Weekend train strike called off

Services should be normal this weekend, except some small disruptions in Brittany and Champagne-Ardenne are possible

Published Wednesday 30 November 2016 - 15:32 Modified Wednesday 30 November 2016 - 15:32

TRAIN drivers and conductors have called off plans for a nationwide strike that would have affected rail services from this evening.

Three unions - CGT, UNSA and CFDT - were planning to walk out over proposed changes to open up SNCF to competition but backed down after a meeting with SNCF management yesterday morning.

The strike would have coincided with the introduction of the new winter timetable, which workers say requires "an increase in productivity" without any extra staffing.

Some services in Champagne-Ardenne and Brittany might still be disrupted, as a conductors' union Sud has decided to go ahead with industrial action at a local level.

You can check your local train service disruptions at www.ter-sncf.com

New pollution bans from January: Which cars and which cities in France?

Changes mean vehicles with Crit’Air level 3 will be banned in four cities

What was happening in France 10, 50 and 100 years ago in December

A look back at events from the final month of the year 1924, 1974 and 2014

Interview: French cheesemonger on what it takes to become the best in the world

Vincent Philippe describes the effort that it took him to achieve the title of World's Best Cheesemonger, some of his favourite cheeses and France's biggest strengths involving cheese