Impact of the nationwide shutdown/strike in Paris on September 10, 2025 - Trains? Louvre Museum?

The actions planned for 10 September are a social movement not a strike. There is a critical difference because strikes have rules and are generally predictable, assuming they are not called off last minute as they often are. The 10 September actions are following no rules and exactly what will happen, no one will know before then.

I would be very careful about and plan to avoid any travel on 10 September.

According to statements from the various unions:

Trains

One of the largest railway workers' unions, Sud-Rail, called on August 21 for a "massive strike" on September 10.
However, the SNCF unions will meet on September 1 to decide whether or not to strike on September 10.

Taxis

The National Taxi Federation (FNDT) is calling for a "country shutdown" on September 5.
On that day, taxi drivers plan to block airports, train stations, borders, fuel distribution sites, and even the Champs-Élysées.

Taxi drivers do not currently wish to join the September 10 blockade.

Regarding museums and sites: No strike or blockade announcements have been made to date.

Remember that, as Tocard said, a blockade does not necessarily mean a strike.

Well, what would a trip to France be without a strike or blockade? Seriously, we arrive on Sept 5th and had planned on taking a taxi in from the airport. We’ll have plan B (RER) in mind. Sept 10 is train to Caen. No plan B yet. Open to ideas if needed.

Like Carol now retired, we will also be traveling from Paris to Caen on Sept 10. This is the first I am hearing of this. What are our options?

We'll see more clearly next week the extent of the disruption to be expected, as trade unions are still largely in vacation mode (it's still August after all).
I would expect significant levels of disruption...

And today (or late last night), the taxi drivers decided that they will not block roads or mobilize on September 5.

That is, they have called off their planned protest actions.

(Due to the gravity of the situation with the planned vote of confidence in the government on September 8.)

https://www.franceinfo.fr/economie/transports/taxis-la-mobilisation-nationale-du-5-septembre-ajournee-en-raison-du-contexte-politique_7458058.html#xtor=CS2-765-%5Bautres%5D-

So, we have train tickets on the 10th from Rennes to Montparnasse. We were going to return our rental car at the Rennes Train Station. We could keep our rental car another day and drive to return it to Montparnasse Station (we are staying in the 7th Arr.). Has anyone done that drive?? So hesitant about driving near/to Paris because of everything I’ve read about not driving there. Will the road traffic be all congested because of no other forms of transportation?

Thanks.

Indeed, as you might expect, on days of public transport strikes traffic is very heavy in major cities and suburbs, but what will or will not happen —strikes, blockades, shutdowns — is impossible to predict at this time.

It's also possible that your train will not be canceled even if there is a strike.

Is it possible to change your travel Rennes-Paris for the day before or the day after?

Not easily. We are staying on Mont St Michel the night before. It will be one of the few nights each year that there are “King Tides” and the Abbey becomes an island. We don’t want to miss that, and there is no way to alter our reservations in Paris. We will just wait and see what happens, I’m just thankful we have the rental car option.

Carol - I suggest you use Uber. It’s easier and cheaper than the taxis, even if they’re not on strike. As for the trains, some sources here in France are suggesting there is a 90% chance that the train strike will happen on September 10 and could affect train travel for 24-72 hours. I might suggest reserving a rental car.

“Major railway stations across France will be primary sensitive areas. These include Paris (Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, Gare de l’Est, Gare Saint-Lazare), Lyon (Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu), Marseille (Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles), Bordeaux (Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean), and Lille (Gare de Lille Flandres, Gare de Lille Europe). Railway depots and marshalling yards could also see increased police presence due to associated protests. While the primary target is rail, the “bloque tout” call suggests a possibility of localized road blockades, particularly around major train stations and key urban intersections. Past protests have seen closures of major arteries like Avenue des Champs-Élysées.”

I don't think Uber from Paris to Caen is a viable option.

If the rail strikes it will impact all transport in and around the city. If there's a social blockade that will make things even worse, as those tend to move and impact the cordoning off of roads without prior notice.

A rental car could be an option, but if there's a strike they will be in short supply as you'll be competing against the locals who also need transport.

A lot of this is going to depend on the political situation in France, which is going to change come 8 SEP.

An example of how everything can change from one day to the next.

This morning, August 29th, following an inter-union meeting of the eight main unions, some decided not to participate in the September 10th strike.

However, all the unions decided to hold another day of strike action on Thursday, September 18th.

Among the Plan Bs chosen by French travelers are the Flixbus buses. They are (according to the press) currently in high demand for September 10th.

There are direct buses from Paris to Caen or Rennes to Paris, and many others.

https://www.flixbus.com/bus/france

Blablacar is another bus operator in France that provides routes between major cities.

https://www.blablacar.fr/bus

Canceled trains are usually announced by SNCF 48 hours before the scheduled departure. Travelers who have already purchased a ticket will be notified by email or text message. See the SNCF-connect website or app.

https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/trafficInfo

Is the bus really an option if there are also blockades? Also, I just read that the ATC have filed to strike September 18 - 19. The day we are scheduled to fly home. enter link description here

We are scheduled to fly into CDG the morning of Sept. 19. I've been looking forward to this for months. Fingers crossed and thanks for this thread.

I am finding this thread very helpful and just want to take a moment to thank our dear contributors from France for all of your help.

