Train strike to last several days

NATIONAL RAIL STRIKE IS AFFECTING TRAIN SERVICES TODAY - AND COULD LAST UNTIL THE WEEKEND IF A DEAL IS NOT REACHED A NATIONWIDE strike by train drivers looks set to last until at least

Thursday evening and could be extended further, according to unions. Services across France are disrupted today in the third national strike called by the SNCF in as many months. About 70%

of TGV long-distance services are running (100% in the north and east), 60% of TER local trains and 50% of intercity Téoz departures. In Paris, RER A and E are operating as normal. There are

two trains in three on RER B and half of services on lines C and D. Some of the suburban rail lines out of the capital, from La Défense and the Gare de Lyon, are running as little as one

train in three. No night trains will be running. Eurostar and Thalys services are unaffected by the industrial action. The CGT and Sud-Rail unions, which are protesting about job cuts and

pay, say the strike will continue until the SNCF agrees to negotiate with them. But the rail operator's chief executive Guillaume Pepy said yesterday: "Negotiations are supposed to

happen before a strike is called - otherwise we will never manage to reduce the number of strikes called at the SNCF." Live train info for major stations Paris suburban routes TER

local services in your area Mainline services: 0805 90 36 35 TER services: 0805 700 805