Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Rennes, Nantes, Lyon and Toulouse on 26 February, blocking railway lines and burning signalling cables in protest at planned budget cuts. The Interior Ministry estimated turnout at more than 100,000. SNCF confirmed that inter-city services around Toulouse and on the Atlantic corridor were halted for several hours after damage to power cables disabled semaphores. (akm.ru)
Although most Paris-based TGVs continued running, mounting localised delays forced some airlines to waive change fees for domestic feeders into CDG and Orly. Logistics firms rerouted high-value freight to road carriers as precautionary strikes loomed for 27 February on the national rail network.
![Nation-wide protests over austerity cut rail links in south-west France]()
France’s main union federations have threatened rolling industrial action unless the government reverses a €44-billion austerity plan that reduces pension indexation and certain family allowances. The escalation raises concerns for corporate mobility programmes dependent on regional rail to move staff between manufacturing plants and head-office sites.
For international assignees and business travellers who may suddenly need to alter itineraries or extend their stay, ensuring travel documents remain valid is vital. VisaHQ’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) can help expedite visa extensions, arrange emergency passport renewals and coordinate other consular services entirely online, giving companies and individuals the flexibility to adapt plans while transport disturbances persist.
Employers with time-sensitive mobility moves are advised to maintain contingency hotel blocks near airports and to brief travellers on alternative coach services that bypass affected sections of track. Travel-risk teams should also monitor union notices that may extend the disruption to airports, ports and customs posts. (akm.ru)
Although most Paris-based TGVs continued running, mounting localised delays forced some airlines to waive change fees for domestic feeders into CDG and Orly. Logistics firms rerouted high-value freight to road carriers as precautionary strikes loomed for 27 February on the national rail network.
France’s main union federations have threatened rolling industrial action unless the government reverses a €44-billion austerity plan that reduces pension indexation and certain family allowances. The escalation raises concerns for corporate mobility programmes dependent on regional rail to move staff between manufacturing plants and head-office sites.
For international assignees and business travellers who may suddenly need to alter itineraries or extend their stay, ensuring travel documents remain valid is vital. VisaHQ’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) can help expedite visa extensions, arrange emergency passport renewals and coordinate other consular services entirely online, giving companies and individuals the flexibility to adapt plans while transport disturbances persist.
Employers with time-sensitive mobility moves are advised to maintain contingency hotel blocks near airports and to brief travellers on alternative coach services that bypass affected sections of track. Travel-risk teams should also monitor union notices that may extend the disruption to airports, ports and customs posts. (akm.ru)
