French rail chaos as unions begin indefinite strike
22/11/2005 - 08:17:40French commuters and travellers faced chaos today as rail workers on the French state-run system went on strike, disrupting national lines and Paris area commuter trains.
The open-ended strike at the SNCF rail network, which started yesterday evening, was one of the biggest protests in a week of demonstrations planned by groups including teachers, researchers and Paris transit workers.
About two in five high-speed TGV trains were operating as normal, while 80 per cent of international trains were expected to run, the SNCF said.
Four unions representing train drivers called the walkout to protest restructuring, job cuts, pay and what they see as creeping privatisation of the train operator.
