SNCF Strike & France Train Strike Schedule October 2025: Info and Local Advice to Outsmart the Chaos

Table of Contents:

• SNCF Strike or TGV Strike Doesn’t Always Mean a Full France Train Strike
• France Train Strike Schedule 2025
• France Train Strikes – Description & Traffic Forecast
• What to do if there’s an SNCF strike in France?
• French Rail Strike Travel Advice
• Strike Trains from Airport to Paris
• Strike TGVs from Paris CDG Airport to Other Cities in France

France Train Strikes 2025

The France train strike dates listed in this article are officially confirmed. There are no rumors or guesswork here.

Unfortunately, some strike dates are only confirmed 24 hours before negotiations with the French State break down. On the other hand, unions may also call off strikes at the last minute if an agreement is reached. Because of this uncertainty, it’s essential to check for updates on any train strikes in France right up until the last minute.

SCHEDULED SNCF STRIKES (OR OTHER TRAIN STRIKES) IN FRANCE: 

» 2 October 2025: General and National strike. This mobilization follows the 18 September strike, which caused significant disruptions across transport, education, and public services. Commuters and travelers should anticipate major delays and disruptions at train stations on 2 October.

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Train Strike France – Overview & Traffic Forecast

2 October 2025: General National Strike to protest the budget proposal put forward by François Bayrou’s government, which the unions describe as ‘brutal.’ The protest denounces measures that severely impact workers, the precariously employed, and retirees, while calling for fiscal and social justice, as well as increased investment in the ecological transition.

Expected Disruptions General National Strike on SNCF Train Traffic

According to SNCF, train traffic will be slightly disrupted in general. The extent of disruptions will vary depending on the train line.

Generally, SNCF informs about the trains or train lines impacted 1-2 days before the strike date. Passengers on TGV or Intercités trains affected by the strike are usually contacted by SMS or email (if they have provided their contact details).

CLARIFICATION: When I state, for example, “2 trains out of 3 on average,” it means that approximately two-thirds of the usual trains for that day will be operating.

• National TGV and INOUI trains: Normal traffic. Passengers on canceled trains are usually warned by email or SMS.
• Axe Nord TGV:
• Axe Est TGV:
• Axe Atlantique TGV:
• Axe Sud-Est and Sud-Ouest TGV:
• Classic Ouigo trains:

• International Trains: Passengers on canceled trains are usually warned by email or SMS.
• TER trains: Train traffic will be disrupted on some lines. For more details by region, please check directly on the regional sites (click on “info traffic,” then “grève”):
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes:
  • Bourgogne-Franche-Comté:
  • Bretagne:
  • Centre-Val de Loire:
  • Grand Est:
  • Hauts-de-France:
  • Normandie:
  • Nouvelle Aquitaine:
  • Occitanie:
  • Pays de la Loire:
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur:
• Intercities: Train traffic will be disrupted on the lines Lyon – Nantes, Bordeaux – Nantes, and Marseille – Bordeaux, and slightly disrupted on the lines Paris – Clermont-Ferrand and Paris – Limoges – Toulouse. Passengers on canceled trains are usually warned by email or SMS.
• Transilien: Line H: Traffic will be slightly disrupted; Line L: Traffic will be disrupted; Lines N and U: Traffic will be disrupted; Line R: Traffic will be severely disrupted. For more details, please check Transilien’s website
• Night Trains:

Expected Disruptions General National Strike on RER Train Traffic

This chapter is about tramway lines and RER train strikes in Paris and the Ile-de-France region (lines and sections managed by SNCF).

• RER A: Train traffic will be disrupted. The interconnection RATP /SNCF at Nanterre-Préfecture [IS] kept
• RER B: Train traffic will be almost normal. The interconnection RATP /SNCF at Gare du Nord (to travel to the airport) [IS] kept (there’s [NO] need to change trains at Gare du Nord on the surface to continue the journey).
• RER C: Train traffic will be disrupted
• RER D: Train traffic will be very disrupted
• RER E: Train traffic will be very disrupted.

Are International Trains Affected by a French Rail Strike?

Even if international operators like Eurostar, Thalys, TGV Lyria, or Deutsche Bahn are not directly on strike, a rail strike in France can still impact their ability to run normally – especially for routes crossing French territory.

