[Originally published May 31, 2018. Updated with new strike information]
I had all the pieces deliberate to a T. After numerous hours mapping out my June journey to France—flights booked, lodging organized, itinerary locked in—bam!
French Practice Strike.
Again in 2018, France’s nationwide rail union introduced a significant strike, with particular dates set from April 3 to June 28 (As required by French regulation, the union needed to publish after they can be hanging). And wouldn’t you recognize it? The day I used to be scheduled to reach, some trains had been cancelled.
Reasonably than panic, I adjusted. I altered my itinerary, rented a automotive, and made essentially the most of it.
That have taught me so much—and with strikes taking place once more this spring, I’m revisiting the identical questions: What are my choices? How do I adapt?
Right here’s what I discovered then, what’s nonetheless related now, and the journey choices you’ll be able to contemplate if a prepare strike ever disrupts your plans.
1. Encountering French Strike Notices In 2018 And 2025
Springtime have to be a preferred time to strike as a result of the SNCF Controller’s union has lately introduced extra strikes, nationwide: April 17-June 2, 2025. It was initiated by the Sud Rail union. My understanding is that the strike covers all weekends from Thursday night time to Monday morning throughout this era to coincide with the spring holidays.
I may not be affected as completely different areas of France have completely different holidays. All of it depends upon whether or not they strike each weekend, all over the place, or simply within the zones the place there are vacation travellers.
Rail Strike Coincides With Faculty Holidays
I will likely be in France Could 22-June 9 and had deliberate to journey by prepare on Could 31 and June 3. The very first thing I’ve accomplished is examine when the varsity holidays are within the locations I’m travelling to. I found:
- Zone A covers Lyon, Tain L’Hermitage and Roanne and the Spring trip dates are: April 19-Could 4, 2025.
- Zone C covers Paris and the Spring trip dates are: April 13-27, 2025
Like my dilemma again in 2018, I do have choices if there are strikes deliberate for each zone, each weekend.
2. How I Found There Was An Impending Strike
French regulation dictates that unions should give 5 days superior discover of a strike. For the strike in Spring 2018, a calendar was issued that confirmed all of the dates in April, Could and June. It was mainly each 5 days there will likely be 3 days of strikes and it solely applies to some trains, not all of them. Definitely future strike dates could also be known as off, however that’s as much as the union.
Others Might Strike
In my analysis I discovered that particular person staff also can “strike” and don’t need to notify the federal government. They only need to name in to their supervisor the day earlier than. The issue with that is {that a} scheduled prepare might need to be cancelled in the event that they don’t have sufficient staff. So even for those who suppose you’re OK, you may not be. You gained’t discover out till 5:00 pm the night time earlier than. I do know this sound pessimistic, however I need to lay out all of the dangers.
3. The place To Get Data About Strikes In France
As quickly because the dates for the French strike motion had been set, I noticed the calendars all over the place on the web. Along with the most important British and European information channels, listed here are some web sites to examine:
4. My 2018 Scenario Dealing With The Impending Strike
My authentic itinerary was to fly to Lyon after which journey by prepare from the airport to Saint Charles station in Marseille which was only some blocks away from the Airbnb I used to be renting. I selected that individual Airbnb as a result of it was close to the prepare station. The proper plan the place no automotive can be wanted for just a few days.
Dilemma: How Would I Get To Marseille?
Whereas June 28 was a strike day there was an opportunity the prepare I’d select wouldn’t be a kind of chosen; nevertheless, there was nonetheless a threat that my prepare could possibly be cancelled however I wouldn’t know till the night time earlier than. I hate uncertainty with regards to journey.
5. Choices If There’s A French Practice Strike
So how would I get to Marseille? Right here had been my choices and the issues with a few of them:
Choice #1: Do Nothing
Take an opportunity the strike will finish earlier than the day I’d have to take the prepare.
Too dangerous. This strike didn’t look good. The union was protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to reform the employment plans of its staff which he was doing so the rail firm could possibly be extra aggressive.
