Summer Travel in France at Risk From Looming Rail Strike
Rail workers in France are threatening to strike at the height of the summer holidays, which could lead to major train disruptions.
French summer strike
Last month, the French railway workers’ union SUD Rail filed a formal strike notice covering the entire summer holiday period.
This allows the union to call a rail strike in France at any time up to 1 September 2025.
The notice was not filed because the union intends to strike throughout the entire summer, but to give railway workers the option to organise strikes at short notice on any day during the holiday season, in order to cause maximum disruption.
Ouigo and inOui TGV trains. ©AndyBTravels
Strike impact
SUD Rail, along with other railway unions, already organised strikes across France in May.
However, since these strikes were announced in advance, the French national railway company SNCF was able to put alternatives in place to minimise most disruptions.
Now having the option to call industrial action at short notice during the summer, SUD Rail hopes that any disruption this time will have a greater impact on the railway company.
With more rail workers on holiday themselves, they predict that SNCF will this time be unable to recruit enough volunteers to cover for those on strike.
Union demands
Julien Troccaz, the federal secretary of SUD Rail, said that the union’s demands “have not disappeared” since the strike in May.
Mr Troccaz explained: “We have always said that we wanted real negotiations to begin.
“This is not the case, so, in fact, the threat of a strike exists.”
French railway unions have been protesting what they describe as worsening working conditions, unpredictable schedules, and insufficient pay.
TER regional train at the station of Mulhouse in France. ©AndyBTravels
How to prepare for a possible strike
If you’re travelling to France by train this summer, it’s wise to follow local news to stay updated on any potential strikes.
A quick Google search using terms such as “grève SNCF” (SNCF strike) will instantly provide the latest news stories on the topic.
Although French rail workers can strike at short notice throughout the summer, they are still legally required to announce any strike at least 48 hours in advance.
If you have booked a long-distance or high-speed TGV train directly with SNCF, the company will likely email you within this period to inform you whether your train has been cancelled or is scheduled to run as normal.
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, although last minute changes or cancellations are always possible.
SNCF generally permits a full refund or free ticket exchange for a later date when a train is cancelled due to the strike.
TGV trains at Lille Flandres station. ©AndyBTravels
Conclusion
A railway workers’ union in France has filed a strike notice covering the entire summer holiday, giving them the ability to call a last-minute strike at any time with the aim of causing maximum disruption.
Although it’s uncertain if – and when – a strike will take place this summer, travellers to France should be aware of the possibility and keep an eye on local news to avoid being caught out.
