November 5 strike Ile-de-France train and RER traffic disruption, Digi Mart USA News (Ile-de-France, France): Traffic on many train and RER lines in the Ile-de-France region is expected to be “disrupted” on Thursday because of a national strike call, according to the publisher report. The metro, tram and bus networks are expected to run “normally,” but some stations could be closed, the RATP warned.
The SNCF, which operates the Transilien suburban trains and RER lines, said Tuesday that traffic on Ile-de-France train and RER lines would be “disrupted” on Thursday, November 5. The national strike call was filed by the country’s main unions to defend wages and employment.
The SNCF advised travelers who can do so to avoid public transport that day.
According to the report, traffic will be “disrupted” on RER lines B, C and E and on train lines H, J, L, N, R and U. Traffic on RER line D will be “heavily disrupted,” and “some cancellations are to be expected” on line P.
Line-by-line forecasts were to be released Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The RATP forecasts “normal traffic” on its metro, tram and bus networks. Traffic on RER line A will also be “normal,” but line B, which the RATP co-operates with the SNCF, will be “disrupted.”
The RATP said station closures are possible because of demonstrations. A RATP official told AFP that if the Paris police prefecture asks it to close stations, trains would still run.
During past Saturday demonstrations by high school students, students and yellow vest protesters, the prefecture had requested the closure of several dozen metro stations to protect access to certain areas of the capital.
Vincent Gautheron, general secretary of the URIF-CGT, warned AFP that during recent yellow vest protests, the network came close to a serious incident involving passengers at certain lines, such as Reaumur-Sebastopol (lines 3 and 4), where passengers were crowded onto platforms with waits of 35 minutes before they could board a train. He said massive crowds that are not controlled can turn into human tragedies.
