SNCF STRIKE. The unions are unanimously calling for a transport strike on Thursday November 21, 2024, the last ultimatum before a renewable strike on December 11. What are the TGV, Intercity and RER traffic forecasts?
[Mis à jour le 15 novembre 2024 à 15h37] The threat hangs over the end-of-year holidays. After calling with one voice for a strike next Thursday, November 21, the SNCF unions announced a renewable strike every 24 hours from Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 7 p.m., ten days before the start of the school holidays Christmas, via a press release published on Saturday November 9.
The CGT-Cheminots, Unsa-Ferroviaire, Sud-Rail and the CFDT-Cheminots had already warned in their press release entitled “The time has come for conflict at the SNCF”, that November 21 would be “an ultimatum” before “a longer and stronger strike movement in December” if they were not heard by the management of the SNCF.
The railway workers present their demands as “act 2 of the 2018 railway counter-reform” which transformed the SNCF into public limited companies to prepare for the opening to competition. In their press release, they denounce the “creeping privatization” of the railway company, “the liquidation of Fret SNCF” but also “the privatization in the TER, Transilien and Intercités activities” and “the breakup of SNCF Réseau”, evoking “massive job cuts” and “deterioration of working conditions”, following a meeting with management to discuss opening up to competition.
The consequences for SNCF users are likely to be considerable. Disruptions are expected on the main lines (TGV, Intercités), the medium lines (TER) as well as the smaller ones in the Paris region (Transilien and RER) managed by the SNCF. On December 11, if the strike is renewed, it could disrupt planned journeys during the Christmas and end-of-year holidays.
What traffic disruptions during the SNCF strike?
The strike on Thursday, November 21 is taking place from Wednesday November 20 at 7 p.m. to Friday November 22 at 8 a.m.. Traffic will therefore return to normal on Friday, November 22. Detailed disruptions have not yet been announced, and you will be the first to know on this page.
In December, users of main lines (TGV, Intercités), medium lines (TER) as well as smaller lines on the Île-de-France network (Transilien and RER managed by SNCF) could expect strong disruptions from December 11 from 7 p.m., but we do not know for how long.
Canceled TGV and Intercités travelers receive information via e-mail or SMS between 24 and 48 hours in advance (provided they have provided their contact details when booking). On the other hand, TER users without connections do not receive SMS messages. It is advisable to verify the information by providing train number the day before and just before departure on the SNCF site.
Where to follow SNCF traffic forecasts?
SNCF users can quickly check the traffic status and find out if a particular train has been canceled or if it is leaving late. For information concerning TGVs, the telephone number made available is 0 805 90 36 35. To follow the traffic of all major or medium lines (TGV, Intercités, TER), go to this page of the SNCF. For information on the Transilien or RER in the Paris suburbs, you must call 0 805 90 36 35 or consult the dedicated platform.