Train strike to end on Wednesday?

TRAIN services across France are expected to gradually return to normal between now and Wednesday, according to the SNCF.

Drivers and conductors have been on strike for the past 13 days, disrupting school holiday travel.

The rail operator is holding a round-table meeting with unions on Wednesday and negotiations are ongoing at a regional level with the two main unions, CGT and Sud Rail.

Services in some of the worst-hit regions, including Paca, Auvergne and the Midi-Pyrénées are gradually returning to normal from today.

The SNCF says 90% of TGVs are running today, 80% of TERs and 68% of Corail services.

Transport Secretary Dominique Bussereau said in an interview with Europe 1 this weekend that the strike was being pursued by "a tiny minority".

Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo told Le Journal du Dimanche that striking drivers should return to work as a goodwill gesture towards the thousands of travellers stranded due to the plane cancellations.