General strike on Tuesday to disrupt trains, metros, flights

French trade unions have called for a general strike Tuesday, 12 October, which could go on for more than a day. Trains, metros and flights are expected to be disrupted in protest of the government’s plan to reform pensions.

According to some public opinion surveys, over 60 per cent of French people support more strike actions against government plans to raise the retirement age, despite recent changes in the law.

Rail, transit and airline workers are expected to strike Tuesday, as well as teachers, energy companies and public service workers. A march is planned Tuesday afternoon in Paris between Montparnasse and Bastille.

See below for details on expected travel delays.

Rail workers and Paris transit workers have declared an unlimited strike, which means they will vote each day whether or not to continue. Air France unions have called a 24-hour strike, and public service workers have called for a strike from 12-18 October.

Unions are also organising a national day of protest on Saturday, 16 October, for those who want to demonstrate their displeasure with the pension reform plan without losing a day of work by striking.

Here are some details on what to expect if you are travelling by train or plane on Tuesday:

Paris public transit:

- Delays on some metro lines starting from 10:30pm Monday evening

- One out of two metros on lines 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

- Two out of three metros on lines 3, 4, 8, 13

- Three out of four metros on line 6

- Normal traffic on lines 1, 11, 14

- Three out of four buses will be running

- Trams will run almost normally

Visit ratp.fr for up-to-date information

Paris region:

- About two out of five Paris regional trains will run during rush hours

- RER A: More than one out of two running

- RER B: one out of five, south only (no service north of Denfert-Rochereau)

Visit abcdtrains.com (French only) for detailed timetables

High-speed TGV trains:

- One out of three trains will run between Paris and other regions of France

- One out of five will run between regions

Regional trains:

- Two out of five TER trains will be running

- One out of three Corail trains will be running

International rail:

- Normal traffic expected for Eurostar trains going to London

- Four out of five Thalys trains will run to Belgium and the Netherlands

- Two out of three trains to Germany

- Four out of five trains to Switzerland

- Overnight international trains will not run as of Monday, except for Paris-Rome

Airlines:

- Charles de Gaulle airport: 30 per cent of flights will be cancelled

- Orly and Beauvais airports: half of all flights will be cancelled

- Air France has said it will maintain most of its long-haul flights, but that some domestic and European flights could be cancelled