National Strike Thursday June 24

A general strike has been announced in France for Thursday June 24 to protest fiscal reforms in retirement plans, including most government offices, public transportation, and airports. But this is no reason for the general panic. These days it’s more like “Strike Lite” with more public demonstrations than actual freezing of the public services:

Paris Transport

According to the RATP website, there will be 6 metros out of 10 running, 2 out of 3 trains on the RER A, and 1 train out of 3 on RER B (attention: no stops of RER B between Denfert-Rochereau et gare du Nord). The bus and tram lines will only be “perturbed”, which is really a non-event. You can call the RATP toll-free number for the latest info (in French) at 0 800 15 11 11.

SNCF and TGV

Regional and national trains will only be running at 50% (one train out of two for the mathematically challenged) throughout the day, starting tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm and lasting until Friday morning at 8am. The SNCF hotline is 0 805 90 36 35 for the Grandes Lignes, TER, Téoz and Intercotés trains, or 0 805 70 08 05 for Transilien trains.

The following French towns will also participate in the public transit strike:

Aix-les-Bains, Alès, Angers, Annecy, Annemasse, Antibes, Aurillac, Avignon, Bayonne, Besançon, Bordeaux, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bourges, Brest, Caen, Cannes, Châlons-en-Champagne, Chambéry, Charleville-Mézières, Le Creusot/Montceau-les-Mines, Clermont-Ferrand, Dieppe, Dijon, Douai, Dunkerque, Evreux, Istres, Laval, Lille, Lorient, Lyon, Marseille, Maubeuge, Mont-de-Marsan, Montélimar, Montluçon, Montpellier, Morlaix, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nîmes, Orléans, Pau, Perpignan, Poitiers, Quimper, La Rochelle, Rennes, Rouen, Royan, Saint-Etienne, Saint-Malo, Saint-Nazaire, Saintes, Saumur, Strasbourg, Thionville, Toulon, Toulouse, Tours, Valence, Valenciennes, Vannes, Vierzon.

Angoulême, Nice, Béziers and Cherbourg “might” go on strike with just one-hour notice, be forewarned!

Eurostar Service Running Normal Schedule

The Eurostar will not be on strike, so if you can get to the station on time, you’re good!

Paris Airports

Approximately 30% of all flights coming in and out of Orly Airport will be cancelled, but only 15% of flights will be cancelled at Roissy-Charles De Gaulle Airport. So far, nothing announced on the Aeroports de Paris website, but if you’re in France you can call their helpline at 3950. According to Air France, they expect no cancellations at Roissy and only 17% at Orly, but do check their website for last-minute news.