Upcoming France and Paris Strikes 2025 – Dates, Info, and Best Tips by a Local

Strikes in France Today

Latest news about transportation strikes in Paris and France 2025, and insider tips on how to deal with them. Read about the French train strikes, air travel strikes, and bus and metro strikes in Paris.

Transport in France and Paris is usually quite good, but unfortunately, sometimes it is affected by strikes.

However, we locals have learned to deal with French strikes over time. How? With the right information, a little bit of flexibility in our everyday life, and lots of patience.

Are you planning a trip to Paris soon? Keep reading this article on transportation strikes in France 2025 for my best tips for dealing with them. I am a local in Paris who travels often around France, and I’ve survived many transportation strikes!

Post updated on 25 April 2025 with the addition of a new transportation strike in France.

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Content of this Article

This article on transportation strikes is extensive and covers many topics. Jump directly to the topic that interests you most:

1. France and Paris Strike Schedule 2025
2. Train Strikes in Paris and France 2025
3. French Air Traffic Control Strikes 2025 & Other Air Travel Strikes in France
4. Train and Metro of Paris Strikes 2025

This article does NOT cover strikes by foreign companies operating France (e.g., Deutsche Bahn, British Airways, Eurostar).

The strikes in France shown in this article are officially confirmed — no rumors, no guessing.

If you are traveling to France, I recommend checking this post (especially chapter #1) two weeks before your trip and a few days before your departure for any updates.

Unfortunately, some strikes are confirmed at the very last moment (only 24 hours in advance) when negotiations with the French State fail. This is why it’s important to check this article from time to time if you are heading to France.

If you are only interested in SNCF – train strikes or in Air France – French airport strikes, my other blog (France Bucket List) has two articles covering these specific transportation strikes:

1. France and Paris Strike Schedule 2025

Are there any strikes in France today? Are there any Paris strikes today?

Strikes in France 2025 Dates

This calendar lists the Paris and France strikes for the next three months. Transportation strikes in France are not planned months in advance; they are usually on short notice, which is why this calendar only covers a three-month period.

List of Strikes in France 2025

17 April to 2 June 2025: Strike notice by SNCF (train controllers).

FROM 5 May 2025: Call for a strike by SNCF (train drivers and controllers).

6 May 2025: SNCF maintenance agents.

7 May 2025: Call for a strike by SNCF (train drivers).

9, 10, and 11 May 2025: Call for a strike by SNCF (TGV train controllers).

Check out Chapter #2 for more information on these SNCF strikes.

2. Train Strikes in Paris and France 2025

2A. France Train Strike Schedule 2025

This chapter concerns SNCF strikes in France, from regional to fast lines. It also includes the RER lines managed by SNCF.

17 April to 2 June: Strike warning by the SNCF Sud-Rail union to raise awareness of the “deteriorating working conditions” for controllers. The train controllers, who are essential for the trains to run, threaten to target part of the spring holiday weekends if SNCF does not listen to them.

From 5 May 2025: The CGT-Cheminots union calls for train drivers and controllers to strike starting Monday, 5 May. This industrial action will actually begin the evening before and is ahead of the call launched at the beginning of April by SUD-Rail and the ASCT National Collective (CNA) for the period from May 7 to 11. Among the demands, the union is calling for drivers to “reopen negotiations on the overhaul of the traction bonus based on the CGT’s demands,” and for controllers, “to revalue and overhaul the work bonus.” It also criticizes the organization of work and the use of new tools for controllers, which “contributes to the deterioration of relations between operators and supervisors.”

6 May 2025: The SUD-Rail union calls for maintenance agents to strike on 6 May. Unfortunately, I didn’t find more information about this strike.

7 May 2025: The SUD-Rail union, the leading union among SNCF drivers with 33% representation, calls for a strike on 7 May. The organization is calling for an increase in the specific traction bonus for drivers, as well as its maintenance in the event of sick leave or absence, and an overhaul of its structure to simplify it. At the end of March, SUD-Rail submitted a notice extending from 17 April to 2 June, thus covering the school holidays and the spring bank holidays. The union has now carried out its threat after “three fruitless meetings without the slightest commitment from management.”

