France braced for strike chaos
A one-day strike is expected to cause widespread transport disruption in France today, with reduced services on trains and the Paris underground system and delays to flights.
On average, just two-thirds of Paris buses and Metro trains are expected to run on what the daily Le Parisien newspaper predicted would be a “Black Tuesday”.
The strike over the centre-right government’s economic and labour policies presented another test for prime minister Dominique de Villepin, following union unrest on the island of Corsica last week over a planned ferry privatisation.
Three Paris Metro lines are expected to be worst affected, while services should be normal on three others, the tube operator said.
Rail unions kicked off the strike last night. One in three high-speed TGV trains are not expected to run today, worsening to two in three on some regional routes.
Widespread disruptions are also expected with slower trains and on the Paris commuter rail network to the suburbs. But Eurostar links with Britain and the Thalys service to Belgium are expected to be spared.
Three unions representing air traffic controllers also said they would join the strike, which is expected to cause flight delays starting tonight and lasting until tomorrow morning.
Air France said its long-distance flights should be unaffected but delays and a few cancellations were possible on shorter routes.