Choice #2: Take an opportunity that there will likely be one other prepare
How lengthy would I’ve to attend? Would I even get on the following prepare? I wouldn’t be the one one inconvenienced. I cou simply think about the crowds and chaos.
Choice #3: Take a bus
I seemed into numerous bus strains (flixbus.com, eurolines.eu) for a bus that would go away from the Lyon airport. After I seemed on the schedules the journey and route that I needed had been lengthy but it surely was a attainable possibility.
Choice #4: Take BlaBlaCar
- BlaBlaCar is a journey sharing platform very similar to Uber, besides one can go from one metropolis to a different. There’s additionally now BlaBlaCar Bus.
- The draw back is that you just gained’t know till at the least 2-3 days earlier than whether or not there could be any rides. And, the motive force might not be going precisely the place you need. The app reveals all last locations however even for those who point out “Marseille”, different cities are proven. Your journey additionally may not depart whenever you need, so that you could be ready a very long time to be picked up.
- You’ll be able to placed on an alert to be notified of attainable rides, however you may not discover out till too near your date. This was too dangerous for me. I didn’t need to wait too lengthy for a journey (after having flown from Canada) and I didn’t need the whole journey to take endlessly.
- There’s an app and web site (https://www.blablacar.com/ )
- It’s not attainable to decide on your language and foreign money individually. For those who use their UK web site, you’ll pay in kilos (GBP) by default. Give it some thought: you’re in France, charged Euros, however the worth is transformed to kilos. And since you stay in Canada or the US, that cost is THEN transformed into {dollars}. Think about the amount of cash you’re shedding because of the quite a few trade charges.
- I’ve signed up with BlaBlaCar however haven’t accomplished the whole verification. I’ve solely entered my electronic mail. It asks for my telephone quantity and a bit of identification and I gained’t be doing this till I’m in France with my French telephone quantity. Whereas all the pieces will likely be in French, I will likely be paying in Euros (fairly than in British kilos).
Choice #5: Fly from Lyon to Marseille
I seemed into flights from Lyon to Marseille however they weren’t low-cost and the schedule wasn’t handy (stopovers or leaving too late). In 2018, Air France had determined to strike too in order that possibility was one other threat!
Choice #6: Hire a automotive and drive from Lyon to Marseille
I significantly thought of this however then determined to not. I might have jet lag and the drive would take a minimal of three.5 hours. There can be the price of the added automotive rental, gasoline, tolls and parking. I seemed into the price of parking and it wasn’t low-cost (50 Euros) and I didn’t even want a automotive in Marseille! I calculated that the overall value can be about $175 greater than taking the prepare. I actually didn’t need the trouble of arriving in Marseille and looking for the parking storage. I’ve pushed in Marseille and hated it! The fee to cancel the Airbnb was solely $33 and it was price it.
Choice #7: Change My Itinerary
So after contemplating taking one other prepare, a bus, BlaBlaCar, or renting a automotive, I made a decision on a NEW itinerary in 2018. The fee to cancel the Airbnb was solely $33 and it was price it.
Try my Journey #31 Itinerary
- Fly into Lyon; lease a automotive and drive to the Ardèche
- Ardèche (Vallon Pont d’Arc) for 3 nights
- Murs (Provence) for per week
- Practice to Paris; stopover in Paris for the night time
- Decide up rental automotive and drive to Etretat, Normandy for per week
- Head again to Paris for one night time earlier than flying house
Click on on the map or on this hyperlink and also you’ll be directed to a Google Map indicating all of the locations on this put up.
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6. Plans For Dealing With A Potential Practice Strike In 2025
It’s nonetheless a bit early to vary my itinerary or determine to make use of one of many choices I outlined for 2018. I’ll be preserving my eye on the information and hopefully the strikes won’t occur on the dates after I plan to journey. If there’s a strike, I’ll both take a bus or BlaBlaCar to my locations. Renting a automotive on the final minute will doubtless be too costly.
For those who’re enthusiastic about driving by way of France, you’ll want to try my different posts:
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