9 to 11 May 2025: The Collectif National ASCT (CNA) calls on TGV controllers to strike on the weekend of 9 to 11 May. This collective particularly criticizes the constant last-minute schedule changes and is demanding an earlier schedule and a €100 increase in the work bonus.

If you find yourself traveling during France train strikes, check out the information here below and sub-chapter #2D.

Expected Disruptions SNCF Strikes

Unless a last-minute unblocking occurs next week, the bulk of the disruptions will be concentrated between 9 and 11 May. Only a few days left to understand how train traffic will be affected during this period, so keep clicking for the latest updates!

Generally, SNCF informs about the trains or train lines impacted 1-2 days before the strike date. Passengers on TGV or Intercités trains impacted by the strike are usually contacted by SMS or email (if they have provided their contact details). Passengers of regional trains (TER) can check traffic forecasts on the regional sites dedicated to TER trains.

CLARIFICATION: When I write, for example, “2 trains out of 3 on average,” it means that 2/3 of the usual trains for that day will be working.

• National TGV and INOUI trains: waiting for more information. Passengers on canceled trains are usually warned by email or SMS.
• Axe Nord TGV:
• Axe Est TGV:
• Axe Atlantique TGV:
• Axe Sud Est TGV:
• TGV InOUI:
• Province to province:
• Classic Ouigo trains:

• International Trains: waiting for more information.
  • Eurostar:
  • Thalys:
  • Lyria trains:
  • Connections with Germany:
  • Connections with Italy:
  • France – Spain:
• TER trains: waiting for more information. For more details by region, please check directly on the regional sites (click on “info traffic,” then “grève”):
  • Hauts de France
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
  • Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
  • Bretagne
  • Centre-Val de Loire
  • Grand Est
  • Normandie
  • Occitanie
  • Nouvelle Aquitaine
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur
  • Pays de la Loire
• Intercities: waiting for more information. Passengers on canceled trains are usually warned by email or SMS.
• Transilien (Ile-de-France): waiting for more information. For more details, please check Transilien’s website
• Night Trains: waiting for more information.

2B. Paris Train Strikes 2025

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

Usually, when there’s a strike by RATP train drivers, the sections managed by SNCF with interconnections with RATP are also impacted.

• RER A: waiting for more information. The interconnection RATP /SNCF at Nanterre-Préfecture is [TBD] kept
• RER B: waiting for more information. The interconnection RATP /SNCF at Gare du Nord (to go to the airport) is [TBD] kept.
• RER D: waiting for more information.
• RER C and RER E: waiting for more information.

The RER B is the train that travels to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport –> Check out sub-chapter #4C on this post to understand how strikes on this line work.

2D. What to Do During Train Strikes France

Are you traveling by train during an SNCF strike? Here are my recommendations:

YOU HAVE NOT BOOKED YOUR TRAIN TICKETS YET

» Be flexible with your travel dates and avoid traveling by train during a train strike in France.

Actually, the SNCF website usually does not allow any more bookings during French train strike dates.

» Consider Other Options, like traveling to /from Paris or France by plane or by car if you are traveling from the neighboring countries – Click here to find cheap flights to Paris 

» France by Car. You can always replace the trains with a rental car. Touring France by car is a fantastic option because it is easier to go off the tourist path – Click here to rent a car with Discover Cars

If this is your first time renting a car in France, check out my best tips for renting a car in France.

YOU HAVE BOOKED YOUR TRAIN TICKETS

If you have booked your train during a train strike in France, please don’t panic! An SNCF strike does not necessarily mean that all trains will be canceled. Depending on the line and schedule, your train may run normally, be delayed, or be canceled.

The forecasts are available at the latest at 5 p.m. the day before the mobilization.

