France’s transport system set to be hit by latest strike

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French rail services and some flights will be “strongly” disrupted by the latest one-day strike by transport workers on Tuesday (7 February).

Workers are due to hold their third stoppage in the past month as part of a nationwide dispute over the French government’s proposed reforms to the country’s pensions system.

National rail operator SNCF has announced that only around half of its high-speed TGV services would operate on Tuesday, while 75 per cent of cross-Channel Eurostar trains are expected to run.

There will be an even more limited service on France’s TER regional train network with only around 30 per cent of trains set to run as scheduled.

Around half of Lyria trains between France and Switzerland will operate, while Thalys services are expected to be “slightly disrupted”.

France’s civil aviation regulator DGAC has also asked airlines to cancel 20 per cent of their planned services from Paris Orly airport on Tuesday, with a warning that further delays and disruption are likely. But there have been no warnings so far about similar disruption at the main hub of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

Nationwide strikes have already been held by French unions on 19 and 31 January due to the pensions dispute, which have caused severe disruption to travel within the country. There is also set to be more disruption on 19 February when SNCF workers are due to go on strike.

source: BTN Europe