Industrial action by rail workers in France sharply curtailed train services on Tuesday 23 December, leaving passengers facing crowded platforms, reduced timetables and last minute cancellations just as Christmas travel across the country and wider Europe reaches its peak.

With staff walkouts affecting both major intercity links and key regional routes, authorities and the state rail operator SNCF repeatedly urged passengers to check timetables and live updates before setting out for stations.

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Strikes Hit At Start Of Christmas Getaway

The latest round of industrial action comes at a particularly sensitive moment, falling in the narrow window when millions of people travel across France to join family and friends before Christmas Eve.

Unions representing railway staff called the stoppage in the run up to the holidays to press demands on pay, staffing levels and working conditions, issues that have dogged negotiations with management throughout 2025.

Service cuts and cancellations were reported on Intercités intercity trains and on regional TER services in multiple regions, while some high speed TGV routes also operated on reduced schedules where staffing shortages could not be covered.

Preliminary forecasts published by SNCF ahead of the walkout indicated that a significant share of regional trains would be withdrawn from circulation, mirroring previous strike patterns in which local lines take the brunt of disruption while TGVs are partially protected.

The timing has added to pressure on already busy trains, as Christmas departures typically surge from 22 to 24 December. Many services were reported close to capacity even before the strike call, leaving travellers with limited options to rebook when their trains were cancelled or rescheduled at short notice.

Intercity And Regional Lines Bear The Brunt

While national traffic plans vary by region, intercity and regional rail passengers appear to have been worst affected. On comparable strike days earlier this year, the French transport ministry noted that around half of Intercités services could be withdrawn from the timetable and only around 60 percent of TER regional trains maintained, and early reports from today suggest a similar order of magnitude on several corridors.

In practical terms, that has translated into gaps of several hours between trains on some intercity routes linking provincial cities, particularly in the south and west of the country. On popular holiday lines from Paris toward the Atlantic coast, Brittany and the Pyrenees, passengers reported packed replacement services and long queues at information desks as they tried to secure alternative departures.

Regional commuters and holiday travellers on TER lines have also faced a patchwork of cancellation patterns, with some lines seeing near normal operations and others heavily reduced depending on local participation in the strike.

The uneven nature of the disruption has made it harder for passengers to judge in advance whether their particular train will run, reinforcing the official advice to consult real time updates rather than rely on printed timetables.

Passengers Confront Crowded Platforms And Last Minute Changes

Across major hubs such as Paris Gare de Lyon, Paris Montparnasse, Lyon Part Dieu and Marseille Saint Charles, the combination of peak season traffic and fewer trains has produced crowded concourses and platforms at key departure times. Travellers arriving early in hopes of securing seats have often found themselves directed to later services, while others only learned of cancellations once they reached the station.

With some TGV services still operating but at reduced frequencies, passengers displaced from cancelled Intercités or TER trains tried to transfer to high speed alternatives, creating additional pressure in standard class carriages.

SNCF has typically required compulsory reservations on long distance TGVs, limiting its ability to absorb extra travellers at short notice and leaving many people waiting for standby seats that never materialised.

Families with children and passengers carrying heavy luggage have been particularly affected by long waits and changes of plan. In previous industrial actions, consumer groups in France have warned that information failures and crowded conditions can pose safety and accessibility challenges for older travellers and those with reduced mobility, and early accounts from today suggest similar concerns as people struggled to navigate congested stations.

Authorities Urge Verification Of Timetables Before Travel

Transport authorities and SNCF management repeatedly stressed that anyone planning to travel by train should verify schedules before departing for the station. The operator’s digital channels, including its main journey planning app and regional traffic pages, carried strike banners and updated circulation forecasts from the evening before the walkout, in line with standard practice of publishing a reduced timetable 24 to 48 hours ahead of industrial action.

Officials highlighted that service levels can differ sharply from one region to another and even between lines within the same area, making localised information essential.

For example, on earlier nationwide strike days this autumn, around 90 percent of TGV services were maintained but only around 60 percent of regional trains ran on average. Those ratios can change depending on which unions are mobilised in a particular depot or maintenance centre.

Authorities also reminded passengers that in periods of industrial unrest, trains that are shown as operating can still be subject to delays if staff shortages or technical issues emerge during the day. Travellers were encouraged to enable alerts on journey planning tools and to allow extra time for connections between long distance and regional trains or urban transport networks.

Union Demands And The Political Backdrop

The current stoppage is part of a broader cycle of industrial tension in France that has affected multiple sectors throughout 2025, from education and healthcare to public administration.

Rail unions have repeatedly warned that staffing pressures, rostering changes and the pace of reform in the state owned operator are eroding working conditions, particularly for front line staff who work nights and weekends to keep long distance and regional services running.

Union leaders argue that years of incremental changes to working time, rest periods and pay scales have left the workforce stretched just as passenger numbers on French railways reach record highs. In a report earlier this year, French media highlighted a so called golden age of rail, with more people than ever opting for trains despite recurring strike threats, a trend that has compounded capacity issues on popular routes.