• Eurostar: Delays or cancellations may occur on services to or from Paris, Lille, or Marseille if there are issues with SNCF staff or infrastructure. More info on Eurostar disruptions.
• Thalys (Now Eurostar): Though Thalys staff may not strike, French-based disruption can affect routes between Paris and Brussels, Amsterdam, or Cologne. More info on Thalys travel updates.
• TGV Lyria: Services between France and Switzerland may face timetable changes due to SNCF crew involvement. Visit the TGV Lyria site.
• Deutsche Bahn: Trains co-operated with SNCF (like TGV/ICE) between Germany and France often have mixed crews. This means a French strike may impact DB trains even if German staff are not striking. Visit the DB site for updates.

To avoid surprises, always check your specific train’s status 24–48 hours before departure, especially for international routes crossing into France.

What To Do if There’s an SNCF Strike in France?

I cannot say that in France, train strikes are infrequent. From time to time, they happen. You might be lucky and travel around France many times without ever dealing with a transportation strike. However, it only takes one instance of having travel plans thwarted by an unexpected strike to ruin a trip.

Below are my top tips for dealing with a TGV strike or any other SNCF strike.

A- Learn About the SNCF Strike Dates in Advance

The good news is that France schedules its strikes in advance, meaning there are some ways you can avoid dealing with them entirely, even if you already have your train tickets.

There are many ways to learn about French train strikes: newspapers, radio, or even travel blogs like this one!

By checking the France train strike schedule beforehand, you may be able to adjust travel plans or avoid traveling during the day when the strike will take place.

B- Understand What Kind of Trains are on Strike in France

As mentioned above, a train strike in France does not mean the whole French rail network is on strike. Is it an SNCF strike? What kind of trains are on strike? What kind of train have you booked?

French Rail Strike Travel Advice

OK. There’s an SNCF strike, and you have planned a train journey in France for that very day. What to do?

The bad news is that there are no guaranteed minimum transport services when strikes are scheduled in France. Service depends mainly on what (trains) and who (drivers) are available. In other words, if SNCF wants to shut down all its services, it can.

A- You Have Not Booked Your SNCF Train Tickets Yet

Usually, as soon as SNCF strike dates are announced, these dates are blocked in the train reservation system, so users can no longer book an SNCF train for those dates.

Review your travel plans or find an alternative means of transportation (such as renting a car) to reach your destination during these train strike dates:

• Click here to find cheap flights to France
• Click here to rent a car with Discover Cars
• Compare bus prices for your destination in France

If you are not traveling to Paris, look for the closest airport to your destination. If this is your first time renting a car in France, read my best tips for renting a car in France.

B- You Have Booked Your Train Tickets with SNCF

First of all, don’t panic! Follow these simple steps:

1. Check the SNCF train status.

To find out the status of a specific train (on time, delayed, canceled), simply enter your train number (it’s marked on the ticket) in the search bar on the website or app’s homepage, the day before departure or on the day of departure. The system will give you all the useful information about your train (e.g., status) and real-time tracking.

2. Exchange /get a full refund if necessary

Often, if your train service is cancelled or disrupted by a strike, exchanges and cancellations are possible before the initially scheduled departure, even for non-exchangeable and non-refundable tickets, and are free of charge. You can do this online or at the agency where you made the purchase.

3. Continue with your travel plans despite the strike

If your train isn’t canceled, the train strike in France may result in a delay or have no impact at all. For TGV, InOUI, and Intercité lines, passengers are entitled to compensation ranging from 25% to 75% of the ticket price, depending on the length of the delay (the minimum delay for compensation is 30 minutes). The requests for compensation for delayed TGV and Intercité trains are treated on this site: https://garantie30minutes.sncf.com/s/?language=en_US

Strike TGVs from Paris CDG Airport to Other Cities in France

The TGV train station located at Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 allows visitors to travel to other parts of France without passing through Paris. Top routes from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) T2 include Strasbourg, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, Lille, and Marseille.

If there’s a TGV strike and your TGV train departing from the airport is canceled, I recommend renting a car at Charles de Gaulle Airport as soon as possible.

>>  Click here to browse the car companies operating at Charles de Gaulle Airport

There is also the bus option, which implies traveling to Paris to catch the bus.

Click here to read more about Train Travel in France

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