- A national strike on 5 November caused limited disruption on SNCF services
- Some TGV, Intercités and regional trains were affected
- In the Paris region the RATP ran largely normal metro, tram and bus services
- Only the RER B line was affected
- Five major union confederations called the strike
A nationwide general strike in France on Thursday, 5 November 2026, caused minimal disruption across the country’s rail network. Initiated by five major union confederations over wages, purchasing power and the 2027 government budget, the walkout involves all four representative railway unions: CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots. High-speed TGV services face minor impact overall, but passengers should expect localised cancellations or timetable changes on InOui and Ouigo lines.
More tangible disruptions were expected for regional TER connections and Intercités long-distance trains. Transilien and RER services operated by SNCF face service reductions. Metro, bus and tram networks in Paris are expected to run relatively normally, though demonstrations may cause temporary station closures in central Paris. Cross-border services including Eurostar, TGV Lyria and joint TGV/ICE routes to Germany may experience delays or cancellations.
SNCF has put commercial measures in place for affected passengers. TGV InOui and Intercités tickets can be exchanged free of charge up to 30 minutes before departure or up to 7 days after, or cancelled for a full refund. Ouigo passengers can exchange tickets for free within a 7-day window or claim a full refund or voucher. Air traffic controllers and airport staff unions have backed the strike notice, creating potential for flight restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly and regional airports.