The political context has further complicated negotiations. Following government turmoil over the national budget and spending priorities, unions have framed their demands as part of a wider defence of public services.

Recent nationwide mobilisations at the start of December targeted austerity measures and salary freezes across the public sector, and today’s rail action is seen by organisers as a continuation of that fight focused specifically on transport.

Knock On Effects For Domestic And International Travel

Although the strike has primarily hit domestic services within France, its impact has been felt across the broader European travel network as well. Reduced frequencies on French high speed and regional lines can affect connections to international trains linking Paris and other cities with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Spain, particularly for travellers with tight schedules.

Tourism bodies noted that December is an important period for inbound visitors who rely on rail links to reach Christmas markets, ski resorts and city breaks.

While many international high speed services are often shielded from the worst of industrial action, today’s disruption has still created uncertainty for visitors who may not be familiar with French strike patterns or compensation rules.

Within France, alternative modes such as long distance coaches and carpooling platforms typically see a surge in demand on rail strike days, tightening availability and increasing prices for late bookers.

Roads around major urban areas and along key holiday corridors can become congested as more people opt to drive instead of risking a cancelled train, potentially lengthening journey times for everyone on the move.

What Travellers Can Do If Their Train Is Affected

For those whose journeys have been disrupted by today’s industrial action, SNCF’s standard policy is to offer rebooking or refunds when trains are cancelled in advance.

On previous strike days this year, passengers holding tickets for withdrawn services were able to exchange them free of charge for another departure on the same route, subject to availability, or request reimbursement if they chose to abandon travel altogether.

Passengers who decide to attempt travel despite uncertainty are advised to build additional flexibility into their plans. That can mean aiming for earlier trains than strictly necessary to make onward connections, preparing for longer waits at stations, and carrying essentials such as water, snacks and phone chargers in case of delays. Those travelling with young children or older relatives may wish to review station layouts in advance to identify quieter waiting areas or assistance points.

Travel insurers sometimes cover additional costs incurred due to strike related disruption, such as extra accommodation or alternative transport, but conditions vary widely between policies.

Travellers are encouraged to review their coverage and keep records of cancellations or delays in case they need to support later claims. As industrial relations on the French rail network remain tense, adopting this level of preparedness can help mitigate the impact of any further stoppages over the remainder of the holiday season.

FAQ

Q1. Which rail services in France were most affected by today’s industrial action?
Intercités intercity trains and regional TER services experienced the heaviest disruption, with multiple cancellations and reduced frequencies on key routes. Some high speed TGV services also ran on limited schedules where staffing gaps could not be covered.

Q2. Are high speed TGV trains running normally during the strike?
TGV services have been relatively better protected than regional lines, but they are not entirely immune. On similar strike days earlier this year, around 90 percent of TGVs operated, and early indications suggest a comparable situation today, although some trains were cancelled or consolidated, leading to crowding.

Q3. How can I check if my train is running?
Passengers should consult official journey planning tools and live traffic information from SNCF and regional operators before heading to the station. These channels are updated from the evening before strike action and throughout the day, reflecting cancellations, delays and changes of platform.

Q4. What should I do if my train is cancelled because of the strike?
If your train is cancelled, you are generally entitled to a free exchange onto another available service on the same route or a full refund if you decide not to travel. Rebooking is usually possible online, via mobile apps or at station ticket counters, though queues at staffed desks may be long during strikes.

Q5. Are international trains to and from France also disrupted?
International high speed services tend to be maintained as much as possible, but they can still be affected indirectly through staff availability or congestion on shared tracks. Travellers using cross border trains should check both the French operator’s information and that of the foreign partner railway on the day of travel.

Q6. Will I receive compensation for delays caused by the strike?
Compensation rules depend on the length of the delay and the type of service. Many long distance tickets include delay compensation above certain thresholds, even during industrial action. Passengers should keep proof of their journey and consult the conditions of carriage or customer service channels to submit a claim if eligible.

Q7. How far in advance are French rail strikes usually announced?
Strike notices are typically filed several days to weeks in advance, but detailed traffic plans and lists of cancelled trains are often only published 24 to 48 hours before the action begins. This means travellers may know a strike is planned but not its exact impact until shortly before departure.

Q8. What alternatives are available if I cannot travel by train?
On strike days many passengers switch to long distance buses, carpooling platforms or rental cars, although availability tightens quickly and prices can rise. In cities, urban public transport services may also be affected, so some travellers opt for walking, cycling or taxis where possible.

Q9. Is it safe to travel through major stations during the strike?
French stations remain open and staffed during industrial action, but they can become very crowded at peak times due to fewer trains and more people on each departure. Authorities recommend allowing extra time, following signage and staff instructions, and paying particular attention when boarding or alighting from busy trains.

Q10. Could there be further rail disruption in France during the Christmas period?
Given the broader cycle of industrial disputes in 2025, further stoppages over the festive period cannot be ruled out. Unions have signalled that they are prepared to continue action if negotiations stall, so travellers planning trips in late December should monitor developments closely and remain flexible with their arrangements.