FRANCE: Trains cancelled across the country as unions protest reform of rail sector

Record ID: 341158

  • Title: FRANCE: Trains cancelled across the country as unions protest reform of rail sector
  • Date: 13th June 2013
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 13, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS OF GARE ST LAZARE IN PARIS, A MAJOR COMMUTER STATION FLAGS COMMUTERS SNCF FRENCH RAILWAYS LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (French) COMMUTER SAYING: "First it was the airports and now it's the trains. This morning, I heard on the news that there were express metros that were late too. Myself, I'm one hour late getting to work. It's reall
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Employment,Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA1S5QL6K182RJQT0KGIRFNBDBA
  • Story Text: Up to 60 percent of high-speed rail services in France were expected to be cancelled on Thursday (June 12) as part of a nation-wide rail strike in France that was not forecast to impact travel to neighbouring countries.
    At Paris' St Lazare station, a major commuter hub, information screens warned travellers that they could face heavy disruptions.
    "First it was the airports and now it's the trains. This morning, I heard on the news that there were express metros that were late too. Myself, I'm one hour late getting to work. It's really not great," said one commuter.
    State rail company SNCF said in a statement that it forecast only four out of 10 TGV high-speed services would run and that 70 percent of intercity services faced cancellation. Eurostar services to the United Kingdom, Thalys services to Belgium and Germany were not expected to be impacted by the stoppage.
    Unions are protesting at a planned restructuring of the rail system ahead of the opening up of the rail market to competition from other countries' operators and against job cuts.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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