I just read that the ATC have filed a strike on September 18-19.

Yes, the SNCTA, the majority union of air traffic controllers in France (60%), has announced the filing of a national strike notice.
The strike will begin at the start of the morning shift on September 18th and will end at the end of the night shift (i.e., the morning of the 19th).

The second union has not issued a statement to date.

Generally, domestic traffic is the most affected.

Thanks for the update on the possibility of an ATC strike on the 18th and early on the 19th.

I saw this link posted over on Trip Advisor. I was aware of the C'est la Greve website but I find it a little cumbersome to navigate (https://www.cestlagreve.fr) so this alternate link looks good.

https://worldinparis.com/transport-in-france-strike-news-tips-for-traveling-to-paris#air-strikes

Hi All,

Thanks for all your comments and great discussion in this tread.
I'd like to give special thanks to Tocard, JoLui, and Kim for answering my questions and providing great information. It's still uncertainty about the nationwide shutdown on Sep 10. We all can just pray that the situation will be better.
I have told my family to prepare a long walk in Paris if all public transportation are stopped.

Thanks again! Hope you're all healthy and happy.

I really don't think Sept 10 is going to be that big a problem.

I would be more concerned about what develops on Sept 18.

Someone asked if the bus would indeed be an option if there are blockades?

I was looking into Flix Bus schedules from Paris to Caen and the station is Bercy Seine. Can someone confirm where this bus station would be? I see Quai de Bercy on the map so I assume it's in that area somewhere.

The Bercy bus station is underground. Pedestrian access to the station is from Bercy Park (next to the large Accor Arena Concert Hall building). I've been to the Accor Arena before, but not to this station. Apparently, it's hard to find.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LS2Qrv2QAd9iYoB49

I tend to agree with Kim about not worrying too much about September 10th.

Also, don't overinterpret the terms "blockade" and "shutdown." I don't have a crystal ball, but these are basically unorganized actions emanating from social media and aimed more at supposedly shutting down the economy by blocking access to supermarkets, gas stations, perhaps roads, and things like that. Public transportation isn't specifically targeted as a priority.

Even during the most significant SNCF strikes, not having a single train between Paris and Caen for an entire day never happens.

I am hopeful for you, gregdwidjaya, and others that September 10th will be nothing to worry about.
I, for one, am worried about September 18th (as Kim has stated) and 19th since the air traffic controllers strike is supposed to begin the 18th and end 24 hours later at the end of the 19th, which actually is 36+ hours later. We are scheduled to fly into Paris September 19th in the morning. I'll be following the news daily in the hopes that this issue will be settled and soon. Any suggestions on good news outlets? TIA

Even the best local news outlets only provide cancellation percentage forecasts for flights or trains.

It's best to check with the airline, airport websites, or the SNCF website 48 hours before the scheduled departure to get the precise status of a specific flight/train.

Thank you, JoLui. I guess those of us traveling to France then will just have to gut it until 48 hours before our flights.

We have a prepaid ticket from Bordeaux to Limoges on the 10th, and even before the social action news, we were concerned about the travaux on the line, seeming to effect the Ter lines 31 and 32 between the two. We can exchange the ticket, but it looks like that work would affect most of the lines in that area. Updated information will be available in the station, but that is a little late for planning purposes. There is also some indication that buses may replace the trains on the work sections, but again information available in the station. We are arriving at CDG on the 8th. Is it likely that employees at the station there would be able to provide up-to-date information about any work arounds for the track work?

Thanks for any reassurance that especially the France based commenters can provide.

randonneuse,

Regarding the work on the Bordeaux-Limoges line, SNCF recommends checking the TER Nouvelle Aquitaine website.
Unfortunately, the link provided does not work.

You have to go directly to the website and you will see the information about this work: (French only)

https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine/se-deplacer/info-trafic

Here's what I read for Line 31 Bordeaux - Limoges:

Traffic interruptions between Bordeaux and Coutras will occur from Saturday 6th to Sunday 7th in the late afternoon, and from Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th in the late afternoon. A coach replacement service is planned for travelers who cannot postpone their trip.

PS: Coutras is located 50 km from Bordeaux on the Bordeaux-Limoges line.

randonneuse,
Typically when there is work happening on the lines, the TER has busses that run between the affected stations (minus some small, less trafficed stops) at approximately the same times as the affected trains' schedule. If a train time is canceled due to strike or any other issue, it is noted on the SNCF app after 5pm the night before. Hopefully, you purchased your ticket through SNCF. If you did, you will be alerted via the app or email about any changes or cancellations to your trip. You shouldn't have to go in to the station to find out any of this information as it will all be in the app.

It's best to check with the airline, airport websites, or the SNCF website 48 hours before the scheduled departure to get the precise status of a specific flight/train.

And even then things still happen. Last week my 9 am TGV train was canceled the night before at 7 pm. Meanwhile two days later another regular RS poster was standing in line to board her Air France flight when it was cancelled. Neither one of us knows the exact reason but it wasn’t a strike action. But it does say that you have to be prepared and act fast. I hopped on my SNCFConnect app and got us 6 am tickets for the next morning. The other person walked quickly to the help desk and was one of the first in line to be rebooked. We both got to our destinations, exhausted, but we got there.

Thank you both. I did book with SNCF connect and have the app on my phone, so will keep an eye out for updates.