Rail strike, France Sept 6-10,2010 ??
 

We are to fly into CDG on 10 Sept and take a train from CDG to Lyon to board a river cruise. Heard on news to threatened strikes this week to protest raising the retirement age in France. Targeting the fast trains, which is what we are to take. Suggestions for recovery if they strike on Friday the 10th?

From my experience, they seem to have a few trains running during strikes - but you never know which ones until the day before or later.
I have freaked out in the past, but always seemed to get where I needed to go. Usually back to Paris to get my plane back home. It's very disconcerting - but good luck to you!

Now that the French have returned from their summer vacations - let the strikes begin !!!

Lyon is a 4 1/2 drive from CDG. Consider renting a car if things look bad when you arrive.

Stu Dudley

Thanks for the encouragement. appears this changes daily so I'll monitor from here. As I have non refundable rail tickets from CDG, if that is on stricke, probably all other options will be crowded or not available!

The rail strike should be finished by 8am on September 8th.

They usually strike one day, I never read anything about it being Sept 10th? And I read the French news, it was today, starting at 8 pm last night. They announced the day months ago, that it was the 6th. SNCF is running about 40 pct of trains, I believe, for TGV and Transilien, 25 pct of Corail and 50 pct of TER trains. The metro is better than expected.

SNCF may have a strike again on Sept 16th. They don't strike out of the blue one day with no notice.

Christina,
We will be traveling from Paris to St. Raphael (TGV) on the 17th. Is there any way to check if and when there will be a strike? I have googled SNCF strikes, but can't find any information regarding future strikes. I realize they announce strikes in advance but how far? I would appreciate any information as to how to obtain news about future strikes.

according to Le Monde, about 1 hour ago <<Le retour à la normale dans les transports en commun et dans les services publics devrait être effectif dès mercredi 8 septembre au matin, au lendemain d'une journée de mobilisation qui a rassemblé .....>>

which means return to normal tomorrow.

It depends on the unions, sometimes they announce them months in advance, Sept 6th was a special day with meaning, I believe, they picked it far in advance. YOu have to google it in French, I believe, that's what I did. If you can't read French, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to find out what they are planning in advance. They have articles about it in the press in advance, and I get news headlines from Yahoo France, it's often in there. There were articles about this strike in all the French press in mid to late-August.

Here's a French transport strike blog, I think you can get email notices http://greve-transport.blogspot.com/

Here is the article I read in Les Echos about the potential SNCF strike on 16 sept: http://www.lesechos.fr/info/france/0...-septembre.htm

I know they have announcements on their own website, but usually they are not far in advance, unfortunately, but I think they often do a couple days in advance. It should be in the "actualites" or press communication section. I think right now it's on the front page if you click on "info traffic sncf".

Thanks Christina, I read just enough French to get by. I should be able to understand enough to determine whether it'll affect my travel plans.

The unions were very happy with today's turnout and they are thinking about doing something next week if the government does not budge.

Currently, it appears someting is called for Sept 23rd. I know they were thinking about the 18th before. Latest article:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100908...s-ca02f96.html

Well if they strike on the 23rd, I'll be driving through the Corbières.