Protests over the planned pension change in France show no signs of abating: Strikes will have a significant impact on travel on March 7; German vacationers will also be affected.
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| Pension Reform Strike on March 7: France Braces For Transportation Disaster |
France is not at ease in light of the anticipated pension change. On Tuesday, March 7th, there will be another strike in numerous places, including public transportation. Rail and aviation transportation would be the worst impacted, according to the French daily Le Parisien. It's the sixth mobilization by the unions, they're talking of turning March 7th into a "black day".
On Tuesday, 20% of flights will be canceled at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, and 30% of all connections will be canceled at Paris-Orly, Beauvais, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, and Toulouse. Passengers should confirm their flight details with their airline or tour provider.
The French national railway firm SNCF's four unions - CGT Cheminots, SUD Rail, Unsa Ferroviaire, and CFDT Cheminots - are also on strike. Work stoppages will cause complications here beginning Monday. They will not only halt SNCF operations in France, but will also result in train cancellations to and from Germany.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, the particular limitations caused by the strikes will be known at least 24 to 48 hours before the strike begins. The websites of the Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the French SNCF provide information about the present state and status of their trains. The following trains have been canceled, according to Deutsche Bahn:
Monday, March 6, 2023
ICE 9550 and TGV 9580 are cancelled.
TGV 9577 is canceled between Stuttgart and Munich.
TGV 9579 is canceled between Strasbourg and Stuttgart.
According to DB, there is still no information for Tuesday.
Long-distance tickets for high-speed trains to France acquired before March 2 can be used on any day up to and including March 9, according to the railway. Travellers can get the necessary seat reservation by presenting their ticket at a DB travel center or DB agency. It is not possible to rebook online.
General strikes might also have an impact on vehicle travelers. Road closures and severe traffic problems may occur in larger cities, as was the case during the last major campaigns in January and February.
The Federal Foreign Office also cautions that strikes in ports and refineries may result in gasoline supply limits to gas stations. Drivers should account for waiting periods at the gas station. To be on the safe side, bring a backup can of gasoline or diesel with you. A maximum of ten gallons is permitted in France.
The strike is being held in response to France's planned pension reform. By 2030, the admission age will be raised from 62 to 64. The initiative has been faced with strong criticism from the country's opposition parties and labor unions. There have been multiple general strikes in recent months, the latest recent in mid-February.