to 6pm.

The A61

Tuesday – Avoid it between Toulouse and Narbonne from 4pm to 7pm.

Wednesday – Avoid it between Toulouse and Narbonne from 10am and 4pm.

Sunday – Avoid it between Narbonne and Toulouse from 3pm to 7pm.

Mont Blanc Tunnel (N205)

Tuesday – Avoid it in the France-Italy direction from 9am to 11pm

Wednesday – Avoid it in the France-Italy direction from 7am to 6pm

Saturday – Avoid it in the Italy-France direction from 1pm to 8pm

Sunday – Avoid it in the Italy-France direction from 11am to 11pm

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