French rail operator offers reassurance over Christmas travel strikes

SNCF has announced that “at least” two in three trains will be running as scheduled this weekend, for which two rail unions have issued a strike notice.

Read more: Rail strikes called on Christmas and New Year weekends in France

Alain Krakovitch, the director of TGV-Intercités has said during a press conference that two in three trains will be operating as normal on the Atlantic coast network, and three in four trains in the east.

Three in every four scheduled Ouigo services will also be running.

Mr Krakovitch added that Paris-Lille services and Intercités trains will be operating “almost as normal”.

As for international services, Eurostar and Thalys services will not be affected. However, Eurostar trains will be impacted by a UK security staff strike on December 26, when no services will be running from London.

Read more: UK Eurostar security workers to strike in lead-up to Christmas

Read more: Christmas travel France: latest on air and rail strikes

This weekend’s French strike concerns ticket inspectors (contrôleurs), who are protesting against their current pay and career progression.

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