For Kerouac, we are traveling from Paris to Strasbourg on the TGV October 12. Our tickets are PREM tickets. We are not savy train travelers, so could you please give us your best advice? We are supposed to depart Paris at 10:30 AM on the 12th. We also have return tickets on Oct. 13 departing Strasbourg at around 8:00 PM.
I read the previous post on the Sept. 23 strike, and I noted your comment that rail travel was fairly normal. I sure would appreciate your insight on the Oct. 12 situation. Merci.
I read the previous post on the Sept. 23 strike, and I noted your comment that rail travel was fairly normal. I sure would appreciate your insight on the Oct. 12 situation. Merci.
All these strikes are giving me a headache. My biggest fear is stepping off the plane next summer with tired children, a grouchy mother and worthless train tickets. I really don't want to rent a car from CDG and then have to drive several hours with little sleep.
klondike - I just wonder if it would be more prudent to rent the car only and not use the train to get to Brittany and then pick up the car. I didn't want to have to drive, in a different country, on little sleep. Safety is my biggest concern. Guess I have a few months to ponder before making a decision.
A number of factors will influence the next strike.
First of all, the general strike in Spain on September 29th will give inspiration to the French strikers if it is a massive success (and it looks like it might be). Neighboring countries watch each other a lot for things like this, because they are often striking for the same reasons.
Next, on Saturday October 2nd, there will be a day of protest marches to allow those of us who cannot strike to show whether we support the movement or not. The success (or failure) on October 2nd will greatly influence participation on October 12th.
Finally, whatever the politicians say does have a certain amount of importance. They are capable of saying just about anything, and unwise words could make a real difference.
Therefore, please don't ask any questions about the next strike until October 3rd at the earliest.
First of all, the general strike in Spain on September 29th will give inspiration to the French strikers if it is a massive success (and it looks like it might be). Neighboring countries watch each other a lot for things like this, because they are often striking for the same reasons.
Next, on Saturday October 2nd, there will be a day of protest marches to allow those of us who cannot strike to show whether we support the movement or not. The success (or failure) on October 2nd will greatly influence participation on October 12th.
Finally, whatever the politicians say does have a certain amount of importance. They are capable of saying just about anything, and unwise words could make a real difference.
Therefore, please don't ask any questions about the next strike until October 3rd at the earliest.
October 2nd is not at all a strike day.
As for yesterday's strike day, everything was operating above 50%, which is of course not comforting for people with specific reservations that were not respected, but not bad for those of who take the metro or bus to get to work.
As for yesterday's strike day, everything was operating above 50%, which is of course not comforting for people with specific reservations that were not respected, but not bad for those of who take the metro or bus to get to work.
Tonight it was announced that the metro strike on October 12th will be "unlimited." Now that one union has announced its intentions, it is time to start paying attention to what the other unions will decide (many will not decide until Friday).
kerouac,
Thank you for all the info...as luck would have it, we arrive on the 12th. Have been there for strikes before, but always lasting 24 hours. What is your take on "unlimited"..is this something that has happened before?
Please keep posting to help us to know what to expect....
Thank you for all the info...as luck would have it, we arrive on the 12th. Have been there for strikes before, but always lasting 24 hours. What is your take on "unlimited"..is this something that has happened before?
Please keep posting to help us to know what to expect....
They just had a greve illimite on September 6th-7th this year. As I recall, it only lasted one day, but someone can correct that if it lasted longer. It was announced as a greve illimite. I think they had one down in Marseille last year for garbage pickup that lasted a week.
Okay, about all of the unions in transportation have now called for an unlimited strike.
This does not mean it will really happen, because that will be decided only if the strike on October 12th is widely followed. The government clearly has the jitters, because Sarkozy personally announced some more softening of some of the retirement law details today -- he is not even waiting for the debate and vote by the Senate.
This does not mean it will really happen, because that will be decided only if the strike on October 12th is widely followed. The government clearly has the jitters, because Sarkozy personally announced some more softening of some of the retirement law details today -- he is not even waiting for the debate and vote by the Senate.
Christina, I think you confused <i>grève illimité</i> (actually <i>grève reconductible</i> in proper terms) with <i>grève général</i>. They are not at all the same thing, although they can happen simultaneously, which is the current plan.
There were a few local unlimited SNCF strikes at the beginning of the year, which disrupted commuter traffic on certain lines for a week or so.
There were a few local unlimited SNCF strikes at the beginning of the year, which disrupted commuter traffic on certain lines for a week or so.
Will this strike include air traffic as well? I think we can get by without rail and metro, but I'll be so sad if we are stuck in London with a cancelled flight. We fly from the U.S. on the 13th, so I wasn't worried at all until it became an unlimited strike.
