'Light disruption' to planes and trains in France over Christmas
Despite several planned strikes, transport bosses say that most services will run as normal over the festive period, with the transport minister saying: "There will be trains, there will be planes".
Several unions have filed strike notices for this weekend - the traditional getaway weekend as schools finish for the holidays - and the Christmas and New Year weekends.
However train and airline companies say the disruption will be minimal and most services will run as normal.
"I'm fairly confident that there won't be any major disruptions," said transport minister Clément Beaune on France 2. "There will be trains, there will be planes"
December 16th/17th/18th
French schools finish for the holidays on Friday, so many families have plans to travel this weekend.
The Sud-Rail union has announced a nationwide strike while four unions have announced strike action in the south west.
SNCF said that "around 20" TGV trains would be cancelled on Friday, out of 700 scheduled to run that day, with a "normal or quasi normal" service on most routes.
The worst affected area will be the TGV Atlantic route to the south-west, where 9 out of 10 trains will run. The worst-affected route will be Paris-Bordeaux, which will see only around two thirds of normal services running.
SNCF management said that regarding circulation on Saturday, about 20 TGV trains of the 650 set to run that day were set to be cancelled, primarily impacting the Atlantic route where, like Friday, nearly 9 out of 10 trains will continue running.
Some disruptions were expected on Saturday on regional trains, such as the TER and Transilien, particularly in the Paris region. The RER in Paris may also see disruptions. According to Linternaute, travellers on the RER C can expect one out of every two trains to be running with services ending at 10 pm, as well as possible cancellations on the RER D and delays on the Transilien N, P and R.
Detailed timelines with specific lines to be affected will be announced by SNCF at 5pm on Friday.
December 24th/25th/26th and December 30th/31st/January 1st
Unions have also filed provisional strike notices for the Christmas and New Year weekends, and if this goes ahead it is likely to be more disruptive - a similar action earlier in December saw about two thirds of TGV and Intercité trains cancelled, although local TER and suburban trains ran as normal.
Talks were still underway on Friday, after they were set to conclude on Thursday, with unions and management failing to reach an agreement. SNCF set an ultimatum, asking unions and collectives representing ticket collectors and conductors to reach an agreement by noon on Monday, according to AFP.
The head of the collective representing ticket collectors and conductors, Nicolas Limon, told AFP on Friday that "We are really not far from an agreement" despite "some stumbling blocks."
Previous strike action by ticket collectors and conductors in early December saw around 60 percent of high-speed and intercity trains cancelled in France.
Flights
Several unions representing cabin crew have also filed provisional strike notices for the Christmas period.
Air France cabin crew have filed a notice running from December 22nd to January 2nd, although talks are ongoing and an Air France spokesman said: "Air France plans to carry all its customers and does not foresee any cancellations at this stage."
Air Antilles, which flies between France and its overseas territories, has also called a strike from December 17th to 22nd, however Easyjet cabin crew have called off their strike after successful pay negotiations.
You can find the latest information in our strike section HERE.
Anyone planning a trip to the UK should be aware of major industrial action that is likely to affect all forms of travel - full details HERE.
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Several unions have filed strike notices for this weekend - the traditional getaway weekend as schools finish for the holidays - and the Christmas and New Year weekends.
However train and airline companies say the disruption will be minimal and most services will run as normal.
"I'm fairly confident that there won't be any major disruptions," said transport minister Clément Beaune on France 2. "There will be trains, there will be planes"
December 16th/17th/18th
French schools finish for the holidays on Friday, so many families have plans to travel this weekend.
The Sud-Rail union has announced a nationwide strike while four unions have announced strike action in the south west.
SNCF said that "around 20" TGV trains would be cancelled on Friday, out of 700 scheduled to run that day, with a "normal or quasi normal" service on most routes.
The worst affected area will be the TGV Atlantic route to the south-west, where 9 out of 10 trains will run. The worst-affected route will be Paris-Bordeaux, which will see only around two thirds of normal services running.
SNCF management said that regarding circulation on Saturday, about 20 TGV trains of the 650 set to run that day were set to be cancelled, primarily impacting the Atlantic route where, like Friday, nearly 9 out of 10 trains will continue running.
Some disruptions were expected on Saturday on regional trains, such as the TER and Transilien, particularly in the Paris region. The RER in Paris may also see disruptions. According to Linternaute, travellers on the RER C can expect one out of every two trains to be running with services ending at 10 pm, as well as possible cancellations on the RER D and delays on the Transilien N, P and R.
Detailed timelines with specific lines to be affected will be announced by SNCF at 5pm on Friday.
December 24th/25th/26th and December 30th/31st/January 1st
Unions have also filed provisional strike notices for the Christmas and New Year weekends, and if this goes ahead it is likely to be more disruptive - a similar action earlier in December saw about two thirds of TGV and Intercité trains cancelled, although local TER and suburban trains ran as normal.
Talks were still underway on Friday, after they were set to conclude on Thursday, with unions and management failing to reach an agreement. SNCF set an ultimatum, asking unions and collectives representing ticket collectors and conductors to reach an agreement by noon on Monday, according to AFP.
The head of the collective representing ticket collectors and conductors, Nicolas Limon, told AFP on Friday that "We are really not far from an agreement" despite "some stumbling blocks."
Previous strike action by ticket collectors and conductors in early December saw around 60 percent of high-speed and intercity trains cancelled in France.
Flights
Several unions representing cabin crew have also filed provisional strike notices for the Christmas period.
Air France cabin crew have filed a notice running from December 22nd to January 2nd, although talks are ongoing and an Air France spokesman said: "Air France plans to carry all its customers and does not foresee any cancellations at this stage."
Air Antilles, which flies between France and its overseas territories, has also called a strike from December 17th to 22nd, however Easyjet cabin crew have called off their strike after successful pay negotiations.
You can find the latest information in our strike section HERE.
Anyone planning a trip to the UK should be aware of major industrial action that is likely to affect all forms of travel - full details HERE.
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