Trains will run at Christmas: The Minister of Transport reassures on the SNCF strike

François Durovray, resigning Minister of Transport, sought to reassure travelers as the holiday season approaches. Despite a renewable strike notice filed by SNCF unions since Wednesday, he states that “trains will run at Christmas.” Speaking on Sud Radio on Thursday, December 12, he clarified that “the ongoing social movement will have very little impact, with normal operations on main lines.”

Context of the strike
The strike notice was filed at the end of November by unions to protest the planned transfer of 4,500 Fret SNCF employees to two new entities, Hexafret and Technis, starting January 1. This mobilization also denounces the conditions of opening regional lines to competition.

Sophie Binet, leader of the CGT, stressed on RTL on Thursday: “December is shaping up to be red, and it’s not Santa Claus’ red. For six months, we have been warning about layoff plans without being heard.” She is calling for “emergency measures,” including a moratorium on job cuts.

Progress and discussions
François Durovray highlighted the results of discussions with union organizations: “Two out of four unions [the CFDT and Unsa] signed an agreement, thus limiting the scope of the strike,” he stated. In parallel, nearly 120 demonstrations are being organized this Thursday across France by the CGT, Solidaires, and FSU, in response to a wave of layoffs in the industry.

Improvements but continued disruptions expected Friday in Île-de-France

Train and RER traffic in Île-de-France will see improvements on Friday, December 13, while remaining disrupted on certain lines. According to SNCF Voyageurs, the situation is as follows:

– Lines with normal traffic: RER A, B, and E, lines J, K, L, P, U, and R, as well as tramways T4, T11, T12, and T13.
– Expected improvements:
– Line R: return to normal traffic.
– Lines H and RER D: increased train frequency.
– Reduced traffic:
– Three trains out of four for lines H and N.
– Two trains out of three for RER C and line V.
– One train out of three for RER D.

The SNCF assures that it is “fully mobilized to support, inform, and assist travelers.” Île-de-France Mobilités is also offering free carpooling solutions to users affected by disruptions. It is strongly recommended to consult the iledefrance-mobilites.fr website for traffic updates.