zoobiechick

So, in my desire to be prepared for worst-case scenarios and knowing France (or is it just Paris) is notorious for train strikes, what would be recommended in this scenario. Leaving Bayeux on a Sunday morning to catch afternoon Eurostar for London. Let's say a strike affects our ability to take the train from Bayeux, or affects taking a train from St. Lazare gare to Gare du Nord. What would you do to get to Gare du Nord?

Michael

It would be a metro strike that would stop you from using "rails" from the gare St. Lazare to the gare du Nord.

zoobiechick

Thanks...so strikes aren't an issue on regional trains? So in case of a metro strike, what do you think would be the best way to get from gare to gare?

Michael

Taxi, but the traffic will be horrendous. I think that the possibility of a strike is vastly overrated anyway. If here is a train strike, it may mean that the Eurostar is not running. If it is, it might be better to rent a car in Bayeux and catch it in Calais rather than go to Paris, or take one of the cross-Channel ferries.

PalenQ

Well you can go to nearby Oustreham or Cherbourg and catch fast ferries to the UK and go to London by train - I would do this in any case over taking a train to Pairs then the Eurostar - the ferry way is much cheaper and quicker probably - there is also an overnight boat service from Oustreham (the port of Caen).

Christina

Train strikes aren't really that common and they aren't spread throughout the year. They tend to be around some event, usually a budget or law, it seems to me. Seems like a lot are in the Fall, at least that's my rough impression. They just had one, didn't they? (in Dec) They can affect both regional and major lines.

StCirq

Train and other strikes are usually broadcast well in advance. You would almost certainly have plenty of advance notice to figure out an alternative. Take this off your worry list.

greg

Not all trains are impacted. SNCF tells you which ones are still running:
http://help.en.voyages-sncf.com/en/c...on-and-strikes

The strike dates are known. You can also travel ahead of the strike date.

Your strategy to immediately connect to a Eurostar is risky in the first place irrespective of the strike. Equipment problems, track problems, etc, will all impact your trip to Paris outside of a strike.

Cathinjoetown

While I wouldn't call the ferries from Oustreham (Caen) or Cherbourg fast, most are around 5-6 hours, it might be worth a look. Try Brittany Ferries.

From Portsmouth you could get a fast train to London, in all, probably not much longer than doubling back to Paris for Eurostar.

As mentioned, Sunday does add the wrinkles of fewer trains, work on the lines, etc.

StuDudley

Also note that the French almost never strike during THEIR vacation time - mid July through August. We once encountered a strike on the first Monday in Sept.

Stu Dudley

PalenQ

While I wouldn't call the ferries from Oustreham (Caen) or Cherbourg fast, most are around 5-6 hours, it might be worth a look. Try Brittany Ferries.>

Yes Brittany ferries from Cherbourg take just 3 hours according to their web site. that is faster to me than taking a train to Paris - changing stations, checking in for Eurostar at least 30 minutes before train and then taking 2 hours to reach London.

Trains from Portsmouth, terminal for many ferries from Normandy go constantly and take about 90 minutes I think and all in all would be a cheaper and it seems quicker route.

Cathinjoetown

Takes awhile longer to get up to Cherbourg from Bayeux but yes there are faster ferries from there, my mistake.

PalenQ

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fe...ries-to-france

takes an hour by train to Cherbourg from Bayeux then the docks are a short walk from there (or taxi or bus) - about the same time as it would take to take a train to Caen then the bus or taxi the six miles or so to Oustreham - so either port is about the same time from Bayeux but Cherbourg would be more convenient as you don't need to change and can walk to the docks if packing light or with rolling luggage, etc.

tom18

We faced a similar situation in 2010 during the time that the French were striking to protest increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62. We, too, were concerned about getting from Bayeux to Paris, as well as from Paris to Amsterdam. It turns out that, when it comes to strikes, the French are very considerate. The train unions are required by law to make known by 5 p.m. which specific trains will not operate the next day. So you can go, as we did, to the Bayeux train station after 5 p.m. the night before your train departs to see if it will be struck. If so, you can arrange to take another train. (In our case, our 8 a.m. train to Paris was canceled, so we took an earlier one.) Another possibility which I haven’t seen mentioned is to either rent a car or take a taxi from Bayeux to Caen, about 15 miles from Bayeux. There are numerous trains from Caen to Paris, so you should be able to find one there as well. And, of course, you can rent a car in Bayeux or Caen and drive to Paris.

PalenQ

The train unions are required by law to make known by 5 p.m. which specific trains will not operate the next day.>

That's what I though about the same year when planning on a Strasbourg to Paris train and asked about 8 pm the night before if any strike was forecast and I was assured "Non"

But lo and behold arriving at the station the next day for our presumed train to Paris there was a sign "Greve" at the station entrance detailing that some trains were on strike - turns out an SNCF conductor had been assaulted earlier that morning and a wildcat strike ensured.

So yes generally strikes are announced in advance but...

DeborahAnn

Over the years our experience with greves in France has been that they are more likely to occur in an election year or to protest an announced policy change and close to the single day holidays, May 1 May 8 and WhitMonday when it falls in May, but that's just my cynical view point LOL

Lately we have experienced more transportation strikes in Italy than France. Deborah

zoobiechick

Already booked the Eurostar, so am tied to solutions that get us to the station. I lived on Paris inthe 80s and strikes were a regular occurrence. Not worried, stcirq, just like to know what I would do in case. Tom18, proof that it happens. Thanks for your story. StuDudley, do you know your family history? I come down from Thomas Dudley line, came to America in 1630.

Need to digest these responses. Will definitely check strike status ahead, for what it's worth. Thanks for your thoughts.

PalenQ

Why not just arrange to go to Paris the day before your Eurostar train and spend the night there?

kerouac

Strikes have decreased by more than 50% since the 1980's. Considering the current unemployment rate, going on strike is considered to be quite risky except for civil servants. And since we have a Socialist president and legislature for at least 3 more years, people are less motivated to strike because even though most people are not happy with the government, very few people believe that the opposition would succeed better. Quite frankly, in terms of workers' rights, health coverage, retirement age, the 35-hour work week, etc. most of the working class is horrified by the suggestions of the opposition.

zoobiechick

Good info kerouac. My eyes were opened to the "joys" of socialism while living in France. I could easily get on a soapbox about that topic but will refrain. Palenq, several days in Paris preceeding Bayeux. I want that extra time in Bayeux.