Railway Strike Set to Cause Chaos Across France in May

France is bracing for a major railway strike that is expected to disrupt train services across the country in May.

French railway strike

The French train strike is part of broader nationwide social unrest, as doctors have also announced industrial action alongside railway workers.

Railway workers’ unions have called for action throughout the month of May until their demands are met, with especially the week from 5th to 11th May expected to bring major disruptions to train services across France.

As 8th May is a bank holiday in France, marking General Charles de Gaulle’s official announcement of the Liberation of France and the end of the Second World War in 1945, many people use the occasion to take a long weekend off.

The railway strike is therefore likely to disrupt the travel plans not only of foreign tourists but also of tens of thousands of French passengers expected to travel during these days.

Ouigo and inOui TGV trains. ©AndyBTravels

SNCF

The Railway Workers’ Federation (Fédération des Cheminots), the largest trade union representing railway workers in France, has called for the strike to begin on 5th May.

This union represents many of the train drivers and ticket inspectors of SNCF, the French national railway company.

Another union, SUD Rail, has also announced that it will join the industrial action.

Both unions are protesting what they describe as worsening working conditions, unpredictable work schedules, and insufficient pay.

Cancelled trains

According to French media, many inOui and Ouigo TGV trains operated by SNCF are likely to be cancelled during the strike, with predictions of a “black week” for rail transport.

SNCF has stated that it will inform passengers who booked their tickets online by email 48 hours before their journey in case their train is cancelled.

If you bought a paper ticket or haven’t booked your ticket yet, you can check the status of your train online from 48 hours before departure to see whether it will run or be cancelled due to the strike.

Generally, SNCF allows you to get a full refund or exchange your train ticket for a later date at no additional cost if your train is cancelled due to the strike.

You can find their full exchange and refund policy for the duration of the strike here.

TER Regional Train at the station of Mulhouse in France. ©AndyBTravels

Other European train strikes

So far, 2025 hasn’t been particularly kind to European rail travellers, who have already had to contend with strikes in several other countries.

Among others, railway workers in Spain and Italy have already gone on strike this year, although it is Belgium where industrial action has had the greatest impact on train traffic.

This year, railway workers in Belgium have already held strikes on 23 days.

Conclusion

Two major unions in France representing workers of SNCF, the French national railway company, have announced that they will go on strike in May.

Especially the week from 5th to 11th May is likely to see major rail strikes across the country, with some local media already calling it a “black week” for train travellers.

If your TGV train is cancelled, you can receive a full refund or have your ticket reissued for no additional cost to travel on a later date.