SNCF Announces Major Train Service Continuity Amid Ongoing Strike
Ninety percent of trains expected to operate during the May 8 holiday weekend, despite rail worker strikes.
The French railway operator SNCF is set to maintain significant rail services during the upcoming May 8 holiday, with reports indicating that 90% of trains will run over the weekend.
This announcement comes from SNCF's CEO, Jean-Pierre Farandou, who addressed concerns regarding ongoing strikes affecting various railway staff categories.
On May 6, travelers on major services including Inoui, Ouigo, and Intercités will be informed about train operations in relation to the mid-week holiday.
Farandou expressed confidence, stating that 'all departures will proceed smoothly' owing to minimal strike activity earlier in the week.
He reassured passengers that services would be normal on May 9, with designated trains available Sunday for return journeys.
The strike, initiated by labor unions including CGT-Cheminots and SUD-Rail, is focused on demands for increased salaries and better scheduling practices, which union representatives claim are frequently altered at short notice.
Notably, a prominent group of train conductors, known as the Collectif national ASCT, has joined in the strike call, indicating a broader mobilization among railway workers.
On the first day of the strike, May 5, long-distance trains largely operated as scheduled, while local services faced disruptions, particularly in the northern regions such as Nord and Pas-de-Calais, where one in three trains was not in service.
Weakened services also affected certain lines in the Île-de-France area, including the RER B.
According to SNCF, train and RER operations are expected to face comparable disruptions on May 6 as experienced on the previous day.
The SNCF noted that the situation would remain 'far from a black week,' with continuity assured for TGV services from May 5 until the 8th and the majority of services resuming on the 9th through the 11th.
Furthermore, SNCF officials have committed to ensuring that customers are informed of train schedules prior to departure for the long weekend.
This includes notifications for return journeys scheduled up to May 11. Travelers have also been informed that all tickets for TGV Inoui and Ouigo services are exchangeable and refundable without fees for the week of May 5-11.
As the situation develops, alternative travel arrangements are reportedly on the rise.
Car rental agency Ada noted a 30% increase in reservations for the upcoming holiday weekend compared to the previous year, when May 8 also fell on a Wednesday.
This announcement comes from SNCF's CEO, Jean-Pierre Farandou, who addressed concerns regarding ongoing strikes affecting various railway staff categories.
On May 6, travelers on major services including Inoui, Ouigo, and Intercités will be informed about train operations in relation to the mid-week holiday.
Farandou expressed confidence, stating that 'all departures will proceed smoothly' owing to minimal strike activity earlier in the week.
He reassured passengers that services would be normal on May 9, with designated trains available Sunday for return journeys.
The strike, initiated by labor unions including CGT-Cheminots and SUD-Rail, is focused on demands for increased salaries and better scheduling practices, which union representatives claim are frequently altered at short notice.
Notably, a prominent group of train conductors, known as the Collectif national ASCT, has joined in the strike call, indicating a broader mobilization among railway workers.
On the first day of the strike, May 5, long-distance trains largely operated as scheduled, while local services faced disruptions, particularly in the northern regions such as Nord and Pas-de-Calais, where one in three trains was not in service.
Weakened services also affected certain lines in the Île-de-France area, including the RER B.
According to SNCF, train and RER operations are expected to face comparable disruptions on May 6 as experienced on the previous day.
The SNCF noted that the situation would remain 'far from a black week,' with continuity assured for TGV services from May 5 until the 8th and the majority of services resuming on the 9th through the 11th.
Furthermore, SNCF officials have committed to ensuring that customers are informed of train schedules prior to departure for the long weekend.
This includes notifications for return journeys scheduled up to May 11. Travelers have also been informed that all tickets for TGV Inoui and Ouigo services are exchangeable and refundable without fees for the week of May 5-11.
As the situation develops, alternative travel arrangements are reportedly on the rise.
Car rental agency Ada noted a 30% increase in reservations for the upcoming holiday weekend compared to the previous year, when May 8 also fell on a Wednesday.
