An indefinite national rail strike that began in France at 20:00 on 4 December has now closed the Modane border crossing—the sole rail tunnel linking Lyon and Turin—through at least 5 December, with no end date announced. Additional closures hit Cerbère-Portbou and Perpignan LGV (Spain) and Hendaye-Irun (Basque Country). Only a narrow operating window remains at Menton-Ventimiglia on the Riviera line.
For Italy the Modane shutdown is the most acute: SNCF-Trenitalia high-speed services between Paris and Milan are cancelled, and cross-Alpine freight trains have been diverted via Switzerland, adding 140 km and roughly €600 per container in extra costs. Automotive suppliers in Piedmont warn of parts shortages if the action drags on beyond the weekend.
![French Rail Strike Shuts Modane Tunnel, Disrupts Italy-France Passenger and Freight Links]()
Passenger demand surged for Flixbus and easyJet flights, pushing last-minute fares above €350 one-way. Corporate travel managers with staff commuting between French HQs and Italian plants are advising remote work or re-routing via Geneva. The French unions say the strike is over pension reform and wage indexing; talks with SNCF management broke down on 3 December.
Italian customs authorities at Ventimiglia and Bardonecchia are bracing for a spike in truck traffic as shippers shift modes. Logistics firms recommend pre-booking slots on the Mont-Blanc road tunnel and flag potential Saturday driving bans in Italy that could complicate detours. Mobility teams should monitor SNCF alerts and coordinate with freight forwarders for real-time capacity updates.
With no published end date, risk consultants say the action could merge with planned French public-sector protests later in the month, threatening further disruption to holiday travel and just-in-time supply chains between the two countries.
For Italy the Modane shutdown is the most acute: SNCF-Trenitalia high-speed services between Paris and Milan are cancelled, and cross-Alpine freight trains have been diverted via Switzerland, adding 140 km and roughly €600 per container in extra costs. Automotive suppliers in Piedmont warn of parts shortages if the action drags on beyond the weekend.
Passenger demand surged for Flixbus and easyJet flights, pushing last-minute fares above €350 one-way. Corporate travel managers with staff commuting between French HQs and Italian plants are advising remote work or re-routing via Geneva. The French unions say the strike is over pension reform and wage indexing; talks with SNCF management broke down on 3 December.
Italian customs authorities at Ventimiglia and Bardonecchia are bracing for a spike in truck traffic as shippers shift modes. Logistics firms recommend pre-booking slots on the Mont-Blanc road tunnel and flag potential Saturday driving bans in Italy that could complicate detours. Mobility teams should monitor SNCF alerts and coordinate with freight forwarders for real-time capacity updates.
With no published end date, risk consultants say the action could merge with planned French public-sector protests later in the month, threatening further disruption to holiday travel and just-in-time supply chains between the two countries.
