The Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor has issued an alert warning of an indefinite strike across the French rail network beginning 4 December at 20:00. Cross-border freight lines—and some passenger routes—face rolling closures: Modane (to Italy) is shut all day 5 December; Cerbère-Portbou and Perpignan LGV (to Spain) are closed overnight and throughout the day; Hendaye-Irun (Basque border) is also closed. Only limited windows remain open at Menton-Ventimiglia.
The closures affect not only freight but international passenger services such as SNCF-Trenitalia TGVs and Renfe-SNCF high-speed links. Logistics operators are being advised to verify real-time capacity with neighbouring signal boxes to avoid congestion. Freight forwarders report re-routing via Switzerland, adding costs and transit time.
![Rail strike closes key France–Italy and France–Spain border crossings]()
For business travellers, the biggest pain-point is reduced capacity on Paris-Milan, Lyon-Turin and Barcelona-Perpignan corridors, leading to sold-out trains and potential last-minute bus substitutions. Corporates with just-in-time supply chains through the Alpine and Pyrenean tunnels are also activating contingency stock.
Unions have not announced an end date; observers fear the action could merge with wider public-sector protests later in the month. Mobility managers should monitor SNCF alerts, build routing flexibility and consider air alternatives where feasible.
The closures affect not only freight but international passenger services such as SNCF-Trenitalia TGVs and Renfe-SNCF high-speed links. Logistics operators are being advised to verify real-time capacity with neighbouring signal boxes to avoid congestion. Freight forwarders report re-routing via Switzerland, adding costs and transit time.
For business travellers, the biggest pain-point is reduced capacity on Paris-Milan, Lyon-Turin and Barcelona-Perpignan corridors, leading to sold-out trains and potential last-minute bus substitutions. Corporates with just-in-time supply chains through the Alpine and Pyrenean tunnels are also activating contingency stock.
Unions have not announced an end date; observers fear the action could merge with wider public-sector protests later in the month. Mobility managers should monitor SNCF alerts, build routing flexibility and consider air alternatives where feasible.
