Train drivers strike bites
Severe disruption across the country with services resuming from Friday.
TRAIN drivers are striking in protest at plans by the SNCF to extend new contracts.
Unions are protesting in advance of a meeting on November 12 where rail directors and government officials will discuss changes to work contracts.
The SNCF want to introduce contracts currently in use for freight train drivers to the public transport sector.
Freight transportation has been privatised ahead of public transport and the SNCF says it wishes to ensure it is better prepared to face competition.
Unions are protesting against what they claim will be a deterioration of working conditions and safety.
According to the SNCF services on the international TGV lines (Eurostar, Alleo, Lyria) will not be affected and the majority of trains on the TGV Est and Nord lines will also run.
On the TGV Atlantique line, one in two trains will run while one in four on the TGV Sud-Est line will be cancelled.
Local TER services are expected to be worst affected, although the SNCF claims 50% of services will still run on these routes and on Corail intercity lines.
SNCF managers in Paris said 35% of services would be running on RER B with no cross connections at Paris Nord. The RER C, RER D and RER E would be running at 65%, 50% and 65% respectively.
Line A will not be affected.
Services will begin running again on Friday morning but disruption could last longer.
