Family of 5, traveling in early June. Starting in Amsterdam. Was planning to go to Paris and from Paris to Bruges, then back to Amsterdam. We were planning to travel by train to each destination. The day we planned to travel to Paris is a strike day (June 8). Should I be concerned? Should I change our itinerary or plan to drive?
Posted by
Green Bay
20032 posts
Why don't you go to Brugge first. Then the strike will be over and you can get on to Paris.
Posted by
Leeds, Yorks & Scranton, PA
72 posts
Article posted yesterday on TheLocal.fr (English language news site for all things French)...
https://www.thelocal.fr/20180418/how-the-french-rail-strikes-will-affect-services-on-wednesday
One TGV train out of three is expected to be operating on Wednesday, as well as two TER and two Transilien trains out of every five and one Intercite train out of four.
On international services, there will be four Eurostar trains out of five, one Lyria train out of three, while Thalys traffic will be "almost normal", according to the SNCF.
In Paris anyone taking the RER B, which serves both Paris airports will have to change trains at Gare du Nord. Only half of the usual number of trains will run between Gare du Nord and Charles de Gaulle airport and around two thirds of trains between Gare du Nord and the southern end of the line at Robinson.
The other RER commuter lines around Paris will also be affected to differing degrees.
So, as things stand now, no problems on Thalys trains from the Netherlands and to Belgium.
RER in Paris is separate from the Metro system, which has been picking up the slack but so far has not been affected by the industrial action. My wife and I will be in Paris from June 5th until we fly out on the 9th, so we're in the same boat as you ...hoping the Metro remains as it is.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you! This is helpful. I appreciate it.