Strikes over plans for EU austerity

AROUND 160 separate demonstrations were planned across France today as five unions called a "day of action" as part of a Europe-wide protest against austerity measures.

The protests, in advance of the European summit tomorrow and Friday, have meant some disturbance to train schedules, varying widely across the network.

TGVs were largely unaffected although only four in five were running from Paris to Nice and on the Atlantique service to Bordeaux.

There were no overnight Intercités.

* Only one TER train in four was running on the main Marseille-Nice-Vintimille line

* 61% of TER traffic was reported OK in Aquitaine but no trains were running Bordeaux-Mont-de-Marsan, Bordeaux - Pau, Bordeaux - Hendaye. Bordeaux - Angoulême services were much reduced.

* In Paris, the RATP reported no significant disruption.

Air travel is not expected to be affected as a planned strike by ground control staff at Frankfurt Airport was banned by a court.