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Train services from Switzerland to France hit by French pension strikes

High-speed train services between Switzerland and France will be severely disrupted from Monday until Wednesday as a result of strikes against pension reforms in France.

Train services from Switzerland to France hit by French pension strikes
Commuters board a Lyria SNCF (France's national state-owned railway company) train at the Gare de Lyon railway station on Febuary 15, 2018 in Paris. Strikes wil hit services between Switzerland and France this week. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Numerous TGV services running in both directions on the between Paris and the Swiss cities of Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and Basel will be cancelled from Monday night due to the industrial action.

Scores more services have been cancelled on Tuesday including all TGV trains on the Paris – Basel – Zurich line. Services on Wednesday will also be hit.

Other services between Switzerland and France will also be affected including the Leman Express commuter service between France and Geneva. The line linking Basel with Strasbourg and Mulhouse will also be disrupted.

“Due to a national inter-professional social movement, TGV Lyria traffic will be disrupted from January 30th to February 1st,” read a statement on Lyria’s website.

“If your train has been cancelled, you have the option of exchanging or obtaining a refund of your ticket free of charge, regardless of the initial conditions of your ticket.”

For more information on what to do in the event of a cancellation click here.

The strike has been called by trade unions in France who are protesting against the government’s planned pension reforms. Whilst the mass strike is only on Tuesday the disruption on the rails spills into both the preceding and following day.

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TRAVEL NEWS

How Geneva plans to expand public transport services

Geneva's bus and tram network covers not only the Swiss city and canton, but some parts of the neighbouring French communities as well.

How Geneva plans to expand public transport services

The Geneva parliament approved on Friday the action plan launched by the local government, which calls for a 29-percent increase in public transport services (TPG) throughout the Swiss canton — and beyond.

Specifically, it provides for more trams, including cross-border ones, as well as further electrification of buses.

The capacity of the Léman Express train will also be strengthened.

Expansion of this particular link is important to the region, as it connects the Geneva area with neighbouring France.

The route comprises 45 stations and 230 kilometres of track — extending beyond the Geneva canton borders into Vaud as well as France. 

This news comes just days after Geneva officials announced they will use the canton’s 1.4-million-franc budget surplus to offer free transport for people up to 24 years of age, in addition to lowering taxes.

READ ALSO: Geneva to cut taxes and make public transport free for young people 

All-party agreement

The public network expansion project met with some opposition during the debate period.

While some MPs, like those from the centre-right Liberal-Radical (PLR) party believed that this ambitious plan was necessary to accommodate growing population growth, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) was against the project because it would impact the automobile industry.

In the end, however, resolution approving this action plan was unanimously accepted.

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