The general strike in France almost completely shut down public transport on Thursday. And on Friday, he will severely restrict public local and rail traffic as well as air traffic. The French state railway SNCF calculated according to own data with very strong disturbances.
The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) called on airlines to cut their traffic by 20 percent. According to DGAC figures, this concerns the airports of Charles de Gaulle and Orly in Paris, Beauvais airport just outside Paris, as well as Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Bordeaux. In the French capital, the strike in public transport should continue until Monday, the news agency AFP reported.
The protest against the planned pension reform of Emmanuel Macron has paralyzed public life since the morning. The rail traffic was particularly limited: 90 percent of the TGV express trains were canceled, according to the state railway company SNCF, as well as 80 percent of the regional trains. Almost 86 percent of the drivers and 73 of the conductors had therefore laid off the work. In the capital Paris almost no metros drove, most of the lines were not served, stations were closed.
The mass protest also hits Paris visitors : In the Eiffel Tower, there are not enough staff to open the tourist attraction on the Seine, as the operating company Sete announced. The 130-year-old tower is visited annually by around seven million people. Parisian museums, such as the Louvre, had already warned visitors against restrictions prior to the strikes. The Musée d'Orsay Impressionist Museum confirmed via Twitter that it will remain closed.
Consequences for travelers from Germany
In Germany too, the general strike in the civil service is causing considerable damage. According to Deutsche Bahn, there are no long-distance trains between the two countries for the time being. "On the strike days long-distance trains do not take trains to and from France," the company said.
The railway was already expecting "that the strike will be extended and lasting several days". Travelers from France and there would therefore be asked to inform themselves online about their connections in the coming days.
Affected
- the ICE connections from Frankfurt via Mannheim and Saarbrücken to Paris as well as from Munich or Stuttgart via Strasbourg to Paris,
- as well as the TGV connection Frankfurt-Mannheim-Strasbourg-Marseille.
Travel up to and including Wednesday of next week can be rebooked free of charge on the same connection on another day of travel, according to the information provided by the train. In addition, customers can reimburse their tickets for travel to France during this period, which is no longer used. The SNCF outlets in France book connections to Germany for free, according to the railway.
18 flights canceled, full highways
Air passengers are also affected: Lufthansa was unable to quantify the total number of flight cancellations on Thursday, but only 18 flights were canceled between Frankfurt and France alone. Overflights, for example to the Iberian Peninsula, could "operate but be delayed", provided the French air traffic control also took part in the strike.
Lufthansa wanted to "actively" address and inform customers who had provided their contact details, "whether alternative connections or transfer options exist".
Given the flight and train cancellations expected the ADAC with corresponding full highways and highways . In addition to waiting times, local roadblocks are "certainly not excluded, but we are not yet on major disabilities," said the automobile club.
In anticipation of protests of the so-called yellow vests on the roads, the ADAC advised motorists, however, "to avoid the crowds and demonstrations" for safety's sake. "In addition, it could be even worse for travelers, should the unions of other sectors join", then also possible strikes at gas stations, toll stations and towing companies.
Many trade unions had called for conflict over the planned pension reform on cross-industry strikes. Also in the public service, in hospitals or the judiciary strikes were planned.
