I'm booked to go from Angouleme to Paris, to catch a Eurostar for London on the 12th. Not too worried about getting across Paris, I can walk it if necessary. Really need advice on whats best to get on any train running to get to Paris. My train is 11.30. Should I get to the gare much earlier?

A list of the trains operating will be available on the SNCF internet site and at the train station at least 24 hours before the strike. If your train is running, it's probably best to stick with it -- otherwise, find an earlier train, of course. If you actually go to the train station, do not hesitate to ask the SNCF information desk for advice.

>> If you actually go to the train station, do not hesitate to ask the SNCF information desk for advice.<<

Do these information desks get "mobbed" during a strike??

Stu Dudley

Actually, they don't really, because the SNCF prints big posters of the operating trains and displays them everywhere (including full page ads in the daily newspapers), so 95% of the questions are already answered (since people know that their non refundable and non transferable tickets have become refundable and transferable).

We have internet tickets for train travel on Oct. 12, but I didn't realize the tickets would become refundable if our train is cancelled. Do the hotels usually have the information about which trains are running and which are cancelled? Thanks for your help.

I wouldn't count on any random hotel having complete lists of trains for you. Now in theory they could find out as they should have internet access, so you could ask them.

Meanwhile, tomorrow the main SNCF unions will announce if they will stage an "unlimited" strike like the unions of the RATP in Paris have decided.