First of all, check on the SNCF website for the status of your train. To do this, choose the network: main lines (TGV, inOui, Ouigo, Intercités, international trains), TER (regional trains), or Ile-de-France (RER and Transilien), then enter your train number (you can find this information on your train ticket), and add your travel date. The system will give you the real-time status of your train.

» If your train is not canceled, don’t worry! There may be some disruptions or delays, but you should be ok.

» If your train is canceled, SNCF will contact you by email or SMS offering different solutions:

• A change of dates (out of the strike period) at no extra cost
• OR a 100% refund of the ticket price if you cancel your trip scheduled between the strike dates

If, for any reason, your ticket is stated as “non-refundable” or the website does not propose a total refund (please verify this before the last click), contact them directly with your ticket reference number.

If you booked your train with Ouigo trains, contact them directly for an exchange or refund.

» If your TGV, Intercité, or OuiGO train is delayed by France train strikes (or any other reason), you are entitled to compensation ranging from 25% to 75% of the ticket price, depending on the length of the delay (the minimum delay to request 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

3. French Air Traffic Control Strikes 2025 & Other Air Travel Strikes in France

3A. French Air Traffic Control Strike Dates 2025

This chapter is about Air Traffic Control Strikes in French airports. A strike by air traffic controllers is the worst kind of transportation strike in France. A kind reminder that the last strikes by air traffic controllers in France on 25 April 2024 meant the cancellation of 75% of flights to/from Orly Airport, 55% of flights to/from Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, and 45% of flights from/to other French airports.

Please note that French Air Traffic Control Strikes also affect flights crossing French airspace even if they are not flying from /to France. Due to the reduced number of planes that could be handled by the limited number of French air traffic controllers, any flight crossing French airspace might be delayed or re-routed.

If you find yourself traveling during a French Air Traffic Control Strike, read sub-chapter #3E and subchapter #3F

Nothing to report at this time.

3D. What to Do During French Air Traffic Control Strikes

GOOD TO KNOW: France has had the highest number of air traffic controller strikes in the last five years, with 95 days of strikes between 2010 and 2015.

These are the worst transportation in France strikes, with hundreds of flights from /to France delayed or canceled. Also, air traffic controller strikes in France affect flights crossing French airspace even if they are not flying from /to France. Flights crossing the French airspace might be delayed or re-routed due to the reduced number of planes that the limited French air traffic controllers could handle.

In other words, French Air Traffic Control Strikes mean chaos!

I recommend following the strike news in this article, monitoring your flight on the air company’s website, and considering their suggestions to change /refund your tickets.

3E. What To Do During Air France Strikes (or Other French Air Companies Strikes)

GOOD TO KNOW: Many Air France flights operate on share code with other air companies (KLM, Delta…). Air France flights operated by an aircraft and a crew other than that of Air France might not be affected by this Air France strike.

On the other hand, if one of these other companies (KLM, Delta…) is operating on a share code with Air France and using Air France crew or Air France aircraft, these flights could be impacted.

Check your e-ticket to understand what air company is operating your flight. Is it Air France? Perhaps another air company on shared code with Air France? Check their website, and if your flight is affected, see what re-booking  /cancellation options they offer.

YOU HAVE NOT BOOKED YOUR FLIGHT WITH AIR FRANCE YET

» Be flexible with your travel dates and avoid flying to /from France during Air France strike dates.

» Consider other air companies to avoid eventual delays or cancellations.

YOU HAVE BOOKED YOUR FLIGHT TO PARIS WITH AIR FRANCE ALREADY

First, take your e-ticket and check your flight status here to see if your flight is affected by the Air France strike. To do this, enter your flight number and your travel date. The system will give you the real-time status of your flight.

During Air France strikes, you can anticipate, postpone, and cancel your trip easily online. With Air France, you can even change your origin or destination, and if you decide to do this, you will get a voucher valid for one year that can be used on AIR FRANCE or KLM flights.

3F. Are you Entitled to Compensation if your Flight is Canceled or Delayed by French Strikes?

