Transportation

French Strikes: Here’s What You Can Expect In Paris Friday January 17


As the French mega strike enters its 44th day, Paris commuters can expect another frustrating and chaotic day ahead Friday January 17.

Three of the 16 Metro lines are up and running fully as usual, another six are operating full hours yet with about 2 trains in 3. On the rest, it varies, but several are operating only during peak hours.

For suburban trains, there will also be 2 in 3 trains on the RER A and RER B during peak hours: that’s 6:30am to 9:30 and 4.30 to 7.30 pm.

That means Metro services are still running at less than half steam across the board; the RER and Transilien suburban lines about 70%.

“For Friday January 17, the RATP forecasts disrupted traffic, yet a significant improvement compared to Thursday January 16 on the Metro and RER networks,” the public transport authority says in a statement.

Every day this week the RATP has claimed “significant improvements” on the previous day, but in truth, Friday is much the same as Thursday, with some slight improvements:

  • 3 Metro lines will again operate with normal traffic: Lines 1, 11 and 14.
  • 6 Metro lines will operate during normal operating hours –5:30 am to 1.30 am: Lines 2,3, 7, 7bis, 8 and 10. Though with only 1 to 2 trains in 3 depending on the line.
  • 4 lines will be open ‘for the whole day’ (not night): 3bis, 4, 5 and 9, though with varying operating hours.
  • 3 lines will operate for “extended time slots” in the morning and afternoon: Lines 6, 12 and 13.
  • Both RER A and B will run all day with 2 trains out of 3, up from 1 in 2.
  • Transilien operated RER Lines C, D, E and other suburban trains are operating at roughly 70-80% steam, with 2 in 3 trains for the D and 4 in 4 for the RER E.

Traffic on the Tramway will be ‘normal’ promises the RATP, and 4 in 5 buses will run.

Despite the improvements on the network, it warns of the “ongoing risk of saturation on the network, in particular at the Châtelet-Les Halles transport hub.”

Thus, again the less than optimistic advice for those seeking commuter encouragement and true signs of a recovery:

“The RATP invites all travelers who have the possibility to postpone their trips or to choose another mode of transport.”

3 Trains In 4 On Average Predicted On Transilien Lines

And On The National Rail Network

On the national rail network (high speed TGV, international lines, cross-country Intercités and TER regional trains).

The SNCF says TGV traffic will be” almost normal”, with trains running full steam on most of the networks, 9 in 10 trains in the case of the Atlantique axis towards west and southwestern France. The low-cost TGV Ouigo are fully up and running for now. 80% of TER regional trains will leave the station. Only the Intercités services continue to be affected with 3 in 5 trains running.

Much The Same Expected Saturday In Paris

Now into its seventh week, the walkout by transport workers in protest over government pension reform has brought much of the Greater Paris public transport to a grinding halt since December 5.

The RATP says it has 1,200 agents in the field ready to support and inform travelers baffled travelers. This would particularly apply to those tourists who’ve just flown in, and are not well-accustomed to the strikes, as Parisians and many French people are.

The RATP is already warning commuters to expect “further disruptions” Saturday January 18.



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