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Paris Travelers–Here’s What You Can Expect January 22 As Strike Slows

This article is more than 4 years old.

“An almost normal day” is what the RATP promises for its Paris transport network Tuesday January 21, the 48th day of the strike against government pension reform.

Only two Paris Metro lines will be significantly “disturbed” according to the Paris transport authority: Lines 5 and 13. Though strike action continues to affect Lines 6 and 7 too, with four out of five trains running. All other lines it says will operate as usual.

The light at the end of the tunnel of the crippling Paris transport strikes came earlier in the week as unions voted for a return to work Monday.

The bad news is: the hiatus in the strike that has paralyzed French rail and Paris public transport for over six weeks, may be short-lived.

In a press release on Saturday, the UNSA-RATP–the major union representing Metro and RER drivers said workers had opted to suspend the strike from Monday “on most Paris Metro lines.” That is not a definitive end to the strike, now into its seventh week.

Furthermore, union officials emphasize the end of the strike is temporary, and that they are “determined to continue the struggle” over government pension reform. For strikers, it is a question of "recharging their batteries” ahead of the next strike action union spokesperson Laurent Djebali said Saturday.

So Is This Le Fin Or Not?

It’s sounding a bit like, oui, non, oui, non. As the union's take a breather, and plan their next move.

For many workers Djebali added, the decision was made for “monetary reasons.”

“One can understand that some colleagues need to bail out.” Yet there was no question of this being an end to the “unlimited strike” he said. “On the contrary, as soon as our colleagues have had a breather, we will set off again, for an indefinite period.”

Things have not just been difficult for commuters over past weeks. As Euronews points out: “Workers on strike in France do not receive their salaries and unions have been collecting donations to fund the strike action.”

Strikers Take A Pause, But It’s Far From Over

It is anyone’s guess for now what all this means in coming weeks.

The unions say the next “mobilization” (spate of industrial action), is scheduled to begin this Friday, January 24. That’s the day French President Emmanuel Macron will formally present the pension bill to government, ahead of parliamentary debate in February.

Depending on the outcome of these crucial dates for unions, this could mean a return to strikes in Paris as we know them.

Traffic Normal On The RER

According to a Tweet from the RER:

14 metro lines will operate “normally or almost normally”

The traffic on the RER A and RER B will be normal

The traffic on the trams will be normal

The traffic on the bus network will almost be normal

For the Transilien operated RER C, D and E, check here, but things are looking very good. Transilien promises a “gradual return to normal service with some traffic reductions” on both the RER D and RER E, and three in four trains on the RER C.

Chronic Strikes Cost RATP €200 Million

Le Parisian says the strikes have cost the RATP more than €200 million. “On the 45th day of the strike, there seemed to be a turning point,” it reports.

If it turns out to be true turning point, France may well declare a national holiday to celebrate it, for the strikes have caused chaos and botched travel plans for locals and tourists over the December-January holiday season.

For now, the indefinite pause comes after the country's longest rail strike since 1948, which has brought trains nationwide, and much of the Greater Paris public transport network, to a grinding halt since December 5.

Though things are hazy, “a clear improvement in traffic is looming” reports Le Croix. And with that, a collective sigh of relief.


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