European Regulation EC261 covers delays (3h+ delay at the final destination), cancellations, and denied boarding. It applies to:

• Flights departing in Europe regardless of the airline (French overseas territories included).
• Flights flying into Europe on a European carrier.

Non-EU citizens or business travelers can also apply for flight compensation if they meet one of the two cases above.

Airlines are not always obligated to offer compensation following a strike because strikes are usually considered “extraordinary circumstances.” These are situations beyond the airline’s control and can include adverse weather conditions and certain strike actions.

But when a flight is delayed or canceled due to strike action taking place by the airline’s own employees (e.g., pilots, airline staff), the airline must pay compensation to passengers.

In addition to flight delays, here’s the list of all the airplane passengers’ rights to compensation, according to the European Union. Source: https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/en/travelling-motor-vehicles/air-travel/air-passenger-rights.html

4. RER Trains, Bus, and Metro of Paris Strikes 2025

GOOD TO KNOW: The company RATP is responsible for most of the public transport in Paris and the Parisian region. RATP includes the Paris Mero, tramway, and bus services, and it also manages part of the Réseau Express Régional (RER) network.

4A. RER Strike in Paris

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

14 February 2025: transportation strike by RER A and B train drivers in Paris and Ile-de-France region. The reason for the strike is a protest against a new software that manages staff holidays. According to some staff members, this software is “worse than the human being.” The strike will be effective from the start of the service to the end of the service on Friday.

This strike falls on the day before the start of the winter holidays in France, when many locals are expected to leave on holiday.

Generally, RATP informs about the RER trains, metro, tramway, and bus lines impacted 1-2 days before the strike date.

• RER A: disrupted traffic; expect three trains running out of four along the branches of Cergy and Poissy and two trains out of three on average along the rest of the line. The interconnection RATP /SNCF at Nanterre-Préfecture is kept
• RER B: disrupted traffic, but there’s no information about train frequency. RATP is suggesting its users to postpone the journey along this line. The interconnection RATP /SNCF at Gare du Nord (to go to the airport) [WON’T BE] kept, which means that RER B users will need to change trains at Gare du Nord (from the tracks underground to the tracks on the surface) to continue the journey. In addition to the strike, maintenance works on the northern section of RER B (the section going to Charles de Gaulle Airport) are scheduled for Friday, 14 February, which will make things worse.
• OrlyVal: normal traffic.

The RER B is the train that travels to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport –> Check out sub-chapter #4C on this post to understand how strikes on this line work.

Do you need to travel to/from CDG Airport on 14 February? Consider booking private transportation with Welcome Pickups right now.

4B. Paris Metro Strikes

This chapter covers Paris metro strikes and strikes on tramways and buses.

Nothing to report at this moment.

Metro Lines:

Clarification: When I write, for example, “1 train out of 3 from 6.00 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.,” it means that between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., there’s no metro service. When I write, for example, “2 trains out of 3 on average,” it means that 2/3 of the usual trains will be working.

• Line 1: normal traffic (it’s an automatic line)
• Line 2: 
• Line 3: 
• Line 3 bis: 
• Line 4:
• Line 5: 
• Line 6: 
• Line 7: 
• Line 7 bis: 
• Line 8: 
• Line 9: 
• Line 10:
• Line 11:
• Line 12: 
• Line 13: 
• Line 14: 

Bus:

Tramway:

• Line T1: 
• Line T2:
• Line T3a:
• Line T3b: 
• Line T5: 
• Line T6: 
• Line T7: 
• Line T8: 

4C. How to Get from the Airport to Your Hotel During an RER Train /Metro Train Strike in Paris

GOOD TO KNOW: The RER B line that connects Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris Orly Airport to Paris is operated half by SNCF (from CDG Airport to Paris Gare du Nord) and half by RATP (from Paris Gare du Nord to Orly Airport and the end of the line). This means that when SNCF or RATP are on strike, this connection might be disrupted or suspended.

ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO TRAVEL FROM PARIS TO THE AIRPORT

During a transportation strike, Paris will be served by fewer trains, tramways, and buses. Also, the train interconnection (RATP – SNCF) at Gare du Nord might be suspended.

In any case, expect the working trains or buses to be cramped to the point that you will have to let them go and wait for the next one.

Check RER B’s schedule and the specific metro line or bus line schedules during the strike before leaving your hotel and allow extra time to reach the airport.

CONSIDER PRIVATE /SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFERS

During the last Paris transport strikes, taxis were working just fine, but the taxi requests were much higher than the offer, and it was necessary to book their services well in advance. Taxis to/from the Paris airports work at a flat rate (from CDG Airport is 56€ /65€ to the Right /Left bank and from Orly Airport is 36€ /44€ to the Left /Right bank). Book your taxi ride with G7, which is the most reliable service in Paris (3607 from a French telephone or directly at their website).

GOOT DO KNOW: Get ready for higher prices on services like Uber. During the transportation strike of 13 September 2021, the prices for both Kapten and Uber were reported as 2-2.5 times the normal rate when people could secure rides!

Book an airport transfer and avoid the strike hassle. The good thing about Paris airport transfers is that their price does not change because of a strike, AND their service is not affected by the Paris strikes. Whatever happens during a transportation strike in Paris, your driver will be waiting for you at the airport or your hotel.

I like Welcome Pickups‘ transfer service for private transfers; Welcome Pickups has good cars and the best English-speaking drivers in Paris. 

Other transfer options: Paris Airports private round-trip transfer

FLYING BACK HOME EARLY IN THE MORNING? CONSIDER A HOTEL NEAR THE AIRPORT WITH A SHUTTLE SERVICE

If your flight is leaving Paris early in the morning, have a look at the hotels near your Paris airport, at least for the last night.

Sleeping in hotels near the airport eliminates the stress of waking up early in the morning and the transportation hassle during a strike day in Paris.

Another advantage of hotels close to Paris airports is that they usually offer very competitive prices because most tourists opt for a hotel located in the city.

Finally, most of these hotels also provide a free airport pickup /drop-off if you book it in advance.

Here’s the list of my favorite hotels near the Paris Airports, all with FREE airport shuttle service.

Hotels near Charles de Gaulle Airport

• Sheraton – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: located inside CDG Airport (Terminal 2)
• Hilton – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: located 0.3 Km from CDG Airport, Terminal 1
• Courtyard by Marriott – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: located 2.9 km from CDG Airport, Terminal 2
• Novotel – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: located 0.1 Km from CDG Airport, Terminal 1
• Here’s the full list of the best hotels near Charles de Gaulle Airport

Hotels near Orly Airport

• Best Western Plus – Paris Orly Airport: located 2.8 Km from ORY Airport
• Howard Hotel – Paris Orly Airport: located 1.9 Km from ORY Airport
• Mercure – Paris Orly Airport: located 1.2 Km from ORY Airport
• Novotel – Paris Orly Airport: located 3 Km from ORY Airport
• Here’s the full list of the best hotels near Orly Airport

4D. How to Get from the Train Station to Your Hotel During a Paris Metro Strike

Paris’s train stations are all within the city, so in normal circumstances, you will take the metro to your hotel. However, during a Paris Metro Strike, metros will be less frequent and more crowded, and some metro stations might be closed.

4E. How to Get Around During a Paris Metro Strike

BE FLEXIBLE

Fewer trains will run during Paris Metro strikes, so the waiting time between trains will be longer, and the metro platforms will be more crowded.

If you are traveling around Paris during Paris Metro strikes, be flexible AND patient. Avoid transportation peak hours (from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.) and consider other transportation options like renting a bike (check out my quick guide to Paris by bike) or walking.

If the weather in Paris is good, I suggest walking as much as you can. Walking times between distant points within Paris are not long, and in many cases, walking distances between metro stations are usually less than a 10-minute walk. 

Did you find this article on transportation strikes in Paris and France useful? If so, share it with your friends through your favorite social media. Merci! 

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