A new strike by French rail inspectors commenced Friday and is set to continue until the upcoming Monday, potentially causing significant disruptions, especially as it coincides with the mid-winter holidays and school vacation period, affecting train movement across France.
The national railway company of France, SNCF, announced that the strike, demanding wage increases, will impact rail services over the weekend, with the company and union representatives still far from reaching an agreement.
To mitigate disruptions, SNCF has planned to operate only half of its high-speed trains (TGV) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to the strike, prioritizing the most crowded and in-demand trains, particularly those heading to the Alps during the peak ski season of the winter holidays.
The company has assured passengers that ticket exchanges or full refunds are possible.
Fabien Villedieu, a representative of the Sud Rail union, stated that the strike could be called off if there is a total monthly wage increase of 150 to 200 euros, a proposition not favored by the management.
Jean-Pierre Farandou, the head of SNCF, countered by saying that salaries have already significantly increased in recent years and announced additional bonuses and measures for all 10,000 railway employees, including inspectors and staff.
Disruptions have been felt at train stations since Thursday evening, leading to dissatisfaction and inconvenience among many citizens eager to leave Paris for holidays in other cities and regions, only to find their travel plans canceled.
