These are the train services running in France until December 29th as strikes continue
As strikes continue and hopes of a 'Christmas truce' were dashed, French rail operator SNCF has published its reduced timetables going up to Thursday, December 26th.
It had been hoped that unions would declare a 'Christmas truce' to allow people to travel as normal on the trains over the festive period, but despite some progress in talks on Thursday, the two biggest rail unions - the CGT and Sud-Rail - have ruled this out.
READ ALSO Is there a deal in sight between the French government and striking workers?
Rail operator SNCF has now published its revised strike timetables running up to December 26th and overall over the holidays it is managing to run about half of its normal services.
Here's what is running.
Saturday, December 21st and Sunday, December 22nd
This was set to be the big weekend getaway, as the majority of French schools break up on Friday, hundreds of thousands of families had planned to travel over the weekend.
According to SNCF, 1.7 million people had booked tickets for the weekend, but only about 850,000 will be able to travel.
In total, half of the usual high speed TGV services will run, although almost all the budget Ouigo services will be running.
Anyone whose train is cancelled has the option to attempt to switch to another service, or claim a full refund while anyone who decided not to travel because of the strike can also claim a full refund.
Monday, December 23rd and Tuesday, December 24th
For those who want to make their Christmas getaway slightly later, a total of 41 percent of high speed TGV and Intercité services will be running.
Demand for these two days was lower than the weekend, but around 400,000 people had pre-booked tickets for these two days, about half of whom will be able to travel as planned.
In total, SNCF says 208,000 people have had their train confirmed, while a further three percent of services will run with an adapted timetable - coupled to a later running train in order to maximise the number of passengers transported with a single driver.
But 192,000 passengers will have to either cancel their trip or try to find a ticket for a different service.
Wednesday, December 25th and Thursday, December 26th
The same level of service will be running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day - 41 percent of the total services normally seen.
Four in 10 TGV services will be running.
Friday, December 27th, Saturday, December 28th and Sunday, December 29th
There will be an increased level of service over this weekend, with SNCF saying it will be able to guarantee six out of 10 of the normal TGV services.
SNCF says the 'majority' of the 800,000 people who had booked tickets over this weekend will be able to travel, albeit perhaps not at their original time.
On Friday and over the second weekend of the holiday period there will be six in 10 TGVs running and seven in 10 of the normal Ouigo services.
There will also be an increase in international services, with 41 percent of Lyria trains between France and Switzerland, 50 percent of Elipsos trains between France and Spain, 67 percent of TGV trains between France and Italy and 38 percent of Alleo trains between France and Germany.
The Eurostar is also running a reduced service and has already published a timetable running to December 31st on its website.
The increase in services follows the normal pattern of long-term strikes in France when many workers - who are not paid during strikes - may begin returning to work as they feel the financial effects of almost a month without pay.
On Monday, December 23rd, just 44.7 percent of SNCF drivers were striking, down from 85 percent at the start of the strikes and the first time the strike levels had fallen below 50 percent since the strike action began on December 5th.
Full details of SNCF services are available on the company's website here - and there is also an SNCF app which provides updates for ticket holders.
Comments
See Also
It had been hoped that unions would declare a 'Christmas truce' to allow people to travel as normal on the trains over the festive period, but despite some progress in talks on Thursday, the two biggest rail unions - the CGT and Sud-Rail - have ruled this out.
READ ALSO Is there a deal in sight between the French government and striking workers?
Rail operator SNCF has now published its revised strike timetables running up to December 26th and overall over the holidays it is managing to run about half of its normal services.
Here's what is running.
Saturday, December 21st and Sunday, December 22nd
This was set to be the big weekend getaway, as the majority of French schools break up on Friday, hundreds of thousands of families had planned to travel over the weekend.
According to SNCF, 1.7 million people had booked tickets for the weekend, but only about 850,000 will be able to travel.
In total, half of the usual high speed TGV services will run, although almost all the budget Ouigo services will be running.
Anyone whose train is cancelled has the option to attempt to switch to another service, or claim a full refund while anyone who decided not to travel because of the strike can also claim a full refund.
Monday, December 23rd and Tuesday, December 24th
For those who want to make their Christmas getaway slightly later, a total of 41 percent of high speed TGV and Intercité services will be running.
Demand for these two days was lower than the weekend, but around 400,000 people had pre-booked tickets for these two days, about half of whom will be able to travel as planned.
In total, SNCF says 208,000 people have had their train confirmed, while a further three percent of services will run with an adapted timetable - coupled to a later running train in order to maximise the number of passengers transported with a single driver.
But 192,000 passengers will have to either cancel their trip or try to find a ticket for a different service.
Wednesday, December 25th and Thursday, December 26th
The same level of service will be running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day - 41 percent of the total services normally seen.
Four in 10 TGV services will be running.
Friday, December 27th, Saturday, December 28th and Sunday, December 29th
There will be an increased level of service over this weekend, with SNCF saying it will be able to guarantee six out of 10 of the normal TGV services.
SNCF says the 'majority' of the 800,000 people who had booked tickets over this weekend will be able to travel, albeit perhaps not at their original time.
On Friday and over the second weekend of the holiday period there will be six in 10 TGVs running and seven in 10 of the normal Ouigo services.
There will also be an increase in international services, with 41 percent of Lyria trains between France and Switzerland, 50 percent of Elipsos trains between France and Spain, 67 percent of TGV trains between France and Italy and 38 percent of Alleo trains between France and Germany.
The Eurostar is also running a reduced service and has already published a timetable running to December 31st on its website.
The increase in services follows the normal pattern of long-term strikes in France when many workers - who are not paid during strikes - may begin returning to work as they feel the financial effects of almost a month without pay.
On Monday, December 23rd, just 44.7 percent of SNCF drivers were striking, down from 85 percent at the start of the strikes and the first time the strike levels had fallen below 50 percent since the strike action began on December 5th.
Full details of SNCF services are available on the company's website here - and there is also an SNCF app which provides updates for ticket holders.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.